(A) The City Council shall have the authority to fix the rates, charges and fares of all taxicabs operating within the city.
(B) The City Council may authorize operators to implement new rate schedules under the following provisions.
(1) Taxicab operators may propose their own rates by providing a copy of the proposed rate schedule and the proposed effective date to the City Secretary at least 14 days prior to the proposed date of the rates being placed into effect, which rates shall be published one time in the official newspaper as soon as possible.
(2) The City Council or City Manager may suspend the implementation of the new proposed rates by written notice to the taxicab operator within 14 days of receipt of the proposed rate changes. If no such suspension notice is given, the proposed rates may be placed into effect on the proposed date.
(3) The City Council shall, if the suspension notice herein provided for is given, hold a public hearing within 30 days of filing for rate increase if in the opinion of the City Manager or of the City Council such a hearing will be in the public interest. The City Council at the hearing may accept the proposed rates, refuse the rates, or set the rates as it may see fit and proper.
(4) Each taxicab operator may operate under its own rate schedule in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(5) There shall be posted at all times in each operating taxicab within the city limits of the City of Canton a map of the City of Canton and a rate charge.
(C) If any operator shall refuse to convey a passenger at the rate specified on the rate card displayed in the taxicab or shall demand or receive an amount in excess of the rate displayed on the card, he or she shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
(D) No taxicab shall be operated unless it is equipped with a meter in good and workable condition to record the amount to be charged on each trip, which amount shall be shown in figures visible to the passenger. Upon paying his or her fare each passenger shall be given a receipt showing the amount so paid and the name of the company or person operating the cab, together with the number of the cab if the company or person operates more than one taxicab in the city. All taximeters must be inspected annually by certified state motor vehicle inspector provided by the operator to ensure they are in proper working order. The city may require additional meter inspections at any time.
(E) It shall be unlawful for a passenger to fail or refuse to pay the lawful fare at the termination of the trip.
(F) No extra charge shall be made for baggage or parcels the size of which permits them to be carried in the cab.
(Ord. 99-03, passed 3-16-1999) Penalty, see § 115.99