San Fernando Municipal Code Div. 1 Generally

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Driver means any person in direct and immediate possession or charge of driving or operating a taxicab.

Owner means every person having proprietary control or right to proprietary control of any passenger-carrying automobile or motor-propelled vehicle, as defined in this section.

Person means any natural person, firm, corporation or association of persons.

Taxicab means a motor-propelled vehicle, which is designed for carrying not more than eight passengers excluding the driver, which is used for the transportation of passengers for hire over and along public streets, not over a defined route, but in accordance with the route and destination or direction of the person hiring such vehicle.

Taxicab stand means a place upon a public street in the city for the use, while awaiting employment, of the particular taxicabs authorized to utilize the stand.

Taximeter means a mechanical instrument or device by which the charge for the hire of a taxicab is registered, calculated or indicated by figures in accordance with the distance traveled and/or the time elapsed and the number of passengers carried.

(Code 1957, § 26.1)

Cross reference— Definitions generally, § 1-2.

The police chief or his agent is given the authority and is instructed to watch and observe the conduct of holders and drivers operating under this article. Upon discovering a violation of any section of this article, the police chief or his agents shall report the violation to the city administrative officer and initiate appropriate action.

(Code 1957, § 26.62)

The chief of police may in his discretion promulgate any rules or regulations pertaining to the operation of taxicabs not inconsistent with this article.

(Code 1957, § 26.63)

(a) It shall be unlawful to operate any taxicab unless there shall be filed with the city clerk a liability insurance policy issued by a solvent corporation holding a certificate of authority to do insurance business in the state, which policy shall conform in all respects to the requirements of this section and which shall meet the approval of the city attorney. In lieu of filing the insurance policy, a certificate of insurance issued by an insurance corporation meeting the approval of the city attorney may be filed. The certificate must show that a policy meeting the requirements of this section has been issued and shall set forth the expiration date of such policy. The liability policy required under this section shall insure against loss from the liability imposed by law for injury to or death of any person or damage to any property caused by the operation of any vehicle operated under this article in the amount of $1,000,000.00.

(b) The policy of insurance so provided shall contain a provision that such policy may not be canceled or reduced in amount except after 30 days' notice in writing, to be given to the city administrative officer.

(Code 1957, § 26.10)

It shall be 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 or such officer or official as may be designated by the council. It shall be the duty of every owner operating a taxicab to keep such taximeter in perfect condition so that the taximeter will, at all times, correctly and accurately indicate the correct charge for the distance traveled and waiting time. The taximeter shall be at all times subject to inspection by the chief of police. 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 city streets until such time as the taximeter shall have been correctly adjusted.

(Code 1957, § 26.30)

Every taximeter shall register the charge to the nearest $0.10 and shall be equipped with a flag or other mechanical device with the words "for hire" printed or stamped thereon. 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 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 taximeter will operate in the manner described in this section.

(Code 1957, § 26.31)

It shall be unlawful for any driver of a taxicab 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. It will be 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.

(Code 1957, § 26.32)

The charges for transportation of passengers in taxicabs operated in the city must be based on the charges indicated on the taximeters, 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 the taximeter.

(Code 1957, § 26.33)

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

(Code 1957, § 26.34)

There shall be displayed in the passenger compartment of each taxicab in full view of the passenger a card not less than four inches by six 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, including rates for minimum flag drop, mileage and waiting time. In addition, such rates, including rates for minimum flag drop, mileage and waiting time, shall be displayed on each side of the taxicab on the exterior of the front doors in letters not less than one-half inch in size in a color contrasting with the color of the taxicab.

(Code 1957, § 26.35)

It shall be unlawful for the owner or driver of any taxicab to fix or charge or collect or receive a rate in excess of rates established and set from time to time by resolution of the city council.

(Code 1957, § 26.36)

It is unlawful for any driver of a taxicab or other vehicle regulated by this article to purchase, accept, receive, acquire, or to agree to purchase, accept, receive or acquire any jewelry, watches, cameras, firearms, clothing, or any article of personal property in payment of or as a pledge for the payment of any fares due and payable for conveyance in any taxicab or vehicle regulated by this article.

(Code 1957, § 26.37)

Any taxicab driver employed to transport a passenger to a definite point shall take the most direct route that will take the passenger to his destination safely and expeditiously.

(Code 1957, § 26.38)

If requested, every taxicab driver shall give a receipt upon payment of the correct fare. If there is a dispute, the matter shall be determined by the watch commander at the police station. Failure to comply with such determination shall subject the offending party to a charge of misdemeanor.

(Code 1957, § 26.39)

It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse to pay the lawful fare of any of the vehicles regulated by this article after employing or hiring any such vehicle, and any person who shall hire such vehicle with intent to defraud the person from whom it is hired shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Code 1957, § 26.40)

No driver of any taxicab shall accept, take into his vehicle or transport any larger number of passengers than the rated seated capacity of his vehicle. The term "rated capacity" shall mean three passengers in the back seat and two in the front seat of the taxicab unless the rated capacity of a taxicab is otherwise designated in writing by the chief of police.

(Code 1957, § 26.41)

Whenever any taxicab is occupied by a passenger, the driver shall not permit any other person to occupy or ride in the taxicab, except at the specific request of and originating with the original passenger.

(Code 1957, § 26.42)

It shall be unlawful for any taxicab to remain unattended at any place other than at a duly designated taxicab stand. It shall also be unlawful for any taxicab to remain unattended in a designated taxicab stand for a period of time longer than five minutes, except when the chief of police grants, in his sole discretion upon written request, a temporary waiver which would permit unattended parking in a stand for a longer period of time.

(Code 1957, § 26.43)

No taxicab driver shall deceive or attempt to deceive any passenger who may ride in his taxicab as to his destination or the rate of fare to be charged or shall cause him to be conveyed to a place other than directed by such passenger.

(Code 1957, § 26.44)

(a) The driver of every taxicab shall keep a separate manifest of every service rendered as such driver, which manifest shall include the following information:

(1) Location where passengers entered the vehicle.

(2) Time of entry.

(3) Location where passengers were discharged.

(4) Number of passengers.

(5) Amount of the fare collected.

(b) The owner of every such taxicab shall keep the manifests in his office files for a period of one year after the date of the service rendered, and the manifests shall at all convenient times be open to examination by any authorized representative of the city administrative officer. The falsifying of any manifest by an owner or by a driver shall be grounds for revocation of the owner's certificate.

(Code 1957, § 26.45)

It shall be the duty of the driver of every unoccupied taxicab to receive and carry in such taxicab all persons who apply for passage therein along its route and tender the proper fare therefor, except persons who are intoxicated or who are conducting themselves in a boisterous or disorderly manner.

(Code 1957, § 26.46)

The services of a taxicab operating pursuant to any certificate granted under this article shall be available only upon telephone call, engagement of the taxicab when parked at a regular stand or when hailed from the street, sidewalk or curb, but not otherwise. No taxicab driver, owner or his agent shall solicit passengers.

(Code 1957, § 26.47)

The number of taxicabs authorized by a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be based on 24-hour service unless otherwise specified by the city council.

(Code 1957, § 26.48)

If a taxicab owner desires to substitute one vehicle in place of another and if such vehicle to be substituted complies with all requirements of the city and the owner provides proof of satisfactory insurance carried for the substituted vehicle, the city administrative officer is authorized to approve the substitution.

(Code 1957, § 26.19)