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§ 115.251 INSPECTION OF VEHICLES FOR HIRE.
   (A)   Each vehicle for hire for which application for an inspection sticker is made shall be inspected by the Director or the Director's designee, before the inspection sticker is issued. The inspection shall verify that each vehicle conforms to the following requirements including, but not limited to:
      (1)   For taxicabs only, a cash box securely installed in the interior of the vehicle within normal view of the passengers, or installed in the trunk of the vehicle. The cash box shall be the repository for cash received by the driver during his or her operation of the vehicle and shall remain locked when the vehicle is available to the public for its use. The type construction, operation, placement, installation, and securing of the cash box shall comply with regulations as may be prescribed by the Director. The installation of a cash box shall be optional at the election of the company and/or driver;
      (2)   For taxicabs only, conspicuous notice clearly visible to passenger(s) from the exterior on both sides of the vehicle and to passengers inside the vehicle to the effect that the drivers cannot carry more than $50 in cash for the purpose of making change;
      (3)   The proper designation as provided in § 115.259;
      (4)   A taximeter fastened in a location that is visible to all passengers at all times of day and night;
         (a)   Taximeters may be operated electronically or 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.
         (b)   Each taximeter shall be sealed at all points and connections, which, if manipulated, would affect their correct reading and recording.
         (c)   Each taximeter shall have thereon a flag or light to denote when the vehicle is employed and when it is not employed.
         (d)   Buses, charter buses, limousines, airport shuttles and other Department approved fixed rate vehicles shall be exempt from this section.
      (5)   A current map of Louisville Metro in a place immediately accessible to the driver;
      (6)   Functional seat belts being accessible for each passenger seat in the vehicle;
      (7)   The vehicle for hire is capable of allowing the passenger(s) to be able to open the passenger's doors or windows from the passenger's seat;
      (8)   Any tinting of any windows of the vehicle for hire complies with state law;
      (9)   All windows, windshields, and bumpers are free from decals or stickers that do not pertain to the person or the ground transportation service industry in general;
      (10)   An inspection fee in the amount of $20 shall be paid by the certificate holder for each vehicle that is to be inspected before the issuance of the inspection sticker. The inspection fee shall apply to all required initial and semiannual inspections;
      (11)   The vehicle for hire operated as a taxicab is no more than eight calendar years beyond the manufacturer's model year unless approved by the Director. The following table is provided to further illustrate how this provision works:
      Manufacturer's
      Model Year      Retirement Date
      1997         2005
      1998         2006
      1999         2007
      2000         2008
      2001         2009
      2002         2010
      (12)   For taxicabs only, on the front right visor and on the backside of the front seat facing the rear there shall be a permanent display listing:
         (a)   The company's name;
         (b)   The taxicab number;
         (c)   The Metrocall number for complaints/questions/service concerns;
         (d)    Seat belts and child restraints must be used in accordance with all state and local laws;
         (e)   A statement, which says, "All fares must be metered except to and from Downtown/ Airport Flat Rate Zone."; and
         (f)   Rates of fares displayed on their own and/or by a rate card as approved by the Director.
   (B)   If the certificate holder has 50 or more vehicles for hire licensed by the Department and can safely and adequately accommodate the inspection process, the semiannual inspections may be performed at the certificate holder's designated place of business.
   (C)   The certificate holder and/or owner will be informed promptly of inspection results when a vehicle for hire fails to meet the requirements of the inspection.
   (D)   Re-inspections. Every vehicle for hire operating under a license and inspection sticker issued pursuant to this subchapter shall be re-inspected at a minimum of six month intervals or at such shorter intervals as may be prescribed or required by the Director, based upon a lapse of time or miles driven between re-inspections, the occurrence of certain incidents, or the condition of the vehicle.
   (E)   Nothing in this subchapter shall preclude the Director, an inspector, any Metro Government police officer, airport authority police officer, or any law enforcement officer, from inspecting within their jurisdiction a vehicle for hire and/or its operator at any time with or without a complaint filed by any person or agency.
   (F)   New vehicles (those having less than 1,000 actual miles on the odometer) are exempt from the initial mechanical inspection requirement above.
   (G)   Nothing contained herein is intended to preclude any Department inspector from requesting and receiving verification of mechanical reliability of any vehicle for hire at any time, if in the inspector's judgment, the mechanical reliability of the vehicle is in question. The Department has the right, power, and authority to check for compliance and substantiate any stated or claimed inspection compliance as submitted to that office as required by this subchapter. Further, during normal business hours, the certificate holder shall provide access to and the cooperation of any party responsible for conducting of the mechanical inspection.
   (H)   The certificate holder also at the certificate holder's garage or expense will provide garage facilities for the Department evaluation and assessment of the mechanical inspection if and when requested by an inspector of the Department.
   (I)   The certificate holder and/or the driver may be held accountable for the reliability and accuracy of the reported inspection and/or any repairs made to correct deficiencies found. Any one falsely claiming to have met the requirements of a mechanical inspection when in fact the requirements were un-addressed or not met, is subject to revocation of the inspection sticker and an administrative sanction against the applicable certificate holder and/or driver.
   (J)   Every vehicle for hire driver and certificate holder shall be responsible for insuring that evaluation cards issued by the Department are available to every driver. An evaluation card shall be offered to the primary passenger (passenger that pays the fare) of a vehicle for hire. The driver shall inform the passengers of the availability of the evaluation card and shall give a card to each and every passenger requesting one. Every driver and certificate holder shall be responsible for insuring pamphlets and other forms of literature that serve the interest of Metro Government as authorized by the Department are available to passengers of vehicles for hire in a location and format prescribed by the Department.
   (K)   All drivers and certificate holders shall insure that a vehicle for hire shall be equipped with an air conditioning system capable of maintaining a temperature of 80º F. or less in the rear passenger compartment at head height during the months of March through October. The air conditioning is to be engaged at the passenger's request or if the outside temperature is above 80º F. unless the passenger requests otherwise.
   (L)   All drivers and certificate holders shall insure that all vehicles for hire operated pursuant to this subchapter shall have a heating system capable of achieving at least 60º F. in the rear passenger compartment at head height during the months of October through April. The heating system is to be engaged at the passenger's request or if the outside temperature is below 50º F. unless the passenger requests otherwise.
(1999 Lou. Code, § 111.561) (Lou. Ord. No. 115-1979, approved 8-17-1979; Lou. Am. Ord. No. 370-1987, approved 12-28-1987; Lou. Am. Ord. No. 172-1996, approved 8-28-1996; Lou. Am. Ord. No. 0045-2002, § 1, approved 3-29-2002; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 223-2005, approved 12-27-2005) Penalty, see § 115.999
§ 115.252 COOPERATION WITH DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONS, PERMITS AND LICENSES REQUIRED.
   It shall be unlawful to mislead or make false statements to any inspector or police officer investigating a complaint or conducting an inspection pertaining to a vehicle for hire. It shall also be unlawful to make false statements or mislead any administrative staff of the Department in the processing of any application for permits, licenses, inspection stickers, or certificates, or in the investigation of any complaint, inspection or administrative process.
(1999 Lou. Code, § 111.563) (Lou. Ord. No. 115-1979, approved 8-17-1979; Lou. Am. Ord. No. 370-1987, approved 12-28-1987; Lou. Am. Ord. No. 172-1996, approved 8-28-1996; Lou. Am. Ord. No. 0045-2002, § 1, approved 3-29-2002; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 223-2005, approved 12-27-2005) Penalty, see § 115.999
§ 115.253 RATES OF FARE.
   The following maximum rates of fare and fees are what may be charged for the use of a vehicle for hire and must be readily available to passengers in a manner prescribed within this subchapter or approved by the Department.
   (A)   Taxicabs.
      (1)   Hourly rate: $23.86 per hour for one or more passengers.
      (2)   Mileage rate: $5.50 for the first mile or less and $2.55 for each additional mile.
      (3)   Each taximeter shall be calibrated to measure mileage in distances less than or equal to 1/10 of a mile.
         (a)   The mileage rate shall be equally
apportioned over the distances measured by the taximeter, except that an initial drop fee may be assessed for the first mile so that the taximeter reflects the authorized rate.
         (b)   A passenger surcharge of $3 per passenger over four will be allowed to be added to the metered or flat rate of fare.
         (c)   Waiting time: $.30 for each one minute of waiting time or fraction thereof, except for transportation fares involving Kentucky Medical Assistance Program recipients, for whom no waiting time shall be charged.
         (d)   Any other charges or tolls to enter or leave any passenger terminals, to use cross roads or bridges or pick up or discharge passengers at public facilities, shall be borne by the passenger(s) in addition to the metered rate of fare. Flat rate fares cannot add any additional charges.
      (4)   Airport rates: For all trips originating at the Louisville Muhammed Ali International Airport, the maximum rate of fare shall be the metered fare plus all fees, tolls, or charges assessed by the Louisville Regional Airport Authority plus a surcharge of $1.50. Fees for waiting time may be added, as they are to all taxi metered fares. If the metered fare plus all additional charges except for waiting time is less than $12.00, a minimum flat rate of $12.00 may be charged.
      (5)   Downtown/airport flat rate zone fare: There is a flat rate of $21.55 for fares between Louisville Muhammed Ali International Airport and downtown, with no intermediate stops. No additional charges whatsoever may be assessed for a flat rate fare with the exception that a passenger surcharge of $3 per passenger over four will be allowed to be added.
      (6)   Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center/downtown flat rate zone fare: There is a flat rate of $20.00 for fares between Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center and downtown, with no intermediate stops. No additional charges whatsoever may be assessed for a flat rate fare with the exception that a passenger surcharge of $3 per passenger over four will be allowed to be added.
      (7)   Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center/airport flat rate zone fare: There is a flat rate of $8 for fares between the Kentucky Exposition Center and Louisville Muhammed Ali International Airport, with no intermediate stops. No additional charges whatsoever may be assessed for a flat rate fare with the exception that a passenger surcharge of $3 per passenger over four will be allowed to be added.
      (8)   Taxicab and disabled persons vehicle drivers shall be required to take the shortest and most reasonable routes for all fares unless instructed by the passenger to do otherwise.
      (9)   Drivers shall be required to transport all Kentucky Medical Assistance Program voucher passengers directly to and from the scheduled medical appointment, and shall not deviate nor detour from the shortest available route, nor make any additional stops, even if requested to do so by the passenger.
      (10)   (a)   The Director is hereby authorized to declare a fuel emergency and to authorize a fuel surcharge to be added to the Taxicab rate when the cost of gasoline exceeds $4.00 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association’s published gasoline costs for medium grade gasoline for a period of 15 days. The allowable surcharge of 5% rounded to the nearest $.05 will be added to the rates of fare authorized in this section. Any taxicab operator or company implementing this surcharge shall reset its taximeters and flat rate schedules to include the 5% surcharge, and the Director shall provide a form notice of the surcharge to each taxicab company, and said company shall cause a copy of the notice to be placed in each licensed taxicab. The Director is further authorized to terminate the surcharge when the cost of gasoline falls below $4.00 per gallon according to the American Automobile Association’s published rates for medium grade gasoline for a period of 15 consecutive days, or to extend the surcharge in 30 day increments if the cost of gasoline remains above $4.00 per gallon based upon gasoline costs for medium grade gasoline as published by the American Automobile Association.
         (b)   The Director is hereby authorized to declare a fuel emergency and to authorize a fuel surcharge, which will be in addition to the surcharges in subsection (10)(a), above, to be added to the taxicab rate when the cost of gasoline exceeds $4.50 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association’s published gasoline costs for medium grade gasoline for a period of 15 days. The allowable surcharge of 5% rounded to the nearest five cents will be added to the rates of fare authorized in this section. Any taxicab operator or company implementing this surcharge shall reset its taximeters and flat rate schedules to include the 5% surcharge, and the Director shall provide a form notice of the surcharge to each taxicab company, and said company shall cause a copy of the notice to be placed in each licensed taxicab. The Director is further authorized to terminate the surcharge when the cost of gasoline falls below $4.50 per gallon according to the American Automobile Association’s published rates for medium grade gasoline for a period of 15 consecutive days, or to extend the surcharge in 30 day increments if the cost of gasoline remains above $4.50 per gallon based upon gasoline costs for medium grade gasoline as published by the American Automobile Association.
         (c)   The Director is hereby authorized to declare a fuel emergency and to authorize a fuel surcharge, which will be in addition to the surcharges in subsections (10)(a) and (10)(b), above, to be added to the taxicab rate when the cost of gasoline exceeds $5.00 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association’s published gasoline costs for medium grade gasoline for a period of 15 days. The allowable surcharge of 5% rounded to the nearest five cents will be added to the rates of fare authorized in this section. Any taxicab operator or company implementing this surcharge shall reset its taximeters and flat rate schedules to include the 5% surcharge, and the Director shall provide a form notice of the surcharge to each taxicab company, and said company shall cause a copy of the notice to be placed in each licensed taxicab. The Director is further authorized to terminate the surcharge when the cost of gasoline falls below $5.00 per gallon according to the American Automobile Association’s published rates for medium grade gasoline for a period of 15 consecutive days, or to extend the surcharge in 30 day increments if the cost of gasoline remains above $5.00 per gallon based upon gasoline costs for medium grade gasoline as published by the American Automobile Association.
   (B)   Fixed rate vehicles.
      (1)   The fares for all fixed rate vehicles shall be approved by the Director prior to implementation.
      (2)   All fixed rate vehicles that operate solely on an established route must have the routes, including all intermediate stops and timetables for departures and arrivals, approved by the Department prior to implementation.
      (3)   The maximum allowable fares, except for limousines, shall never exceed the maximum rates of fare allowed in § 115.253 for taxicabs.
   (C)   General.
      (1)   Nothing contained in § 115.253 pertaining to rates of fare shall constitute a minimum rate of fare for fixed rate vehicles nor preclude the certificate holder or driver from charging a rate of fare less than the allowable maximum rate of fare for taxicabs.
      (2)   The driver and certificate holder must insure that the maximum rates of fare are readily available to all passengers. The Department must approve the format and medium used to distribute this information to the passenger.
      (3)   Upon application received from certificate holder to the Director, special rates of fares maybe authorized for special events held within Louisville Metro. The application must list factual reasons that would justify the authorization of special rates of fare.
(1999 Lou. Code, § 111.564) (Lou. Ord. No. 115-1979, approved 8-17-1979; Lou. Am. Ord. No. 370-1987, approved 12-28-1987; Lou. Am. Ord. No. 172-1996, approved 8-28-1996; Lou. Am. Ord. No. 068-2000, approved 6-28-2000; Lou. Am. Ord. No. 0045-2002, § 1, approved 3-29-2002; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. 133-2005, approved 9-9-2005; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 223-2005, approved 12-27-2005; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 28-2006, approved 2-28-2006; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 55-2022, approved 5-11-2022) Penalty, see § 115.999
§ 115.254 INSURANCE OR INDEMNITY BOND REQUIREMENTS.
   (A)   Each vehicle for hire under this subchapter must have a certificate of insurance with the declaration of the vehicle covered, a copy of an indemnity bond, or plan of self-insurance approved by the State of Kentucky, Department of Transportation in full force and effect with basic reparation benefits in amounts not less than the types and amounts as required in KRS 218.655, except each taxicab must have in full force and effect the following coverage:
      (1)   Liability coverage of not less than $50,000 for all damages arising out of bodily injury sustained by any one person;
      (2)   Liability coverage of $100,000 for all damages arising out of bodily injury sustained by all persons injured as a result of any one accident; plus
      (3)   Liability coverage of not less than $25,000 for all damages arising out of damage to or destruction of property, including loss of use thereof, as a result of any one accident arising out of ownership, maintenance, use, loading, or unloading of the insured vehicle.
   (B)   The policy shall name Metro Government as an additional insured.
   (C)   The certificate holder shall furnish satisfactory evidence that such insurance is in effect and will not be cancelled during the term, or renewal term of the certificate without 30 days prior written notice of cancellation to the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government.
   (D)   Any claim for damages in excess of $1,000 per occurrence made to a certificate holder or its insurer shall be reported to the Department quarterly.
(1999 Lou. Code, § 111.565) (Lou. Ord. No. 115-1979, approved 8-17-1979; Lou. Am. Ord. No. 370-1987, approved 12-28-1987; Lou. Am. Ord. No. 172-1996, approved 8-28-1996; Lou. Am. Ord. No. 0045-2002, § 1, approved 3-29-2002; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 223-2005, approved 12-28-2005) Penalty, see § 115.999
§ 115.255 DISPLAY OF DRIVER'S PERMIT.
   Every driver under this subchapter shall post their special, temporary or annual driver's permit in such a manner as to be continually visible and readable at all times by any passenger and in a manner prescribed by the Department.
(1999 Lou. Code, § 111.566) (Lou. Ord. No. 115-1979, approved 8-17-1979; Lou. Ord. No. 370-1987, approved 12-28-1987; Lou. Am. Ord. No. 172-1996, approved 8-28-1996; Lou. Am. Ord. No. 0045-2002, § 1, approved 3-29-2002; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 223-2005, approved 12-27-2005) Penalty, see § 115.999
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