It looks to me as if the $5,000/day fine they're speaking of refers to a modification of the Transportation code creating (among other things) a new offense of 'running a dispatch service without a permit,' which was passed by the SFMTA baord just last Tuesday - although it's still questionable whether or not it would apply to your firm.
Regardless, it has not yet been made law by the Board of Supervisors, nor is it on their legislative agenda for next week's meeting. From what I can see, it can takes months for something to work its way up the Supervisors' calendar. Of course, a lot depends on what sort of lobbying power the Taxi establishment has at City Hall, but it's fair to assume they have years of experience in working the system.
http://www.sfmta.com/cms/cmta/documents/10-19-10calendaritem...
IANAL, mind; just my personal views. I've developed an unhealthy interest in the (dys)function of my local government.
We've not seen the hour prior requirement in any law. If it does exist please send it our way, ([email protected]) but we believe that this is opinion not fact.