§ 25-5. Liability policy or bond.

(a)

Before receiving a ground transportation license, every owner or operator of a motor vehicle engaged in the business of carrying or transporting passengers for hire within the jurisdiction of the city of Syracuse shall file with the commissioner of licenses for each taxicab or airport bus intended to be operated, either a personal bond with at least two (2) sureties approved by the commissioner of licenses or a corporate surety bind, or a policy of insurance in a solvent and responsible company authorized by the commissioner of licenses for the payment of a minimum sum, hereinafter called minimum liability, on a judgment or judgments for damages, including damages for care and loss of services, because of bodily injury to, or death of two (2) or more persons in any one accident and for the payment of a maximum sum, called maximum liability on all judgments for damages because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one (1) accident, recovered against such person upon claims arising out of the same transaction or transactions connected with the same subject of action, to be apportioned ratably among the judgments for damage or injury caused in the operation, maintenance, use or the defective construction of such motor vehicle, as follows:

(1)

For damages for an incident of death or injuries to persons: For each motor vehicle having a seating capacity of not more than seven (7) persons, a bond or insurance policy with a minimum liability of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) and a maximum liability of twenty thousand dollars ($20,00.00); for each motor vehicle having a seating capacity of not less than eight (8) nor more than twelve (12) passengers, a bond or insurance policy with a minimum liability of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) and a maximum liability of forty thousand dollars ($40,000.00); for each motor vehicle having a seating capacity of not less than thirteen (13) nor more than twenty (20) passengers, a bond or insurance policy with a minimum liability of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) and a maximum liability of sixty thousand dollars ($60,000.00).

(2)

For damages for and incident to injury to or destruction of property: For each motor vehicle a bond or insurance policy with a maximum liability of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00).

(b)

Such bond or policy of insurance shall contain a provision for a continuing liability thereunder, notwithstanding any recovery thereon. Any such bond or policy of insurance shall also contain a provision that such bond or policy of insurance shall inure to the benefit of any person legally operating the motor vehicle in the business of the owner and with his permission, in the same manner and under the same conditions and to the same extent as to the owner. If at any time, in the judgment of the commissioner of licenses, such bond or policy is not sufficient for any cause the commissioner of licenses may require the owner of such motor vehicle to replace such bond or policy with another approved by the commissioner of licenses. A personal surety upon a bond filed pursuant to this section or a corporate surety or an insurance company evidence of whose bond or policy has been so filed, may file a notice in the office of the commissioner of licenses that upon the expiration of twenty (20) days from such filing such surety will cease to be liable upon such bond, or in the case of such insurance company, that upon the expiration of such time such policy will be cancelled. The commissioner of licenses shall thereupon notify the owner of such motor vehicle of the filing of such notice, and unless such owner shall file a new bond or evidence of new bond or policy, as provided by this section, on or before such date as shall be specified by the commissioner of licenses the commissioner of licenses shall cancel such operator's license.

(c)

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this chapter, any such bond, or policy of insurance shall also provide for uninsured motorists coverage in the minimal amount and in the form provided for in subdivision 2-a of section 167 of the New York State Insurance Law.

(d)

Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to prevent compliance therewith by filing a combination of bonds or policies or of a bond and policy or evidence thereof if the commissioner of licenses approves and the requirements of this subdivision are otherwise met.

(e)

The bond or policy of insurance shall be approved by the corporation counsel of the city as to form and sufficiency before the issuance of such license or any renewal thereof.

(Gen. Ord. No. 9-1980, 3-31-80)