Consumer Affairs

Criminal Record Check of License Applicants

All applicants for taxicab vehicle with city licenses must be fingerprinted for a criminal record check. This requirement also applies to applicants for a taxicab association license (owners, officers, representatives). Fingerprint cards will be provided by the Consumer Affairs Unit (Test Station) at the time of application. An applicant who already holds a valid For-Hire Driver's License will not be fingerprinted again. The fee for the fingerprint-based criminal record check is $26.00 payable at the time of license application. [Seattle Municipal Code (SMC), Section 6.310.205 (taxicab associations), Section 6.310.305 (taxicab owners)]

The Seattle Police Department will fingerprint applicants. The fee for fingerprinting is an additional $14.00 payable to the Seattle Police Department at the time of fingerprinting. Applicants must bring their Washington State Driver's Licenses and $14.00 in check or cash to:

Criminal Justic Center, SPD Head Quarters
610 Fifth Avenue (public entrance)
Monday - Friday [hours: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm]

The Director will review the criminal history of each applicant to determine whether a license should be denied (or revoked). Applicants may appeal any decision to deny or revoke a license. [SMC, Section 6.310.210B (taxicab associations), Section 6.310.310B (taxicab owners), Section 6.310.635 (appeal procedures)]

The initial criminal record check will be conducted by the Washington State Patrol using the fingerprint card. Subsequent criminal record checks will be performed annually at license renewal using the applicant's name and date of birth. The fee for a criminal records check based on name and date of birth is $35.00.

The criminal record check usually requires about 10-14 business days. License issuance will not be delayed awaiting the results of the check. However, a license will be revoked if the applicant makes a material misstatement or omission on the license application. License revocations extend until the end of the annual license period. [SMC, Section 6.310.310A(3) (standards for license denial), Section 6.310.610D(2) (period of revocation)]

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