(1) General. The Council shall cause the Chief of the Police Department or some other employee on behalf of the city thoroughly and carefully to examine each taxicab before a license is granted to operate the same. No license shall be issued or continued for any taxicab which does not comply with the conditions of divisions (2) through (7).
(2) Safety. Each taxicab shall be in a thoroughly safe condition for the transportation of passengers.
(3) Cleanliness. Each taxicab shall be clean and of good appearance and well painted and varnished.
(4) Identification. Each taxicab shall bear on the outside of each rear door, in painted letters not less than four inches nor more than eight inches, the name of the owner, or in addition, may bear an identifying design approved by the Council. No vehicle covered by the terms of this chapter shall be licensed whose color scheme, identifying design, monogram or insignia to be used thereon shall, in the opinion of the Council, conflict with or imitate any color scheme, identifying design, monogram or insignia used on a vehicle or vehicles already operating under this chapter, in a manner as to be misleading or tend to deceive or defraud the public. If, after a license has been issued for a taxicab hereunder, the color scheme, identifying design, monogram or insignia thereof is changed so as to be, in the opinion of the Council, in conflict with or an imitation of any color scheme, identifying design, monogram or insignia used by any other person, owner or operator, in a manner as to be misleading or tend to deceive the public, the license of or certificate covering the taxicab or taxicabs shall be suspended or revoked.
(5) Taximeter. All taxicabs operated under the authority of this chapter shall be equipped with taximeters fastened in front of the passengers and visible to them at all times day and night; and after sundown, the face of the taximeter shall be illuminated. The taximeter shall be operated mechanically by a mechanism of standard design and construction, driven either from the transmission or from one of the front wheels by a flexible and permanently attached driving mechanism. It shall be sealed at all points and connections which, if manipulated, would affect its correct reading and recording. Each taximeter shall have thereon a flag to denote when the vehicle is employed and when it is not employed; and it shall be the duty of the driver to throw the flag of each taximeter into a non-recording position at the termination of each trip. The taximeters shall be subject to inspection at any time by the Police Department. Any inspector or other officer of the department is hereby authorized either on complaint of any person or without the complaint to inspect any meter and, upon discovery of any inaccuracy therein, to notify the person operating the taxicab to cease operation. Thereupon, the taxicab shall be kept off the highways until the taximeter is repaired and in the required working condition.
(6) Rate card. Each taxicab shall have a rate card setting forth the authorized rates of fare, displayed in a place as to be in view of all passengers.
(7) Other. Each taxicab shall pass any other examinations and tests as may be reasonably ordered by the Council from time to time.
(Prior Code, § 603.06)