Loading...
(a) Has a driving record showing a violation point count as provided by California Vehicle Code sections 12810 and 12810.5,
(b) Alters, tampers with or duplicates a taxicab driver's identification card,
(c) Displays or causes to be displayed or has in his possession any taxicab driver's identification card of the type described in paragraph (b) above,
(d) Fails to comply with section 21.315 of this chapter or any other section of this chapter that regulates the conduct of taxicab drivers,
(e) Has his California driver's license suspended or revoked,
(f) Has his taxicab driver's privileges suspended or revoked by any other jurisdiction in San Diego County that regulates taxicab drivers in its jurisdiction, or
(g) Fails to promptly obey all lawful orders or instructions of any peace officer, fire department official or regulating official.
(Amended by Ord. No. 4313 (N.S.), effective 6-20-74; amended by Ord. No. 4622 (N.S.), effective 1-15-76; amended by Ord. No. 4729 (N.S.), effective 8-13-76; amended by Ord. No. 4738 (N.S.), effective 9-9-76; amended by Ord. No. 5200 (N.S.), effective 8-10-78; amended by Ord. No. 5931 (N.S.), effective 11-18-80; Ord. No. 5938 (N.S.), adopted 11-25-80; effective 12-25-80, supersedes Ord. No. 5931; amended by Ord. No. 7309 (N.S.), effective 7-2-87; amended by Ord. No. 7882 (N.S.), effective 5-2-91; amended by Ord. No. 9889 (N.S.), effective 10-26-07; amended by Ord. No. 10312 (N.S.), effective 2-6-14)
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a taxicab business within the unincorporated areas of the County unless the person has in effect insurance coverage issued by a company authorized to transact insurance business in the State of California with coverage amounts that meet the requirements of paragraph (b) below. The insurance coverage required by this section shall insure the public against any loss or damage that may result to any person or property from the operation of all taxicabs used by the operator in the operator's business. A taxicab operator shall furnish the Issuing Officer with a certificate of insurance coverage as a prerequisite to obtaining a taxicab operator's license. The certificate shall provide that the insurer will notify the Issuing Officer in writing of any policy cancellation and the notice shall be sent to the Issuing Officer by registered mail at least 30 days prior to cancellation of the policy. The certificate shall also state:
(1) The full name of the insurer;
(2) The name and address of the insured;
(3) The insurance policy number;
(4) The type and limits of coverage;
(5) The specific vehicle(s) insured;
(6) The effective dates of the certificate; and
(7) The certificate issue date.
(b) The insurance shall provide coverage for each taxicab in an amount not less than $350,000 per occurrence, combined single limit for bodily injury and property damage.
(c) In addition to the requirements in subsection (a) of this section, insurer must also meet the following criteria:
(1) Admitted in California by the California Department of Insurance
(2) Insurers must have an A.M. Best Company Financial strength rating of A- (excellent), or better.
(3) All companies must have a financial size category of not less than VII (seven -$50- $100 million), or similar Standard and Poors rating.
(Amended by Ord. No. 5931 (N.S.), effective 11-18-80; Ord. No. 5938 (N.S.), adopted 11-25-80, effective 12-25-80, supersedes Ord. No. 5931; amended by Ord. No. 7309 (N.S.), effective 7-2-87; amended by Ord. No. 9889 (N.S.), effective 10-26-07; amended by Ord. No. 10134 (N.S.), effective 4-14-11; amended by Ord. No. 10312 (N.S.), effective 2-6-14; amended by Ord. No. 10540 (N.S.), effective 7-19-18)
(a) Each taxicab operator shall have his taxicab(s) painted a distinctive color or colors approved by the Issuing Officer and shall have permanently affixed to each taxicab the operator's name or the name under which the operator does business. If the operator has more than one taxicab, each taxicab shall be numbered. The color scheme of a taxicab may not be changed without the prior written permission of Issuing Officer.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly modify or alter any taxicab with the intent to deceive the public as to the taxicab operator's identity or to conceal the fact that a vehicle is a taxicab.
(Amended by Ord. No. 5931 (N.S.), effective 11-18-80; Ord. No. 5938 (N.S.), adopted 11-25-80, effective 12-25-80), supersedes Ord. No. 5931; amended by Ord. No. 7309 (N.S.), effective 7-2-87; amended by Ord. No. 9889 (N.S.), effective 10-26-07; amended by Ord. No. 10312 (N.S.), effective 2-6-14)
(a) A taxicab operator shall file with the operator's license application a statement of the "posted rate" the operator charges to transport passengers. The "posted rate" shall apply to all taxicabs operated under the taxicab operator's license. Posted rates shall be in effect for not less than three months. The operator shall file a rate amendment with the Issuing Officer at least 14 days before any new "posted rate" is to take effect.
(b) The operator shall prominently post the rate schedule on the interior of both rear doors of all taxicabs in letters at least one inch high. The rates shall be in dollars and cents and shall be broken down as follows:
(1) Flag drop rate
(2) Travel charge rate
(3) Time charge rate
(c) The fare shall be displayed on a taximeter in dollars and cents. The figures that display the fare shall be easily readable by persons in the passenger compartment of the taxicab.
(d) It shall be unlawful for a passenger who has hired a taxicab to refuse to pay the fare.
(e) It shall be unlawful for the taxicab operator or the taxicab driver to request the passenger pay a fare in excess of the posted rate.
(f) Every taxicab operator, driver, agent and employee shall accurately state the "posted rate" in effect in response to any inquiry.
(Amended by Ord. No. 5307 (N.S.), effective 12-21-78; amended by Ord. No. 5931 (N.S.), effective 11-18-80; Ord. No. 5938 (N.S.), adopted 11-25-80, effective 12-25-80, supersedes Ord. No. 5931; amended by Ord. No. 7309 (N.S.), effective 7-2-87; amended by Ord. No. 7428 (N.S.), effective 2-4-88; amended by Ord. No. 9889 (N.S.), effective 10-26-07; amended by Ord. No. 10312 (N.S.), effective 2-6-14)
(a) Every taxicab shall be equipped with a taximeter that has been registered, inspected and sealed by the Sealer of Weights and Measures before a taxicab is placed in service for the first time. A taxicab operator shall also submit every taximeter in the taxicabs it operates to the Sealer for an annual registration and inspection.
(b) It shall be unlawful for a taxicab operator to place a taxicab in service that is not equipped with a taximeter:
(1) That accurately calculates the approved fare the taxicab operator is authorized by the Issuing Officer to charge.
(2) That bears a current registration certificate from the Sealer of Weights and Measures.
(c) It shall be unlawful for a taxicab driver:
(1) To transport passengers for a fee in any taxicab that is not equipped with a taximeter.
(2) To transport passengers for a fee in any taxicab equipped with a taximeter that does not have a current registration certificate from the Sealer of Weights and Measures.
(3) To knowingly charge a passenger a fee that has been inaccurately calculated by a taximeter.
(d) The Issuing Officer may inspect any taximeter at any time.
(e) The Issuing Officer shall revoke the taxicab permit and order any taxicab operator to remove a taxicab from service that is without a taximeter, has a taximeter that does not have a current registration certificate from the Sealer or that does not accurately calculate fares. It shall be unlawful for any taxicab operator to fail to comply with an order from the Issuing Officer to remove a taxicab from service.
(Amended by Ord. No. 7309 (N.S.), effective 7-2-87; amended by Ord. No. 8316 (N.S.), effective 11-23-93; amended by Ord. No. 9889 (N.S.), effective 10-26-07; amended by Ord. No. 10312 (N.S.), effective 2-6-14)
(a) A taxicab driver employed to transport passengers to a definite point shall take the most direct route possible that will carry the passenger to his destination safely and expeditiously.
(b) A taxicab driver shall provide a receipt to any passenger who requests one after the passenger pays the fare. The receipt shall indicate the beginning and ending points of the trip, the fare charged, the date, the operator's name, and the vehicle number, and shall be signed by the driver.
(c) No person shall solicit passengers for taxicabs other than the taxicab driver. The taxicab driver, however, may not leave the taxicab to solicit passengers. The Issuing Officer may authorize a dispatcher to solicit passengers as a system of loading of passengers at such times and places as in the Issuing Officer's discretion public service and traffic conditions require.
(d) No taxicab driver shall transport more persons, including the driver, than the manufacturer's rated seated capacity for the vehicle. A taxicab driver shall also not transport luggage or other items exceeding the vehicle's storage volume or load- carrying capacity.
(e) It shall be unlawful for any taxicab driver to allow a taxicab to remain standing in an established taxicab stand unless the driver remains within twelve feet of any portion of the established taxicab zone, or unless the taxicab driver is assisting passengers to load or unload.
(f) No taxicab driver shall knowingly pick up a person who has summoned a taxicab of a competitive taxicab company without informing the person that he does not represent the taxicab company the person summoned.
(g) No taxicab driver, who has been hired by a passenger, shall pick up any additional passenger without the consent of the original passenger.
(h) A taxicab driver shall not operate a taxicab unless he has affixed his driver's identification card in a prominent location inside the taxicab, visible to passengers in the passenger compartment. A taxicab driver while working shall display the name and photo identification badge issued to him by the Issuing Officer. The driver shall prominently display the badge on the outside front of the driver's clothing, between the waist and shoulders.
(i) It shall be unlawful for a taxicab driver to refuse a prospective or actual fare or to take any action to actively discourage a prospective or actual fare on the basis of race, creed, color, age, sex, national origin or disability. A taxicab driver may, however, refuse a prospective or actual fare if it is readily apparent to the driver that a person presents a hazard to the driver. A taxicab driver is also not obligated to transport any person who is verbally or in any other way abusive to the driver.
(j) It shall be unlawful for a taxicab driver to refuse or discourage a prospective fare based upon the length of the trip if the trip is within the area normally serviced by the taxicab operator who employs the driver.
(k) A taxicab driver shall assist a passenger with loading or unloading a reasonable size, number, and type of passenger luggage or other items, when requested by a passenger. A driver, however, is not required to lift any single item that exceeds 25 pounds. The requirement to assist with loading or unloading shall be limited to retrieving or depositing items onto the nearest curbside adjacent to a legally parked taxicab. A sign in the form of a transparent decal may be affixed to the rear-door, side window stating that, "DRIVER IS NOT REQUIRED TO LOAD LUGGAGE IN EXCESS OF 25 POUNDS PER ITEM OR OF A SIZE OR KIND THAT WILL NOT SAFELY FIT IN THE DESIGNATED LUGGAGE AREA OF THIS VEHICLE." A driver with a lawful disability that prevents him from handling items may submit proof of disability to the Issuing Officer requesting relief from the requirement to assist passengers with luggage. If approved by the Issuing Officer, the driver may affix a small sign either in the passenger section of the vehicle to be visible to a rear seat passenger or on the inside of the trunk cover lid stating that, "DRIVER HAS DISABILITY THAT PREVENTS HANDLING OF LUGGAGE."
(l) A taxicab driver may seek passengers by driving on a public street, but may not travel at a speed or in a manner that interferes with or impedes traffic.
(m) A taxicab driver shall display an "out of service" sign when the taxicab is not available for hire. The sign must be located inside the vehicle to be visible and readable from outside the vehicle at a distance of at least 10 feet away.
(n) A taxicab driver shall maintain a daily trip log which shall be available for inspection upon request by any peace officer. The trip log shall show the driver's name, taxicab number, date, time, origin and destination of each trip, and fare charged. The logs shall have ruled lines and columns sufficient to include all required information and the entries shall be in black or dark blue ink. The driver shall submit his trip logs to the taxicab operator at least once a week.
(o) It shall be unlawful for any taxicab driver while transporting passengers to display the flag or device attached to the taximeter in a position indicating the vehicle is available for hire. It shall also be unlawful for the taxicab driver to prevent the taximeter from operating while the driver is transporting passengers. It shall also be unlawful for a taxicab driver to cause the taximeter to record when the taxicab is not employed or to allow the taximeter to continue to record after reaching the passenger's final destination.
(p) While driving or operating a taxicab, drivers shall be hygienically clean, well-groomed and neat and suitably dressed. The term "hygienically clean" shall refer to that state of personal hygiene, body cleanliness, and absence of offensive body odor normally associated with bathing or showering on a regular basis.
(q) Taxicab drivers shall make every attempt to return lost property left in the taxicab to its owner. If a driver is unable to locate or return the property to its owner, the driver shall contact the Sheriff's Department within 24 hours. Lost property shall be accounted for on a driver's trip sheet next to fare information.
(Amended by Ord. No. 4313 (N.S.), effective 6-20-74; amended by Ord. No. 4956 (N.S.), effective 8-25-77; amended by Ord. No. 5931 (N.S.), effective 11-18-80; Ord. No. 5938 (N.S.), adopted 11-25-80, effective 12-25-80, supersedes Ord. No. 5931; amended by Ord. No. 7309 (N.S.), effective 7-2-87; amended by Ord. No. 7428 (N.S.), effective 2-4-88; amended by Ord. No. 9889 (N.S.), effective 10-26-07; amended by Ord. No. 10312 (N.S.), effective 2-6-14)
(a) The permit holder shall maintain a business telephone in working order which must be answered during normal business hours, Monday thru Friday, and during all hours of operation.
(b) The permit holder shall, in case of any change of his or her business address, mailing address, or business address, notify the Issuing Officer in writing of such change within forty-eight (48) hours of the effective date of this change.
(Added by Ord. No. 10312 (N.S.), effective 2-6-14)