DATE:
January 28, 2026 and February 10, 2026
02
TO:
Board of Supervisors
Title
SUBJECT
SHERIFF - ADOPT AN ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTER 9 TO TITLE 2, DIVISION 1; AMENDING TITLE 2, DIVISION 1, CHAPTER 1 AND AMENDING TITLE 2, DIVISION 1, CHAPTER 3 OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY CODE OF REGULATORY ORDINANCES RELATING TO LICENSE REQUIRED FROM THE SHERIFF, FOR-HIRE VEHICLE DRIVERS, AND TAXICABS AND TAXICAB OPERATORS (01/28/2026 - First Reading; 02/10/2026 - Second reading unless ordinance is modified on second reading) (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The San Diego County Sheriff's Office (Sheriff's Office) License Division currently issues all taxicab drivers in the unincorporated San Diego County as provided by Title 2, Division 1, Chapter 3 of the San Diego County Code.
In 1997, at the request of the Metropolitan Transit Development Board, the Sheriff's Office agreed to assume the responsibility for licensing drivers of jitneys, low-speed vehicles, nonemergency medical vehicles, charters, and sightseeing vehicles in addition to taxicabs. San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Ordinance No. 11 was accordingly revised, and the Sheriff's Office began issuing all non-taxicab for-hire driver ID cards pursuant to Ordinance No. 11. However, the San Diego County Code was never revised to formalize this transfer of responsibilities. The Sheriff's Office began licensing for-hire vehicle drivers, except for taxicabs, in accordance with Ordinance No. 11 while MTS maintained responsibility for the denial, revocation or appeal. Due to a lack of authority to receive criminal history information and stated due process concerns, MTS is not processing revocations, denials or appeals for the for-hire drivers, raising significant public safety concerns.
Today's item requests that the San Diego County Board of Supervisors review and approve the introduction of an ordinance relating to for-hire vehicle drivers. The ordinance would formalize the transfer of responsibility that...
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