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Plymouth updates taxi-cab ordinance to add insurance, fee and lower driver age to 18
Summary
The Select Board adopted amendments to the town’s taxi-cab ordinance to add a $500,000 insurance requirement naming the town as additional insured, formalize a $150 licensing fee, and lower the minimum operator age from 21 to 18; board adopted changes after a public hearing and no public comment was recorded against the amendments.
The Plymouth Select Board voted to adopt amendments to the town’s taxi‑cab ordinance, updating language that had not been revised since 1996.
Town staff explained the changes introduced new sections for business and vehicle permits, vehicle standards and markings, driver and operator requirements, operator permit qualifications, fair‑service regulations, and penalties/enforcement. Key substantive changes read into the record included a required insurance minimum of $500,000 with the town named as an additional insured and advance notice of any policy cancellation (10–30 days), formal insertion of a longstanding $150 licensing fee, and a reduction of the minimum operator age from 21 to 18 as recommended by town counsel. Officials clarified the ordinance applies to taxi cabs only and does not regulate ride‑hailing companies such as Uber.
Scott (town manager) led the presentation and answered clarifying questions from the board about why the town is named as additional insured (to protect municipal interests when the town issues licenses) and how inspections would be handled if state inspection rules change. No members of the public spoke in opposition during the hearing; after brief board discussion the hearing was closed and the board approved the ordinance by voice vote.
Quote: “It’s a cleanup — a license fee and an insurance requirement,” the town manager said. “No major operational changes were included.”
The ordinance will take effect according to the implementation schedule in the town’s codified ordinances; town staff said the town currently licenses one taxi cab and will continue annual review of licenses.
