Pleasant Hill Municipal Code Art. VII Operation Of Taxicabs

Every carrier shall maintain a central place of business and keep it open 24 hours a day for the purpose of receiving calls and dispatching taxicabs. The carrier shall answer all calls received for service inside the city as soon as it can do so, and if service cannot be given within a reasonable time, the carrier shall notify the prospective passenger how long it will be before the call can be answered and give the reason for delay.

(1991 code § 6-17.50; Ord. 635 § 1, 1990)

A. Every carrier shall keep accurate records of receipts from operations, operating and other expenses, capital expenditures, and such other operating information as may be required by the city manager. Such information shall be made readily accessible for examination by the city manager.

B. The carrier shall report any accident arising from or in connection with the operation of taxicabs to the police department within 24 hours from the time of occurrence if any of the following conditions are caused by the accident:

1. The death of any person;

2. Injury to any person;

3. Vehicle damage in an amount exceeding $500.00; or

4. Property damage in an amount exceeding $500.00.

C. Each carrier shall file with the city copies of all contracts, agreements, arrangements, memoranda, or other writings relating to the furnishing of taxicab service to any entity within the city.

(1991 code § 6-17.51; Ord. 635 § 1, 1990)

Every driver shall maintain a daily manifest upon which are recorded all trips made each day, showing time and place of origin and destination of each trip and amount of fare. The carrier shall preserve all drivers' manifests in a safe place for at least the calendar year next preceding the current calendar year, and the manifests shall be open to inspection by the city at any time during normal business hours.

(1991 code § 6-17.52; Ord. 635 § 1, 1990)

Each driver shall:

A. Take the most direct route possible which carries the passenger to his or her destination safely and expeditiously;

B. Give a correct receipt upon payment of the correct fare when requested to do so;

C. Accept only those passengers who will not exceed the rated seating capacity of the vehicle;

D. Report to the police department all property left in the taxicab; and

E. Obey all orders and instructions of any peace officers.

(1991 code § 6-17.53; Ord. 635 § 1, 1990)

If taxicabs operated under the authority of this chapter are equipped with taximeters, they shall conform to all applicable state laws and regulations and shall be sealed by the Contra Costa Sealer of Weights and Measures. All taximeters shall be visible to the passengers at all times, day and night, and after sundown the face of the taximeter shall be illuminated. The taxicab shall also be equipped with an overhead light which shall go out when the flag on the taximeter is placed in a recording position. The taximeter shall be sealed and mechanically driven either from the transmission or from one of the wheels. Each taximeter shall have a flag or other means to denote when the vehicle is employed and when it is not employed. The driver shall throw the flag or place such taximeter into a nonrecording position upon the termination of each trip. The taximeter shall be subject to inspection at any time by the police department and the Contra Costa Sealer of Weights and Measures. Within 24 hours after a taximeter has been repaired, adjusted, or installed, the operator of the taxicab shall notify the county sealer and request that he or she test it for accuracy.

(1991 code § 6-17.54; Ord. 635 § 1, 1990)

A. There shall be displayed in the back seat passenger compartment of each taxicab, in full view of the passenger, a card not less than three inches by four inches in size, which shall have plainly printed thereon the name of the carrier, the business address and telephone number of the carrier and a correct rate schedule including charges for waiting and for delivery of goods without a passenger.

B. In the event the passenger is being transported under a prior contractual arrangement between the carrier and the passenger or other parties, a sign titled "chartered" shall be placed in or on the taxicab, which sign shall be visible and readable from a distance of at least 15 feet from the taxicab by a person with ordinary eyesight.

(1991 code § 6-17.55; Ord. 635 § 1, 1990)

No person may refuse to pay the lawful fare of a taxicab after engaging use of the vehicle.

(1991 code § 6-17.56; Ord. 635 § 1, 1990)

A carrier or driver may not charge compensation for the use of the taxicab which is different than or not specified in the tariff on file with the city.

(1991 code § 6-17.57; Ord. 635 § 1, 1990)

No driver may permit more persons to be carried in a taxicab as passengers than the rated seating capacity of his or her taxicab as stated in the carrier permit.

(1991 code § 6-17.58; Ord. 635 § 1, 1990)

No driver may refuse or neglect to convey an orderly person upon request, unless previously engaged or unable or forbidden by the provisions of this chapter to do so.

(1991 code § 6-17.59; Ord. 635 § 1, 1990)

In case any taxicab shall become disabled while conveying passengers for hire, the time of stoppage shall be deducted from the time charged for.

(1991 code § 6-17.60; Ord. 635 § 1, 1990)

An adequate telephone or two-way radio dispatch system shall be maintained at all times on a 24-hour basis. Such system shall include the operation of a telephone answering line and an operator in charge thereof devoted to promptly answering telephone calls requesting taxicabs and to dispatching taxicabs by radio in response to such calls. The carrier will have 180 days from the date of permit issuance to have the telephone or two-way radio dispatch system in operation. The city manager may extend the time for compliance on a showing that, for reasons beyond the control of the carrier, compliance is not possible within 180 days. In the interim, the carrier will have in place an adequate system to handle calls for service; i.e., cellular telephone, answering service, or pager.

(1991 code § 6-17.61; Ord. 635 § 1, 1990)

A person who hires a taxicab has the exclusive right to the full use of the rear seat. The driver may not solicit or carry additional passengers without the consent of the person first hiring the taxicab.

(1991 code § 6-17.62; Ord. 635 § 1, 1990)