Loading...
At a time specified by the City Administrator or his or her designee, each taxicab shall be inspected by the City Administrator or his or her designee to ascertain compliance with the requirements of this chapter. If such inspection reveals a significant safety hazard, the permit shall be automatically suspended, and the taxicab shall immediately be ordered out of service. Prior to being placed back in service, the taxicab shall be re-inspected to determine that the deficiency has been corrected. An inspection fee for a rescheduled inspection or a re-inspection will be charged as designated in the Master Fee Schedule.
(Ord. 801 C.S., passed 9-6-06; Am. Ord. 941 C.S., passed 6-7-17)
(A) The existence of a significant safety hazard shall be grounds for the automatic suspension of a taxicab permit by the City Administrator or his or her designee. The taxicab shall immediately be ordered out of service. Prior to being placed back in service, the permittee shall submit to the City Administrator or his or her designee verification from a qualified mechanic approved by the City Administrator or his or her designee that the deficiency has been corrected.
(B) For the purposes of this chapter, a significant safety hazard shall be deemed to include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) For excessive leakage of oil, grease or any other substance from any part of the taxicab, including leakage into the taxicab.
(2) Existence of any defects in the frame of the taxicab.
(3) Failure to maintain any movable parts of the taxicab, including doors, windows, handles, hood, trunk and lights, in good operating condition.
(4) Failure to maintain the tires, horn, exterior lights, turning signals or brakes in good operating condition.
(5) Failure to maintain the motor, steering, and other mechanical parts of the taxicab in good operating condition.
(6) Failure to have an adequate exhaust system, properly installed and in good operating condition.
(7) Presence within the interior of the taxicab of any hard or sharp protrusion not necessary for the operation of the taxicab, or the presence of any large or heavy item which is not securely anchored to prevent movement in case of a sudden stop or collision.
(8) Obstructions of the windshield, or the side or rear windows.
(Ord. 801 C.S., passed 9-6-06; Am. Ord. 941 C.S., passed 6-7-17)
Taxicab drivers shall be familiar with and obey the following rules:
(A) Taxicab drivers shall not park their taxicab on any public street in the Central Business District, except where a driver is answering a call or parked at an authorized parking area or zone.
(B) Taxicab drivers shall, upon request, give any passenger making payment a receipt for the amount of the fare charged.
(C) Each taxicab driver shall wear a nametag having the driver's first name, driver number, and current picture attached to the driver's breast pocket or other readily visible location at all times while the driver is operating a taxicab for hire. The driver's permit shall be readily available at all times for inspection by the City Administrator or his or her designee or a Police Officer, while the driver is operating a taxicab.
(D) Taxicab operators, managers, or drivers shall not drive, or permit to be driven, a taxicab vehicle with an unclean interior.
(E) Every taxicab operator and driver placing in service, driving, or causing to be driven, any taxicab vehicle in the City of Madera shall be responsible for the thorough washing of each taxicab vehicle operated or driven by them at least once a week, and shall also carefully sweep and clean each taxicab vehicle and trunk compartment at the completion of each shift of operation: and whenever required in writing by the Department of Public Health of the County of Madera every taxicab operator and driver operating or causing to be operated a taxicab vehicle within the city limits shall be responsible for immediately disinfecting each taxicab vehicle so operated or driven by them by spraying them with a disinfectant.
(F) Taxicab drivers shall not consume or be under the influence of any alcohol, controlled substance, or prescribed or non-prescribed drug which affects their driving, while operating a taxicab vehicle.
(G) Taxicab drivers shall comply with all the reasonable requests of a passenger, including but not limited to the giving of their name, permit number, the taxicab permit number, and informing the passenger of the complaint form available in the Neighborhood Revitalization Department.
(H) Taxicab drivers shall not threaten, harass or abuse any passenger or use or attempt to use any physical force against a passenger except in self-defense or in the defense of another.
(I) Taxicab drivers shall not refuse to transport a passenger's luggage, wheelchair, crutches, or other similar property or a guide dog or other orderly pet.
(J) Taxicab drivers shall, if requested, assist a handicapped, disabled or elderly person to, into and out of the taxicab vehicle if within the physical capacity of the driver.
(K) Upon request of a passenger, taxicab drivers shall load or unload luggage in or from the taxicab vehicle's interior or trunk compartment if within the physical capacity of the driver.
(L) Taxicab drivers shall not smoke, drink or eat while a passenger is in the taxicab vehicle.
(M) Taxicab drivers shall not operate any radio, except the radio dispatch system, or any radio or tape player while a passenger is in the taxicab vehicle unless the passenger so requests.
(N) Taxicab drivers shall be neatly attired and shall not wear short pants; ragged, torn, or dirty clothing of any type; unsightly or unsafe footwear; any clothing with offensive or obscene words, statements or phrases; T-shirts (unless covered by an overshirt or designated as part of a uniform by the driver's employer): or any other clothing inappropriate to the conduct of business. Violations of this section shall be grounds for revocation of permittee's taxi driver permit.
(Ord. 801 C.S., passed 9-6-06; Am. Ord. 941 C.S., passed 6-7-17)
All taxicabs shall be used strictly in conformance with the following rules:
(A) Carrying of additional passengers. When a taxicab is engaged, the occupant shall have the exclusive right to the full use of the passenger compartment, and the owner or driver of such taxicab shall not solicit or carry additional passengers without the consent of the occupant.
(B) Calls to be answered as received. The driver of any taxicab shall answer all calls received in the order of their receipt.
(C) Limitation on number of passengers. No driver of any taxicab shall transport any larger number of passengers than the rated seating capacity of his or her taxicab.
(D) Circuitous routes. Any driver employed to carry passengers to a definite point shall take the most direct route possible that will carry the passengers safely and expeditiously to their destination.
(E) Radio dispatch. All new taxicab permittees shall operate under a radio dispatch system.
(Ord. 801 C.S., passed 9-6-06)
(A) The rates of fare to be charged to the public for use of taxicabs shall be the same for all taxicabs operated by the permittee, and shall be based upon time and distance traveled.
(B) The Council, by resolution, may establish rates for mileage, drop charges, and waiting time applicable to all taxicabs. This rate shall increase due to changes in the Consumer Price Index.
(Ord. 801 C.S., passed 9-6-06)
Except where credit is extended, any person who shall willfully or fraudulently fail or refuse to pay, at the end of the trip, or the termination or discharge of service, the legal fare for a taxicab that he or she has hired, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Ord. 801 C.S., passed 9-6-06)
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all taxicab companies which were conducting business prior to the date on which this chapter becomes effective; provided however, the permits required for taxicab companies existing on or before the effective date of this chapter shall comply with all provisions of this chapter within 120 days from and after the date on which this chapter becomes effective.
(Ord. 801 C.S., passed 9-6-06)
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by forfeiture of his or her permits in addition to any other fine or imprisonment as provided in Chapter 2 of Title 1 of this code.
(Ord. 801 C.S., passed 9-6-06)