Merced Municipal Code Art. IV Rates of Fare

It is unlawful for any owner or driver to operate any taxicab in the city unless such vehicle is equipped with a taximeter of such type, style and design as may be approved by the city council.

(Prior code § 27.43).

It shall be the duty of every owner operating a taxicab to keep the taximeter in perfect condition so that it will at all times correctly and accurately indicate the correct charge for distance traveled and waiting time.

(Prior code § 27.44).

Every taximeter shall be at all times subject to inspection by the chief of police of the city. The chief of police is authorized at his instance, or upon complaint by any person to investigate, or cause to be investigated, any taximeter. Upon the discovery of any inaccuracy in the meter, the chief of police shall remove, or cause to be removed, such vehicle equipped with such taximeter from the streets of the city until such time as the taximeter has been correctly adjusted.

(Amended during 11-05 supplement: prior code § 27.45).

Every taximeter shall register the charge to the nearest ten cents ($0.10) and be equipped with a flag or other mechanical device with the words "For Hire" printed or stamped thereon. Such flag shall be so attached and connected to the mechanism of the taximeter as to cause the mechanism to operate when the flag is in a position other than upright and indicate that the taxicab is not for hire. The flag shall, when moved forward or downward, start the operation of the taximeter so that the same will operate in the manner defined in this chapter.

(Prior code § 27.46).

It is unlawful for any driver of a taxicab while carrying passengers to display the flag or device attached to a taximeter in such a position as to denote that such vehicle is not for hire or is not employed, or to have such flag or other attached device in such a position as to prevent the taximeter from operating. It is unlawful for any driver to throw such flag or other device of a taximeter into a position which causes the taximeter to record when such vehicle is not actually employed, or fail to throw the flag or other device of such taximeter into a nonrecording position at the termination of each and every service.

(Prior code § 27.47).

All charges for transportation of passengers in taxicabs operated in the city must be based on the charges indicated on the taximeter. It is unlawful for any owner, driver or operator of any taxicab to charge any passenger any sum in excess of the sum indicated on the taximeter and on the receipt printed thereby. It is unlawful to make any charge without delivering the receipt to the passenger.

(Prior code § 27.48).

The taximeter shall be so placed in a taxicab that the reading dial showing the amount to be charged is well lighted and readily discernible by the passenger riding in the taxicab.

(Prior code § 27.49).

There shall be displayed in the passenger compartment of each taxicab in full view of the passenger, a card not less than two (2) inches by four (4) inches in size, which shall have plainly printed thereon the name of the owner or the fictitious name under which the owner operates, the business address and telephone number of the owner and a correct schedule of the rates to be charged for conveyance in the vehicle.

(Prior code § 27.50).

It is unlawful for the owner or driver of any taxicab as defined in Section 5.16.010 to fix, charge, or collect a rate which is less than the maximum as set forth in this section. Rates are fixed as follows:

A. Three dollars ($3.00), for the first one-ninth ( 1/9 ) mile and thirty cents ($0.30) for each additional one-ninth ( 1/9 ) mile.

B. Between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and six a.m., the fare charged, computed as above, shall not be less than two dollars and forty-five cents ($2.45).

C. No charge for extra passengers. This applies only to those passengers whose point of pickup and point of destination are the same.

D. When hauling passengers whose points of destination are different, the meter shall be turned back to the "For Hire" position each time a passenger is discharged and a fare collected.

E. For waiting time at the request of a passenger, the rate shall be calculated on the basis of a rate of twenty-seven dollars ($27.00) per hour.

F. For each piece of luggage in excess of fifty (50) pounds, average size traveling bag or equivalent, ten cents ($0.10) each.

(Ord. 2314 § 1, 2008: Ord. 2198 § 1, 2005: Ord. 1934 § 1, 1996: Ord. 1777 § 1, 1990: Ord. 1427 § 1, 1982: Ord. 1381 § 1, 1981: Ord. 1341 § 1, 1980: Ord. 1251 § 1, 1979: Ord. 1219 § 1, 1978: Ord. 1185 § 1, 1977: Ord. 1159 § 1, 1976: prior code § 27.51).

Each taxicab driver shall, if requested, give a correct receipt upon payment of the correct fare.

(Prior code § 27.52).

Taximeters placed upon taxicabs, to replace broken or faulty meters, shall under no condition, be operated more than twenty-four (24) hours prior to being inspected, tested, approved and sealed by an authorized representative of the city council.

(Prior code § 27.53).