(A) Inspection of taximeter required. No person shall drive a taxicab which has a taximeter that has not been inspected and approved as required by this section.
(B) General requirements for taximeters. The dial of every taximeter shall show only 1 fare. Each taximeter shall also properly and accurately register, indicate and display the fare which has accrued. In addition, each taximeter shall also properly and accurately register, indicate and display the time consumed by the taxicab while in waiting. Each taximeter shall be equipped with a flag at least 3 inches by 2 inches in size, either painted red or bearing thereon in letters at least 1 inch in height, the word “vacant” or the words “for hire.” The flag post of such flag shall be kept up or toward a vertical position when the taxicab is for hire. When a taxicab is engaged in the service of a passenger or passengers, such flag pole shall be kept down or in a horizontal position.
(C) Placement of taximeter. Each taximeter must be placed in a taxicab so that it is in plain view of the passengers. Each taxicab shall, during the period between sunset and sunrise, be equipped with a light which shall illuminate the taximeter so as to enable the passengers within such taxicab to read the figures indicated on the taximeter.
(D) Testing. Every taximeter shall be tested by running the taxicab to which it is attached over a course of a standard mile in length or by a mechanical test to prove the accuracy of the register thereof. Either of the foregoing tests may be made in the discretion of the person making the inspection. In order to determine whether such taximeter correctly registers “waiting time” it shall be the duty of the person inspecting the taximeter to test the taximeter by comparing the timing quoted as shown by the fare computed on the dial of the taximeter with the standard time. It shall be the duty of each taxicab company to deliver, upon request from the Building Director, either the taxicab together with the taximeter, or the taximeter attached therefrom to the person and place specified by the Building Director for the purpose of testing.
(E) Sealing of taximeters. All taximeters found accurate and correct are to be sealed. The Building Director shall keep a record of the numbers of each taximeter, the vehicle license of the cab in which each taximeter is installed and the date on which the taximeter was last inspected.
(F) Use of unsealed taximeters prohibited. No taxicab company shall permit a taxicab to be operated which is equipped with a taximeter, whose case is unsealed. No taxicab driver shall drive a taxicab equipped with a taximeter whose case is unsealed.
(G) Transfer of taximeters. No person shall detach any certified or inspected taximeter from any taxicab and attach the same to any other taxicab unless the taximeter is first inspected and resealed.
(H) False signals. No taxicab driver while transporting passengers shall display the signal affixed to the taxicab’s taximeter in such a position as to denote that he is employed at a rate of fare different from that to which he is entitled under the provisions of this section.
(1997 Code, § 36.06) (Ord. 83-7, passed 4-28- 1983; Am. Ord. CO-09-27, passed 10-6-2009; Am. Ord. CO-2021-21, passed 8-17-2021)