RUMFORD — In less time than it took Selectman Greg Buccina to read his motion to adopt proposed changes to the taxi law, 15 voters unanimously OK’d the amendment at Thursday night’s special town meeting.

The majority of voters were town officials. John Patrick served as moderator.

The vote means cabbies with Rumford’s three taxi companies — Road Hog Express, Mountain Valley Taxi Service and Courtesy Cab — have until March 1 to apply at the police station for a new yearly license enabling them to drive taxis.

Cab companies themselves will still be required to also apply annually for a license to operate.

During a public hearing before the special town meeting, Road Hog owner Joseph Downs asked selectmen when cabbies could apply. Town Manager Carlo Puiia told him that police Chief Stacy Carter had already drafted a driver’s application form.

“Go to the police station and apply,” Puiia said. “March 1 is the effective date, but you want to do that ahead of time.”

Cabbies applying for a taxi-driving license must also pay $25 each, which covers the cost of a criminal history background check.

The amendment’s primary purpose was to establish a statute of limitations on certain disqualifying conduct such as criminal convictions, while balancing the town’s concern for safety of its residents with the cab companies’ ability to hire and retain qualified drivers.

In his motion, Buccina read the entire amendment, including changes, to the Chapter 22 Motor Vehicles for Hire ordinance.

No taxi driver’s license will be issued to any person, firm, limited liability company, corporation or other entity that hires someone to drive who:

• Violates the ordinance.

• Is a registered sex offender or has been convicted of a Class A felony.

• Has convictions for the following periods of time immediately preceding their application: Ten years — Class B or C felonies; misdemeanor sexual assault; and habitual offender; five years — assault, operating under the influence, and operating after suspension; three years — driving to endanger and three moving motor vehicle violations per Maine law..

Among other approved changes, no license will be issued unless drivers are qualified under the ordinance terms; owners and drivers are properly insured; and motor vehicles are properly registered.

Additionally, owners of any taxicab service are required to comply with all state laws respecting smoking.

Anyone who operates a business of carrying passengers for hire who violates the newly amended ordinance, faces a fine of $100 per day from the date of occurrence of any violation.

The changes were driven by Carter’s debut enforcement in December of the last ordinance amendment, which was adopted two years ago.

That previous amendment forces company shutdowns during a company’s annual license renewal application in December if cabbies have criminal convictions.

In late December, after selectmen had granted operators’ license renewals to each company, Carter received a list of drivers and learned that nine of the 12 working for Road Hog and Courtesy Cab had criminal convictions dating back to 1968.

That meant they could no longer drive cabs in Rumford according to the ordinance, which makes taxi company owners ensure that their drivers have no felony convictions, or more than three misdemeanor convictions related to driving.

Cabbies from Mountain Valley Taxi Service didn’t have any convictions restricted by the ordinance, Carter said.

Selectmen then interceded after several of the affected drivers and cab owners criticized the ordinance for its lack of a statute of limitations on convictions.

The only discussion came during Thursday night’s public hearing when Downs and Mountain Valley Taxi Service owners Matt Bean and Deb Cayer sought clarification on some of the amendments and language in the original ordinance.

Both Puiia and Selectmen Chairman Brad Adley explained why selectmen didn’t consider other possible retooling as suggested by Bean and Cayer.

That can be done in April when residents traditionally broach ordinance amendments or new ordinances to selectmen, Puiia said.

“The task at hand was not to put people out of work,” Puiia said.

“We want to keep the industry working, because we’re trying to fix a certain issue,” Adley said.

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During Thursday night’s public hearing in Rumford on proposed changes to the taxi law, Mountain Valley Taxi Service co-owner Matt Bean asks selectmen why they didn’t include language that police would do spot checks of taxi cabs to ensure they have no safety violations.