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Every taxicab shall have the taxicab vehicle license number painted in one of the following locations: (1) the center of the main panel of the rear doors of the vehicle, or (2) on the rear panels of the vehicle if an advertising permit has been issued for the rear door. If the medallion licensee is affiliated with a taxicab affiliation, the affiliation’s color scheme, name, and telephone number shall be substituted.
The Commissioner may also provide, pursuant to rule, that other information of interest to the public, including, but not limited to, the licensee’s or taxicab affiliation’s website or e-mail address and/or the current taximeter rates of fare be permanently and prominently affixed to the outside of the vehicle. No other name, number, emblem, or advertisement of any kind excepting signs or advertisements required or permitted by this chapter, official license emblems or a license decal shall be painted or carried so as to be visible on the outside of any taxicab unless otherwise required by state law.
(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-23, p. 6542, Art. VII, § 10)
A licensee is responsible for ensuring that his taxicab(s) permanently display the information in a manner set forth by the commissioner. The information must be displayed, in letters and numerals large enough to be plainly visible to the passenger. The information contents shall include at a minimum: the license number, and the taxicab meter rates and charges set by ordinance. The commissioner may promulgate rules governing the form, the placement and the contents of the information to be displayed.
(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1)
A licensee is responsible for ensuring that his taxicab(s) are equipped with a taximeter connected with and operated from the transmission of the taxicab to which it is attached. The taximeter must be active whenever the taxicab is engaged for hire within the city limits.
Taximeters must register the rates and charges accrued as set by this chapter. The taximeter shall display the fare in a manner and size so as to be plainly visible to the passenger while riding in the back seat of the vehicle. All taximeters must be equipped with a receipt-dispensing mechanism. The commissioner may promulgate rules governing taximeter and receipt specifications.
The fare-indicating mechanism of the taximeter shall be actuated by the distance mechanism whenever the vehicle is in motion at such a speed that the rate of distance revenue equals or exceeds the time rate, and may be actuated by the time mechanism whenever the vehicle speed is less than this and when the vehicle is not in motion.
Taximeters shall be designed, calibrated and tested to register fares pursuant to the standards published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (N.I.S.T.) in N.I.S.T. Handbook 44, or standards approved by a United States governmental weights and measurements agency with authority over such standards and approved through rules promulgated by the Commissioner.
It is unlawful for a licensee to operate or lease a taxicab or a public chauffeur to operate a taxicab for hire within the city unless (1) that taxicab's meter has been sealed by the commissioner and (2) the meter is in proper and accurate working condition in accordance with this chapter and applicable rules.
The commissioner is authorized to issue rules necessary to regulate the payment of fares, including but not limited to, cash, credit cards, debit cards, cyber-cash and other generally acceptable means of purchasing goods and services. Such rules may also specify the type and placement of non-cash payment devices, providing that all non-cash payment methods shall be located in the rear passenger compartment for use by the passenger.
Such rules may also provide the maximum amount charged to the chauffeur, directly or indirectly, by any taxicab licensee or taxicab affiliation in processing any non-cash payment of a fare.
As of the effective date of this chapter, any licensee who replaces a taxicab must install in the replacement vehicle a rear seat swipe credit card processing equipment approved by the department.
The commissioner is authorized to issue rules necessary to require and regulate the installation of global position system (GPS) in all taxicabs.
(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. IX, § 20)
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