1. Any person who knowingly makes or causes to be made, either directly or indirectly, a false statement on an application, account or other statement required by the Taxicab Authority or the Administrator or who violates any of the provisions of NRS 706.881 to 706.885, inclusive, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

2. The Taxicab Authority or Administrator may at any time, for good cause shown and upon at least 5 days’ notice to the grantee of any certificate or driver’s permit, and after a hearing unless waived by the grantee, penalize the grantee of a certificate to a maximum amount of $15,000 or penalize the grantee of a driver’s permit to a maximum amount of $500 or suspend or revoke the certificate or driver’s permit granted by the Taxicab Authority or Administrator, respectively, for:

(a) Any violation of any provision of NRS 706.881 to 706.885, inclusive, or any regulation of the Taxicab Authority or Administrator.

(b) Knowingly permitting or requiring any employee to violate any provision of NRS 706.881 to 706.885, inclusive, or any regulation of the Taxicab Authority or Administrator.

If a penalty is imposed on the grantee of a certificate pursuant to this section, the Taxicab Authority or Administrator may require the grantee to pay the costs of the proceeding, including investigative costs and attorney’s fees.

3. When a driver or certificate holder fails to appear at the time and place stated in the notice for the hearing, the Administrator shall enter a finding of default. Upon a finding of default, the Administrator may suspend or revoke the license, permit or certificate of the person who failed to appear and impose the penalties provided in this chapter. For good cause shown, the Administrator may set aside a finding of default and proceed with the hearing.

4. Any person who operates or permits a taxicab to be operated in passenger service without a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued pursuant to NRS 706.8827, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. If a law enforcement officer witnesses a violation of this subsection, the law enforcement officer may cause the vehicle to be towed immediately from the scene.

5. The conviction of a person pursuant to subsection 1 does not bar the Taxicab Authority or Administrator from suspending or revoking any certificate, permit or license of the person convicted. The imposition of a fine or suspension or revocation of any certificate, permit or license by the Taxicab Authority or Administrator does not operate as a defense in any proceeding brought under subsection 1.

(Added to NRS by 1969, 1248; A 1971, 584; 1975, 1327; 1977, 752; 1981, 2057; 1991, 1967; 1993, 903; 1997, 2991; 2011, 2688, 3660; 2013, 1039, 2542)