Proposed Rules & Regulations Changes for Public Chauffeurs
The following lists the old rule(s) followed by the proposed rule(s). Due to the length of these rules, we will continue with these rules in later postings.
Old Rule No. 26
Change of address.
Chauffeurs shall notify the Department of Consumer Services-Public
Vehicle Operations Division of any change of address no later than seventy-two (72) hours after the change. This must be done by completing a change of address form in person at the Office of the Department of Consumer Services-Public Vehicle Operations Division. A chauffeur shall change the address on his Illinois driver's license.
New Rule No. 7.01
Change of Address.
Chauffeurs and Chauffeur applicants shall notify the Department of any change of address no later than seventy-two (72) hours after the change. This must be done by completing a change of address form in person at the Department’s Public Vehicle Operations Division. The address on file with the Department will be the address for all Department mailings.
Old Rule No. 27-29
Display of chauffeur license; duplicate license.
(a) All chauffeurs shall display their Public Chauffeur license in the place provided when the vehicle is in operation or for hire.
(b) The chauffeur license shall be removed whenever the vehicle is left unattended.
(c) Loss or theft of a chauffeur license shall be reported immediately to the Chicago Police Department and the Department of Consumer Services-Public Vehicle Operations.
(d) No duplicate license will be issued to a chauffeur unless he submits to the Commissioner an affidavit detailing the circumstances surrounding the loss of the license.
(e) No chauffeur shall submit a false affidavit to the Department of Consumer Services regarding the loss of a chauffeur's license. A violation of this paragraph (e) is an aggravated major offense and shall be cause for revocation.
Rule No. 28 Only Public Chauffeurs to operate.
No person other than a chauffeur licensed by the City of Chicago as a Public Chauffeur shall be permitted to operate a City of Chicago Public Passenger Vehicle for hire.
A chauffeur in possession or control of a public passenger vehicle, whether the vehicle is leased or owned by him, who permits any person not licensed by the City of Chicago as a public chauffeur to operate that vehicle shall be guilty of an aggravated major offense.
Rule No. 29 Only licensed Public Passenger Vehicles to be operated.
It shall be unlawful for any chauffeur licensed by the City of Chicago to operate or permit to be operated, for the transportation of passengers for hire within the city, any vehicle unless it is licensed by the city as a Public Passenger Vehicle.
New Rule No. 5.16 – 5.18
Display of Chauffeur License; Duplicate License.
a. All Chauffeurs shall display their Public Chauffeur License or Restricted Public Chauffeur License in the place provided when the vehicle is in operation or for hire.
b. The Public Chauffeur License or Restricted Public Chauffeur License shall be removed from the vehicle whenever the Chauffeur is not in the vehicle.
c. Loss or theft of a Chauffeur’s license shall be reported immediately to the Department and the Chicago Police Department.
d. No duplicate license will be issued to a Chauffeur unless he submits to the Commissioner an affidavit detailing the circumstances surrounding the loss of the license and a copy of the police report.
e. No Chauffeur shall submit a false affidavit to the Department regarding the loss of a Chauffeur’s license. A violation of this paragraph (e) is an Aggravated Offense and shall be cause for revocation.
Rule 5.17 Only Chauffeurs to Operate.
No person other than a Chauffeur licensed by the City of Chicago shall be permitted to operate a City of Chicago Public passenger Vehicle for hire. A Chauffeur in possession or control of a Public Passenger Vehicle, whether the vehicle is leased or owned by him, who permits any person to operate that vehicle for hire shall be guilty of an Aggravated Offense.
Rule 5.18 Only Licensed Public Passenger Vehicles to be Operated.
It shall be unlawful for any Chauffeur licensed by the City of Chicago to operate or permit to be operated, for the transportation of passengers for hire within the city, any vehicle unless it is licensed by the city as a Public Passenger Vehicle.
Old Rule No. 30.1 – 30.6
Jitney service.
Public chauffeurs operating City of Chicago licensed public passenger vehicles with a capacity of fewer than 10 passengers may offer jitney service along a prescribed route or within a specified zone authorized by the Commissioner of Consumer Services. "Jitney service" is unscheduled service along a prescribed route or within specified zones, providing service to passengers only at a flat fare for each passenger.
Rule No. 30.2 Establishment of Jitney Routes or Zones.
1. Any licensed public chauffeur may apply to the Commissioner of Consumer Services to have a specified route or zone authorized for jitney service.
2. Upon receipt of such application, the Commissioner shall schedule a public hearing on the request, giving 45 days advance written notice to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and by publication to all licensed public chauffeurs.
3. During the 45 day notice period, the Chicago Transit Authority may comment to the Commissioner and present evidence as to the effect of any proposed jitney route or zone upon the CTA's operations. The Commissioner shall include the CTA's comments and evidence in the record of the public hearing and may request testimony by the authority at the public hearing.
4. Within 10 days following the public hearing, the Commissioner shall issue in writing his or her findings as to whether the public convenience would best be served by the authorization of jitney service along that route or within that zone.
5. For each jitney route or zone authorized, the Commissioner shall issue a complete description of the authorized route or zone, including the boundaries of such route or zone and any time restrictions of such jitney service. The Commissioner shall make a list of all approved jitney routes and zones available.
6. The Commissioner, in his or her discretion, may deny without public hearing an application for a jitney route or zone, when such proposed route or zone has been the subject of a previous public hearing within the past 12 months.
7. The Commissioner, in his or her discretion, may revoke a previously approved jitney route or zone following notice and a public hearing as provided above.
Rule No. 30.3 Approval of Public Chauffeurs to Provide Jitney Service.
Any licensed public chauffeur may apply to offer jitney service along an approved route or within an approved zone. Such application shall be in writing on a form designated by the Commissioner. Upon approval, the public chauffeur shall be issued a jitney service sign for display when offering jitney service.
Rule No. 30.4 Display of Jitney Sign.
At all times when offering jitney service, the public chauffeur shall have displayed within the front windshield his designated jitney service sign.
Rule No. 30.5 Sole use of Taxicabs and/or Liveries.
No public chauffeur shall offer jitney service in any vehicle which is not currently licensed by the City of Chicago as a public passenger vehicle.
Rule No. 30.6 Jitney Fares.
The fares for jitney routes will be established after public comment has been considered.
New Rule No. 8.01 – 8.05
Jitney Service.
In accordance with 9-112-480 MCC, Chauffeurs operating City of Chicago licensed Public Passenger Vehicles with a capacity of fewer than 10 passengers may offer Jitney Service along a prescribed route or within a specified zone authorized by the Commissioner.
Rule 8.02 Establishment of Jitney Routes or Zones.
a. The Commissioner shall make a list of all approved jitney routes and zones available.
b. The Commissioner, in his discretion, may deny without public hearing an application for a jitney route or zone, when such proposed route or zone has been the subject of a previous public hearing within the past 12 months.
c. The Commissioner, in his discretion, may revoke a previously approved jitney route or zone following notice and a public hearing as provided above.
Rule 8.03 Approval of Chauffeurs to Provide Jitney Service.
Any Chauffeur may apply to offer Jitney Service along an approved route or within an approved zone. Such application shall be in writing on a form designated by the Commissioner. Upon approval, the Chauffeur shall be issued a Jitney Service sign for display when offering Jitney Service.
Rule 8.04 Sole Use of Taxicabs and/or Liveries for Jitney Service.
No Chauffeur shall offer Jitney Service in any vehicle which is not currently licensed by the City of Chicago as a Public Passenger Vehicle.
Rule 8.05 Jitney Fares.
Flat fares for jitney routes will be established after public comment has been considered.
Old Rule No. 30.7
Maximum Number of Passengers.
No jitney vehicle may transport more than 5 adult passengers at any one time. No jitney vehicle may transport more than one passenger in the front seat at any time. No jitney vehicle may transport any person under the age of 16 in the front seat at any time.
New Rule No. 12.02
Number of Passengers.
Taxicabs are limited to one passenger in front plus the number that can be seated comfortable in the rear.
Old Rule No. 30.8 – 30.9
Discharging of Passengers.
1. Passengers of a jitney vehicle operating along a prescribed route shall be discharged upon their request at any point along the prescribed route.
2. A jitney vehicle operating along a prescribed route may reverse its direction along the route only if the vehicle is empty or all passengers in the vehicle are destined to locations in the opposite direction of that in which the jitney vehicle is heading.
3. Unless all current passengers agree to the contrary, public chauffeurs operating a jitney vehicle within an approved zone shall proceed on a direct route to the destination of the passenger who has been in the vehicle the longest time. Passengers will be discharged upon their request at any time.
4. Public chauffeurs, when discharging passengers, shall do so in a safe and legal manner.
Rule No. 30.9 Jitney Operations and Other Service.
When a public chauffeur is operating a public passenger vehicle, other than a taxicab, with the jitney service sign displayed, the public chauffeur may not solicit or accept any other type of fares.
When a public chauffeur is operating a taxicab with the jitney service sign displayed, the public chauffeur may accept a non-jitney passenger, provided that all of the following conditions are met:
a. The taxicab has no jitney passengers at the time the non-jitney passenger wishes to hire the taxicab;
b. The public chauffeur removes the jitney service sign during the non-jitney trip; and
c. The public chauffeur activates the taximeter and charges the rate listed thereon for the trip, or charges a negotiated fare in accordance with Rule 38.
New Rule No. 8.06 – 8.07
Discharging of Jitney’s Passengers.
a. A jitney vehicle operating along a prescribed route may reverse its direction along the route only if the vehicle is empty or all passengers in the vehicle are destined to locations in the opposite direction of that in which the jitney vehicle is heading.
b. Unless all current passengers agree to the contrary, Chauffeurs operating a jitney vehicle within an approved zone shall proceed on a direct route to the destination of the passenger who has been in the vehicle the longest time. Passengers will be discharged upon their request at any time.
c. Chauffeurs, when discharging passengers, shall do so in a safe and legal manner.
Rule 8.07 Jitney Operations and Other Service.
When a Chauffeur is operating a Public Passenger Vehicle, other than a taxicab, with the Jitney Service sign displayed, the Chauffeur may not solicit or accept any other type of fares. When a Chauffeur is operating a taxicab with the Jitney Service sign displayed, the chauffeur may accept a non-jitney passenger, provided that all of the following conditions are met:
a. The taxicab has no jitney passengers at the time the non-jitney passenger wishes to hire the taxicab;
b. The Chauffeur removes the Jitney service sign during the non-jitney trip; and
c. The Chauffeur activates the taximeter and charges the rate listed thereon for the trip, or charges a negotiated fare in accordance with Rule 11.01.
