A. Taximeters Required: Each taxicab shall be provided with a taximeter or instrument so devised as to register, in plain view of the passenger, the fares as accumulated while said cab is in operation.
B. Operation: Taximeters shall be connected with and operated from the front wheel or the transmission of the taxicab to which they are attached. No taxicab shall operate while engaged, unless such taximeter shall be accurately recording the fare to be charged, except where the taxicab is hired on an hourly or flat-rate basis.
Each taximeter shall be equipped with a flag at least three inches by two inches in size, either painted red or bearing thereon in letters at least one inch in height the word "vacant" or the words "for hire". The flag post of such flag shall be up or towards a vertical position when the taxicab is for hire, and said flag shall be immediately pulled down and kept in a horizontal position when such taxicab is engaged. The taximeter shall register either the minimum or flat-rate fare at the beginning of each trip.
C. Additional Passengers; Rates Of Fares: Each taximeter shall be provided with a suitable mechanism to register the fare for all additional passengers and also be equipped with a suitable registering device to be specified and approved by the Chief of Police for the purpose of indicating and registering all flat-rate fares, which device may be a part of the taximeter.
The taximeter shall have a dial which shall register the tariff in accordance with the legal rates of fare. Each taxicab shall be equipped with a light which, during the period between sunset and sunrise, shall be so reflected upon the dial of the taximeter as to enable the passenger to read the figures registered thereon.
D. Inspection: At least once every six months the Chief of Police or his agent shall inspect, test and seal all taximeters in use in the Village. In addition thereto, whenever complaint is made to the Chief of Police that any taximeter registers inaccurately, it shall be his duty to cause immediately an inspection and test of such taximeter. If said taximeter does not properly and accurately register, it shall be unlawful to operate the taxicab until it is equipped with a taximeter approved by the Chief of Police or his agent. The owner or operator of any taxicab shall, upon demand, deliver to the Chief of Police or his agent the taxicab, together with the taximeter, or the taximeter detached therefrom, for inspection and test. Said owner or operator may be present or represented at the time such inspection and test are made.
Every taximeter shall be tested to determine the accuracy of its recording mechanism with respect to distance traveled, either by running the taxicab to which it is attached over a course, a standard mile in length, or by a mechanical test. Both or either of the foregoing tests may be made at the discretion of the Chief of Police or his agent. To determine whether a taximeter correctly registers waiting time, such taximeter shall be tested by comparing the time recorded as shown by the fare computed on the dial with the standard time. When a test shows that a taximeter correctly records the charge of fare measured by distance traveled, waiting time and extra passengers, it shall be sealed and a certificate of the test shall be issued to the owner or operator by the Chief of Police.
It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police or his agent to seal all taximeters found accurate and correct, and to keep a record of the numbers of each taximeter and the date of the inspection thereof in the books of his office and to furnish a copy of such inspections to the President. The fee to be charged for the regular inspection every six months of each taximeter is hereby fixed at the sum of two dollars fifty cents with no charge for additional inspections unless the taximeter registers inaccurately, in which case the inspection fee for each additional inspection shall likewise be two dollars fifty cents.
E. Listing Of Fares: There shall be affixed on the inside of each taxicab in a conspicuous place and in such manner that the same may be easily and conveniently read by any person riding in such taxicab, a card in a frame covered by glass, upon which card shall be printed in plain and legible type the rates of fare as prescribed by this Code.
F. Collection Of Fares: It shall be the duty of the driver of each taxicab at the termination of each trip to throw the flag to the non-recording position on the taximeter and call the passenger's attention to the fare registered. The taximeter shall not be changed until the fare has been paid or a charge ticket made out and handed the person hiring such taxicab. Any passenger shall be entitled to receive, upon request, a receipt for the fare paid.
G. Transfer: No person owning, controlling or driving any taxicab shall transfer the taximeter to any other taxicab without having had, prior thereto, a new inspection and certification of such taximeter. No person shall tamper with, break or mutilate any taximeter, cable or seal thereof. (Ord. 2668, 2-12-1996)