                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

LOCAL REGULATION OF NUMBER OF TAXICABS (§ 46.2-2067)

A. It is the policy of this Commonwealth, based on the public health, safety and
welfare, to assure safe and reliable privately operated taxicab service for the
riding public in this Commonwealth; and in furtherance of this policy, it is
recognized that it is essential that counties, cities and towns be granted the
authority to reasonably regulate such taxicab service as to the number of
operators and the number of vehicles that shall provide such service and
regulations as to the rates or charges for such taxicab service, even though
such regulations may have an anti-competitive effect on such service by limiting
the number of operators and vehicles within a particular jurisdiction.

B. The governing body of any county, city, or town in the Commonwealth may
regulate by ordinance and limit the number of taxicab operators and the number
of taxicabs within its jurisdiction in order to provide safe and reliable
privately operated taxicab service on any highway, street, road, lane or alley
in such county, city, or town. The governing body may promulgate such reasonable
regulations to further the provisions of this section including, but not limited
to, minimum liability insurance requirements. However, such ordinances and
regulations shall not prescribe the wages or compensation to be paid to any
driver or lessor of any such motor vehicle by the owner or lessee thereof; nor
shall such ordinances and regulations authorize the governing body to reduce the
number of taxicabs permitted to be operated by a taxicab operator or a holder of
a certificate issued under such ordinance, other than for non-use of such
taxicabs or for cause as defined by such ordinance, including instances where
there is a decrease in the demand for taxicab service. Further, such ordinances
and regulations shall not impose (i) regulatory requirements concerning claims
settlement practices beyond those imposed by &#xA7; 46.2-2056 or (ii) financial
requirements to qualify as a self-insurer beyond those imposed by &#xA7;
46.2-2053 on any taxicab operator who, in lieu of filing an insurance policy or
surety bond, has qualified as a self-insurer pursuant to &#xA7; 46.2-2053 by
depositing with the State Treasurer state, federal or municipal bonds or has
filed an unconditional letter of credit issued by a bank. Nothing herein shall
be construed to affect or control the authority of counties, cities or towns to
set the amount, if any, of locally established liability insurance requirements
that may be met by a program of self-insurance.

HISTORY: 2001, c. 596; 2012, cc. 35, 105.