Modesto Municipal Code Art. 3 Rates of Fare

It is unlawful for any taxicab company to operate in the City unless and until such taxicab is equipped with a taximeter of a design that has been approved by the Public Works Director. No passenger shall be carried in any such taxicab within the City limits unless such taximeter is in operation.

(Ord. 3295-C.S., § 1, and Ord. 3364-C.S., § 5, effective 12-9-04)

The taximeter shall be placed in each taxicab so that the reading dial showing the amount to be charged is well lighted and readily discernable to a passenger riding in such taxicab. Every such taximeter shall register the charge to the nearest ten cents ($0.10) and be equipped with a flag or other mechanical device, and said flag (or mechanical or electronic device) shall be so attached and connected to the mechanism of said taximeter as to cause said mechanism to operate when said flag (or mechanical or electronic device) is in a position other than upright (or engaged), and which said flag (or mechanical or electronic device) shall, when moved forward or downward (or engaged), start operation of said taximeter (or mechanical or electronic device) so that the same will operate in the manner defined in this article. However, such taximeter shall not be required to operate on any trip that goes outside the City limits unless the beginning point and the ending point of such trip are inside the City limits. For any trip which begins or ends inside the City limits, but for which the taximeter is not required by this article to be in operation, the taxi driver shall inform the passenger before beginning the trip that it is a nonmetered trip and what the flat charge is.

(Ord. 3295-C.S., § 1, effective 5-22-03)

Every taximeter used in the operation of taxicabs shall be subject to inspection at anytime by the Public Works Director or his/her representative. 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 repaired and accurately adjusted. Every taximeter shall be inspected, tested and affixed with a label for accuracy for the current year by "Stanislaus 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 operator shall provide a copy of the taximeter inspection report to be placed in the operator'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 a prominent place. Taximeters placed upon taxicabs to replace broken or faulty meters, shall not be placed into service until they have been approved by the Public Works Director and the Stanislaus County Sealer of Weights and Measures.

(Ord. 3295-C.S., § 1, and Ord. 3364-C.S., § 5, effective 12-9-04)

It shall be unlawful for any operator of any taxicab, while carrying passengers, to display the "flag" or device attached to the taximeter in such a position as to denote that such service is not employed, or fail to throw the "flag" of the taximeter or engage a mechanical or electronic device to a position indicating such vehicle is not employed at the termination of each and every service. All charges for taxicab service shall be calculated and indicated by a taximeter, and at all times while the taxicab is engaged, the "flag" and/or mechanical or electronic device of the taximeter shall be thrown into a position to register charges for mileage, or in 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 a 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 cab. No such taxicab shall be equipped with a "dual speed" taximeter or any other device which is set to compute or register any charges for taxicab service other than the charges prescribed in this article.

(Ord. 3295-C.S., § 1, effective 5-22-03)

All charges for transportation of passengers in taxicabs operated in the City must be based on the charges indicated on said taximeter, and it shall be unlawful for any owner, driver or operator of any taxicab to charge any passenger any sum in excess of the sum indicated on said taximeter.

(Ord. 3295-C.S., § 1, effective 5-22-03)

Each taxicab operator shall cause to be displayed 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 owner operates, the business address, and telephone number of said owner, the rated capacity of the taxicab, and a correct schedule of the rates to be charged for conveyance in said vehicle. Said card shall be conspicuously posted on the rear side window of the taxicab or in some other area approved by the Public Works Director.

(Ord. 3295-C.S., § 1, and Ord. 3364-C.S., § 5, effective 12-9-04)

No owner or driver of a taxicab shall charge a greater sum for the use of a taxicab than in accordance with the following rates:

(a) Mileage Rates. Four dollars and fifty cents ($4.50) for the first one-eighth (⅛) mile or fraction thereof; thirty-seven and a half ($0.375) cents for each additional one-eighth (⅛) mile or fraction thereof;

(b) Waiting Time. Twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each hour of waiting time or fraction thereof;

(c) Baggage. Fifty ($0.50) cents for each piece of baggage in excess of fifty (50) pounds; and

(d) Extra Passengers. No charge shall be made for extra passengers. This applies only to those passengers whose point of pickup and point of destination are the same.

(Ord. 3295-C.S., § 1, amended by Ord. 3485-C.S., § 1, effective 5-22-08)