A. Taxicab companies shall maintain all service requirements set forth in a department contract and other requirements as provided by applicable law and department rules and regulations.
B. Taxicab services shall be available twenty four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week.
C. Unless otherwise provided in a department contract, it is a violation for any taxicab business to refuse to accept a call for service to or from any point within the corporate limits of the city at any time when such business has available taxicabs, and it is a violation for any business to fail or refuse to provide all or any service required by this title.
D. Any driver employed to carry a passenger to a definite point shall take the most direct or expeditious route possible that will carry the passenger safely and expeditiously to his or her destination, unless otherwise directed by the passenger.
E. The mayor or the mayor's designee is authorized to establish taxi stands in such place or places upon the streets of the city as the mayor deems necessary for the use of taxicabs operated in the city. The mayor shall not create a taxi stand without taking into consideration the need for such stands by the taxicab industry, the convenience to the general public, and the recommendation of the city traffic engineer. The mayor shall not create a taxi stand where such stand would tend to create a traffic hazard.
F. Taxi stands shall be used only by taxicab drivers and their boarding passengers, who shall use them on a first come, first served basis. The driver shall enter the taxi stand from the rear and shall advance forward as the taxicabs exit. Drivers shall stay within ten feet (10') of their taxicabs. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a passenger from boarding the cab of his or her choice that is parked at any position in a taxi stand. The mayor or the mayor's designee shall prescribe the maximum number of cabs that shall occupy such taxi stands.
G. Private or other vehicles for hire, and persons not waiting for or boarding taxicabs shall not occupy any space upon the streets that has been established as a taxi stand during any times specified by the mayor or the mayor's designee for use by taxicabs.
H. The driver of any taxicab shall remain in the driver's compartment or immediately adjacent to his or her vehicle at all times when such vehicle is upon the public street, except that, when necessary, a driver may be absent from his or her taxicab for not more than twenty (20) consecutive minutes; and provided further, that nothing herein contained shall be held to prohibit any driver from alighting to the street or sidewalk for the purpose of assisting passengers into or out of such vehicle or to load their baggage into the taxicab.
I. No driver shall permit more persons to be carried in a taxicab as passengers than the rated seating capacity rated by the vehicle manufacturer of his or her taxicab. Child seating shall be in accordance with Utah and federal law.
J. After a taxicab has been hired by a passenger or group of passengers, no driver shall permit any other person to occupy or ride in the taxicab without the consent of the original passenger or group.
K. No driver shall solicit passengers for a taxicab except when sitting in the driver's compartment of such taxicab, while standing within ten feet (10') of such taxicab, or at any authorized taxi stand.
L. No driver shall refuse or neglect to convey any reasonably orderly person or persons, or their luggage upon request, unless previously engaged or unable or forbidden by the provisions of this chapter to do so. No driver shall refuse to transport a service animal accompanying a person or persons in the passenger compartment of the taxicab.
M. Any person may hail a taxicab for service within the city, except that in locations of a taxi stand for taxicabs the person should proceed to the taxicab that is "head set" at the stand for service. However, nothing shall prohibit the person from hiring the taxicab of the person's choice. (Ord. 67-14, 2014)