(a) General condition. The owner and the operator shall keep taxicabs that are operating under County licenses in proper physical and mechanical condition to render safe, adequate, and convenient public service. The owner and the operator shall keep taxicabs in a clean and sanitary condition. The owner and, on being assigned to a taxicab, the operator shall ascertain that the taxicab and its equipment are in good working order.
(b) Tampering prohibited. An owner and the operator may not tamper with rate schedules, taximeters, speedometer cables, or any other equipment required by law to be in a taxicab.
(c) Doors. The doors of a taxicab shall remain securely fastened while the taxicab is in motion and open readily in case of an emergency.
(d) Dome light. The passenger compartment of a taxicab shall be equipped with a dome light that is capable of being lighted or extinguished by the passenger or controlled by the operation of the doors.
(e) Climate control. All factory-installed climate control devices shall be maintained in working order.
(f) Windows. All windows shall be maintained in working order.
(g) Exterior roof light. A taxicab shall be equipped with an exterior roof light approved by the Department. The roof light shall be connected to the taximeter so that the roof light is extinguished when the taximeter is activated.
(h) Communication device. A taxicab, other than a taxicab operating out of Baltimore-Washington International Airport under a written concession contract with the State Aviation Administration, shall be equipped with a functioning communication device to be used by the operator to receive and accept requests for service from the dispatch facility.
(i) Equipment prohibitions. A taxicab may not:
(1) have shades or curtains that shield the occupants or the operator from observation;
(2) have placards or other obstructions that are attached to or rest against the windshield or rear window, except for the certificates of inspection required by State law;
(3) contain or be equipped with or operate in response to any device used to intercept radio communications not made to that taxicab or that taxicab operator; or
(4) contain or be equipped with any device used to intercept instruments that law enforcement officers use to enforce motor vehicle laws.
(1985 Code, Art. 16, §§ 17-401, 17-404) (Bill No. 56-97; Bill No. 24-00)