(A) All taxicabs operated within the town shall be equipped and maintained in a satisfactory condition so as to comply with the General Statutes of North Carolina and the provisions of this chapter, as well as complying with the following:
(1) Have the body of a sedan or enclosed type, and be of not less than 4-passenger capacity;
(2) Have 4 doors, two leading into the passenger’s compartment and two leading into the driver’s compartment, so constructed that they can be opened from the inside and outside;
(3) Have all windows, vents and doors in proper working condition;
(4) Be equipped with sufficient heater to heat the interior of the taxicab in cold weather;
(5) Have all windshields and side and rear glasses clean and free of cracks and clear of dirt and obstructions to clear view;
(6) Have the front and rear bumpers of original manufacture’s design and attachments, which shall be in place and in proper repair;
(7) Have headlights, tail lamps and turn signals in good working condition and as installed by the original manufacturer;
(8) Have sufficient interior lights that a passenger could see into the vehicle at night before entering;
(9) Be equipped for a functional number of seatbelts equal to the passenger capacity of the vehicle;
(10) All seating upholstery covering shall be nonabsorbent and washable material and shall be free of cuts or tears; and
(11) Be equipped with a taxi meter which records and indicates the charge or fare calculated according to the distance traveled, waiting time, traffic delay, initial charge, number of passengers and other authorized charges. The taximeter must be visible to the passengers.
(B) Prior to operating additional or replacement taxicabs in connection with a certificate, the owner shall file an amendment with the Town Clerk and the vehicle shall be inspected and approved by the taxicab inspector. In addition, an owner who permanently retires any or all the taxicabs associated with a certificate shall file an amendment with the Town Clerk within 10 days of the vehicle’s retirement. The Town Clerk shall notify the taxicab inspector upon receipt of the amendment.
(Ord. O-04-10, passed 10-11-2004)