§ 42-207. Rates; taxicab rate zones.

(a)

Approved fare rates. The rates of fare to be charged for taxicab service shall be those established from time to time by the city council. The holder of the certificate of public convenience and necessity shall certify to the city council that no other rate of fare in excess of that approved by the city council is being charged by any owner or driver. Each taxicab company shall provide the police department with a sample of a zone rate card prepared in accordance with this section which shall be posted in each taxicab providing notice to passengers of approved fares which may be charged. No fares may be charged other than those approved by the city council; provided, however, the company or driver shall have the discretion of charging fares less than those authorized in this section.

(b)

Taxicab rate zones designated. The municipal limits of the city are designated as the sole taxicab rate zone.

(c)

One passenger rate. All taxicab operators operating within the city shall charge rates no higher than the rates provided in this section for rides which begin and terminate within the municipal limits of the city. For such trips, one passenger shall pay a $10.00 fare.

(d)

Additional persons transported.

(1)

When two or more people request to be transported together in the same taxicab from the same pickup location to the same destination point, a driver may collect $1.00 for each additional person transported. If the pickup location or destination point for an additional passenger is different, then the driver may charge each passenger the full fare set forth in subsection (a) of this section as if each passenger rode the taxicab alone. Under no circumstance shall a driver accept an additional passenger into a taxicab already occupied if the original passenger objects to sharing the taxicab. The driver, prior to allowing any additional passenger to enter the taxicab, shall ask the original passenger's permission to allow any additional passenger to ride. The first passenger's trip shall be completed before any additional passenger is delivered to his destination.

(2)

Conversely, a taxicab which is occupied by a fare shall not be dispatched to pick up a subsequent fare while it is occupied by the first fare unless the dispatcher advises the second fare, and the second fare consents, that the second fare will be sharing the taxicab with another passenger.

(3)

Any driver violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to having his taxicab operator's license revoked. In addition, a placard shall be prominently displayed in each taxicab containing the contents of this subsection in bold type and size selected by the city manager.

(e)

Late night hours. In addition to all other charges authorized in this section, a driver who is requested to transport a passenger between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. may add an additional fee of $1.00 for each trip.

(f)

Additional charges. A person who rides a taxicab that is regulated by this article shall pay the following additional services if such services are requested by the passenger:

(1)

Assistance with items carried. A driver who makes reasonable efforts to assist a passenger in loading items which the passenger is carrying, such as grocery bags, into the taxicab and unloading such items at a destination point may collect $0.25 per bag. A notice of this subsection shall be prominently displayed in the taxicab.

(2)

Intermediate stops. A driver who is requested by a passenger to make an intermediate stop along the route between the pickup location and final destination may charge $1.00 per intermediate stop, plus $0.25 per minute while the taxicab is stopped and the driver is waiting on the passenger to return to the cab.

(g)

Limousine rate. Limousine rates shall be regulated by the state public service commission.

(Code 1968, § 33-37; Code 1983, § 26-129; Ord. No. 87, § 2, 5-20-1985; Ord. No. 89-015, 5-15-1989; Ord. No. 90-024, § 2, 10-15-1990; Ord. No. 92-010, 5-18-1992; Ord. No. 94-014, 7-18-1994; Ord. No. 00-015, § 26-129, 9-18-2000; Ord. No. 05-029, 10-3-2005; Ord. No. 08-030, 8-4-2008)