(A) It is unlawful for any carrier to operate any taxicab in the city unless and until such taxicab is equipped with a taximeter of a design which has been approved by the chief of police, and it shall be the duty of the carrier operating such taxicab, and also the driver thereof, to keep such meter operating at all times within such standard of accuracy as may be prescribed from time to time by the chief of police. No passenger shall be carried in any such taxicab unless such taximeter is in operation. This provision shall apply regardless of whether the taxicab is engaged for a trip entirely within the boundaries of the city or partially outside thereof, and such meter shall be kept operating continuously during the entire time that is engaged in the transportation of passengers for compensation, regardless of the point of destination, provided such destination is within five (5) miles of any exterior boundary of the city.
(B) The taximeter shall be placed in each taxicab so that the reading dial showing the amount to be charged is well lighted and readily discernible to a passenger riding in any such taxicab.
(C) Every taximeter used in the operation of taxicabs shall be subject to inspection at any time by the chief of police or his representatives. Upon discovery of any inaccuracy of such taximeter, the operator thereof shall remove or cause to be removed from service any vehicle equipped with such taximeter until such taximeter has been replaced and accurately adjusted.
(D) Every taximeter shall be inspected, tested and affixed with a label of accuracy for the current year by "Kern County weights and measures" at the carrier's expense. No such label shall be removed except at the time a subsequent inspection is made. Every carrier shall provide a copy of the taximeter inspection sheet to be placed in the carrier's file and a copy will be retained in the vehicle for inspection at any time. The date on which such inspection was made shall be stamped in the blank space provided for that purpose. No such label shall be removed except at the time a subsequent inspection is made.
(E) It is unlawful for any driver of any taxicab, while carrying passengers, to display the flag attached to the taximeter in such a position as to denote that such vehicle is not employed, or to fail to throw the "flag" of the taximeter to a position indicating such vehicle is unemployed at the termination of each and every service.
(F) All charges for taxicab service shall be calculated and indicated by a taximeter, and at all times while the taxicab is engaged, the "flag" of the taximeter shall be thrown into a position to register charges for mileage, or into a position to register charges for waiting time. No taximeter shall be used whose mechanism will register a combined charge for mileage and waiting time in any single position, and no taximeter shall be so operated as to cause any charge to be registered thereon except during the time while a passenger, or passengers engage the taxicab. (Ord. 710-04, 4-20-2004)