§ 31-44. Taximeters.

(a)

Every metered rate taxicab licensed under the terms of this article and engaged in furnishing taxicab service for a fare shall be equipped with a taximeter attached to each vehicle to measure the distance traveled, record the time the vehicle is in waiting and to record the charge or fare therefor in an accurate manner.

(b)

The dial of such taximeter shall show but one (1) tariff, which shall be registered in accordance with the rate prescribed in this article.

(c)

Every taximeter shall be connected with and operated from the front wheel or axle and/or transmission of the taxicab to which it is attached. Every vehicle operated in metered fare taxicab service shall, during the period between sunset and sunrise, be equipped with a light which shall be so reflected upon the dial of the taximeter as to enable the passengers using the taxicab to read the figures indicated thereon.

(d)

No person shall offer any vehicle for hire in metered taxicab service within the city for a fare, charge or fee based on distance or time unless the taximeter placed, attached or installed thereon shall have been inspected by the chief of police or his designee, and no such person shall detach any certified or inspected taximeter from any taxicab and attach such taximeter to any other vehicle, the front wheels of which are of different diameter from those of the vehicle upon which the taximeter was originally tested, unless a new inspection is made of such taximeter.

(e)

It shall be the duty of the chief of police to examine and inspect, or order an examination and inspection to be done by a competent person, at least once in each year, all taximeters used in the city. If at any time a complaint is made to the chief of police that any taximeter registers inaccurately or improperly, then the chief of police shall order that the taximeter be tested and that it be removed from service if it is found to be registering inaccurately or improperly until such time as these errors are corrected. It shall be unlawful for any owner or person to permit the use of such taximeter until repairs have been made and it has passed a subsequent inspection by the chief of police or his designee.

(f)

It shall be the duty of every driver or operator of every vehicle used in metered taxicab service, at the termination of his service, to throw the flag to the nonrecording position on the taximeter and call the passenger's attention to the amount registered. The taximeter shall not be changed until after the fare is paid or a charge ticket therefor made out and delivered to the person hiring such vehicle.

(g)

No driver or operator of any vehicle used in metered taxicab service shall permit any passenger to ride thereon or therein with the flag on the taximeter up or toward a vertical position and no person shall tamper with, mutilate or break any taximeter with the intention of causing the taximeter to register improperly or incorrectly or inaccurately.

(Ord. No. 49-2006, § 1, 6-26-2006; Ord. No. 021-2011, § 1, 4-25-2011)