Pacifica Municipal Code Art. 5 Charges, Rates and Equipment Requirements

(a) It is unlawful for any driver or owner to operate or permit the operation of any vehicle for hire in the city unless such vehicle is equipped with a taximeter of such type, style and design as may be approved by the Chief of Police.

(b) It is the duty of every owner to keep each taximeter in such a working condition that the taximeter will, at all times, correctly and accurately indicate the legal charge for the distance traveled and waiting time.

(c) Each taximeter shall be at all times subject to inspection by the Chief of Police, and the Chief of Police is authorized at his instance or upon complaint of any person to investigate or cause to be investigated such taximeter, and upon the discovery of any inaccuracy in the meter, to 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.

(§ 1, Ord. 676-C.S., eff. April 12, 2000)

(a) Every taximeter shall register the charge to the nearest ten (10¢) cents and be equipped with a flag or other mechanical device with the words "for hire" printed or stamped thereon.

(b) The 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 indicates that the vehicle for hire is not for hire.

(c) 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.

(§ 1, Ord. 676-C.S., eff. April 12, 2000)

(a) It is unlawful for any driver of a vehicle for hire, while carrying passengers to display the flag or device attached to such taximeter in such a position as to denote that such vehicle is 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.

(b) 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 to fail to throw the flag or other device on such taximeter into a nonrecording position at the termination of each and every service.

(c) The foregoing restriction shall not apply to trips to or from points outside the City where the charge is fixed on a trip basis.

(§ 1, Ord. 676-C.S., eff. April 12, 2000)

(a) All charges for transportation of passengers in vehicles for hire operated in the City must be based on the charges indicated on the taximeters and it is unlawful for any owner, driver or operator of any vehicle for hire to charge any passenger or passengers any sum in excess of the sum indicated on the taximeter.

(b) The foregoing restrictions shall not apply to trips to or from points outside the City where the charge is fixed on a trip basis.

(§ 1, Ord. 676-C.S., eff. April 12, 2000)

The taximeter shall be so placed in the vehicle for hire that the reading dial showing the amount to be charged shall be well lighted and readily discernible by the passenger(s) riding in such taxicab.

(§ 1, Ord. 676-C.S., eff. April 12, 2000)

There shall be displayed in the passenger compartment of each vehicle for hire, in full view of the passengers, 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.

(§ 1, Ord. 676-C.S., eff. April 12, 2000)

The rates fixed or charged or collected by the owner or driver of any such vehicle for hire, except for trips to or from points outside of the City where the charge is fixed on a trip basis, shall be established by resolution of the City Council and may be revised from time to time.

(§ 1, Ord. 676-C.S., eff. April 12, 2000)