(a) The rates of fare for taxicabs shall be as set forth in this section:
For the first 1/9 mile or fraction thereof: | $3.25 |
Forty-five cents of this initial mileage rate for the first ten taxicab fares which a driver transports per day is hereby designated for payment of workers' compensation insurance. In addition, forty cents of this initial mileage rate for the first five taxicab fares per every 12-hour lease period is hereby designated as intended for payment of the City's ground transportation tax by the licensee; and ten cents of this initial mileage rate for the first five taxicab fares per every 12-hour lease period is hereby designated as intended for payment of City's accessibility fund fee by the licensee.
| |
For each additional 1/9 mile or fraction thereof: |
$0.25
|
For each 36 seconds of time elapsed: | $0.20 |
For the first additional passenger over the age of 12 years and under the age of 65 years: | $1.00 |
For each additional passenger, after the first additional passenger, over the age of 12 and under the age of 65 years: | $0.50 |
Vomit clean-up fee: | $50.00 |
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, it is unlawful for any person to demand or collect any fare for taxicab service which is more than the rates established in this section, or for any passenger to refuse payment of the fare so registered.
(b-1) Nothing provided in this section shall prohibit a chauffeur from charging a customer a convenience fee on non-cash payments for taxi service not to exceed 50 cents per transaction, subject to applicable laws and applicable contractual provisions addressing such transactions. The convenience fee shall be used only to cover any portion of the processing fee and related costs that a licensee incurs to accept non-cash payments for taxi service through credit card processing equipment approved by the Department.
(c) If a taxicab is dispatched to transport a customer at the customer's request, the taximeter may be activated two minutes after the arrival of the taxicab at the location to which it has been called, or at the time at which the taxicab was scheduled to arrive, whichever is later. At all other times, the taximeter may be activated only upon the passenger's entering the vehicle.
(d) Immediately on arrival at the passenger's destination it shall be the duty of the chauffeur to put the meter in the non-recording position and to call the passenger's attention to the fare registered.
(e) For destinations beyond the City limits, the charge shall be straight meter fare to the City limits and straight meter fare and a half from the City limits to the final destination, except for airport service as specified in 9-112-560 of this Code.
(f) Baggage of passengers shall be transported without charge.
(g) The City Council may from time to time revise the rates of fare by general ordinance in conformity with the provision hereinafter set forth, which rates shall be just and reasonable. The council, through its committee on transportation and public way, may hold a hearing to determine whether a revision of the rates of fare is necessary. At such public hearings the committee shall:
(i) consider the sworn statements of gross income and expenses submitted by the licensees or chauffeurs;
(ii) consider the testimony and other evidence from any licensee or chauffeur who may wish to testify in support of the requested increase;
(iii) consider the effect of an increase in fares upon the public and take testimony from any interested individual or organization;
(iv) consider the fares and practices with respect to similar services in other cities of the United States;
(v) consider all other evidence or testimony which the committee deems to be relevant and material to a proper determination.
Upon completion of such hearings, said committee shall report to the council its findings and recommendations concerning a just and reasonable rate of fare. If after receiving said findings and recommendations from the committee the council determines that a rate increase is proper, it shall increase the rates in an amount to insure adequate and efficient service to the public.
Any revision of rates of fares may be made by a change in the charge for the length of the first designated portion to the trip, or by a change in the charge for the balance of the trip, for waiting time or for each additional passenger or by any combination of such changes. In making any such revision, the council may presume the average length of a trip to be as established by the licensee's most current available records.
The City Council, through its committee on transportation and public way, shall hold hearings to determine whether a general ordinance authorizing such a surcharge may be necessary due to economic conditions affecting all licenses in general. A surcharge authorized by general ordinance under this section shall be of such duration, not to exceed 60 days, as the council may impose by such general ordinance.
(i) A higher rate than the rate provided in this Section may be charged for a taxicab service dispatched through any Internet-enabled application or digital platform for the provision of prearranged ride services by taxicabs, if:
(1) the dispatcher complies with Section 9-114-265; and
(2) the higher rate is a product of the base rate multiplied by a numeric value.
For purposes of this subsection, "base rate" means a taxi fare calculated pursuant to this section using a taximeter that complies with this chapter, or any other mechanism that meets nationally recognized technical and technological standards applicable to fare amount calculation for providing a prearranged transportation service, as such standards are approved by the City Council by ordinance.
(j) (1) Licensees may charge compensation for service based on a flat prearranged fare (for purposes of this subsection, "flat rate") for transportation of passengers between two locations.
(2) Any licensee shall display the licensee's flat rate on such licensee's website and Internet-enabled application or digital platform used by the licensee to connect drivers and passengers.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in Section 9-114-265, it is unlawful for a licensee to charge passengers a fare greater than the fare rate shown on the taximeter or the licensee's Internet-enabled application or digital platform.
(k) A fuel surcharge may be added by the chauffeur of a taxicab to every taxicab fare, as follows:
(1) Except as otherwise provided in item (4) of this subsection, if the price of gasoline equals or exceeds $5.00 per gallon and the Commissioner issues a public vehicle industry notice authorizing fuel surcharge on the rates of fare, the chauffeur of a taxicab may add to the total taxicab fare that would otherwise apply a fuel surcharge as provided in Table 9-112-600. The total fare used to calculate the fuel surcharge shall be based upon the rates of fare listed in Section 9-112-600(a), except for any additional passenger or vomit clean-up fees.
Total fare before applicable taxes or fees | Fuel surcharge |
$20.00 or less | $1.00 |
$20.01 to $40.00 | $2.00 |
$40.01 or more | $3.00 |
(2) If the price of gasoline falls below $5.00 per gallon at any time after such public vehicle industry notice is issued under subsection (k)(1), the Commissioner is authorized to issue a public vehicle industry notice terminating the fuel surcharge. No taxicab chauffeur shall impose a fuel surcharge after the Commissioner has issued a public vehicle industry notice terminating the fuel surcharge.
(3) If a fuel surcharge is authorized by the Commissioner under subsection (k)(1) of this section, no taxicab chauffeur shall add such fuel surcharge to any rate of fare unless the relevant public vehicle industry notice authorizing the fuel surcharge, is posted in a prominent place within the taxicab. The Commissioner may, by rule, specify the location, size, and other features of the public vehicle industry notice required by this subsection (k)(3). After the Commissioner issues a public vehicle industry notice terminating the fuel surcharge, taxicab chauffeurs shall remove the public vehicle industry notice authorizing the fuel surcharge from the taxicab.
(4) It shall be unlawful for any person to add any fuel surcharge to any rate of fare in violation of this subsection (k). In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who violates this subsection (k) shall be fined not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00 for each offense. Each improperly imposed fuel surcharge shall constitute a separate and distinct offense to which a separate fine shall apply.
(5) All public vehicle industry notice issued by the Commissioner under this subsection (k) shall be posted on the Department's website and may be made available by the Commissioner to taxicab chauffeurs and their affiliates using other appropriate means as determined by the Commissioner.
(6) As used in this subsection (k), "Price of gasoline" means the "month ago avg." regular gasoline price for the City of Chicago Statistical Area as published in AAA's Online Gas Prices Report.
(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-10-14, p. 101074, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 12062, Art. XI, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 3-16-16, p. 20103, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. IX, § 24; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 31925, Art. VI, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 9-21-22, p. 52002, § 1)