(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)