Every taxicab shall have affixed thereto and must use a taximeter the size, design and contents of which have been approved by the Chief of Police or his or her designee and which conforms substantially to the following specifications.
(A) A taximeter is a mechanical instrument or device by which the charge for hire of a taxicab is mechanically calculated either for distance traveled or for waiting time or both and upon which the charge shall be indicated by means of legible figures which are electrically lighted each time the taximeter flag is thrown from nonearning to earning position.
(B) Each taximeter must be driven directly from the taxicab transmission (instead of merely connecting with the speedometer driving shaft) to the taximeter head itself, using a flexible shaft and a flexible housing so connected and sealed as to be nontamperable.
(C) No person shall use or permit to be used upon any taxicab a taximeter which shall be in a condition as to be over 5% incorrect to the prejudice of any passenger.
(D) No person shall use or permit to be used or driven for hire a taxicab equipped with a taximeter the case of which and does not have its cover and gear intact.
(E) If demanded by the passenger, the driver in charge of a taxicab shall deliver to the person paying for the hiring of the same at the time of the payment a receipt therefor in legible type or writing containing the name of the owner, the town license number of the driver’s town license number or the taximeter number and any items for which a charge is made, the total amount paid and the day of payment.
(F) (1) No person shall drive a taxicab equipped with a taximeter that has not been duly inspected and approved pursuant to taximeter that has not been duly inspected and approved pursuant to § 115.18 of this chapter.
(2) It shall be unlawful to change the size of the wheels or tires of a taxicab or the gears operating the taximeter or to change a taximeter from one taxicab to another unless the taximeter is retested and approved by the Chief of Police or his or her designee.
(Ord. O-1-5-93, passed - -) Penalty, see § 10.99