§ 162-202. AT vehicle requirements.

(a)

The vehicle model of an AT CPNC shall be approved after a review by the Mayor's Advisory Council for Citizens with Disabilities.

(b)

Any vehicle which has been modified or custom-built must be fully compliant with all applicable FMVSS requirements. The manufacturer or modifier shall provide, upon request, certified engineering test reports to demonstrate compliance with FMVSS.

(c)

All AT vehicles shall be equipped with credit/debit card acceptance machines. Further, such credit/debit card acceptance machines are subject to the following regulations.

(1)

The passenger shall have the ability to swipe his/her own credit or debit card.

(2)

A Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliant Passenger Information Monitor (PIM) must be installed in all accessible taxicabs, and shall be integrated directly to the taximeter by means of a hard wire connection.

a.

The PIM must communicate wirelessly to obtain approvals for credit and debit card transactions. The system shall provide communication back to the taxicab within ten seconds.

(3)

All PIMS must be bolted to the head rest or in an area approved by the bureau in the passenger compartment.

(4)

The system must provide a printed receipt for every credit or debit card transaction. Hand written receipts not allowed.

(5)

Taximeters shall dispense a receipt with following information:

a.

CPNC number;

b.

Driver ID;

c.

Trip ID;

d.

Distance of trip;

e.

Date of trip;

f.

Time of trip;

g.

Fare charges;

h.

Extra charges;

i.

Total charges;

j.

Taxicab Company Name and Phone Number; and

k.

The words "Ground Transportation Bureau. For compliments or concerns, please call 504-658-7176."

(6)

The bureau shall prescribe the requirements for the use of an electronic version of a daily trip sheet and be granted unlimited access to all electronic information contained therein.

(7)

A GPS receiver is required for the credit card system.

(8)

Drivers must be able to sign into the taxicab meter using either a unique identifying number or biometrics.

(d)

All AT vehicles shall be equipped with a security camera system.

(1)

Any security system installed in an AT vehicle must meet or exceed the technical specifications set forth below.

a.

Be 100 percent solid state design;

b.

Be tamperproof and not operate with an "on/off" switch;

c.

Have system protections to ensure against voltage irregularities and power failures;

d.

Use non-volatile flash memory and record images using a first-in, first-out methodology, with an overwrite-protected memory for emergency events that cannot be overwritten;

e.

Be impact and shock resistant;

f.

Clearly record images in all lighting conditions, including bright sunshine, shade, darkness, total darkness, and when strong backlighting is present;

g.

Mark each image with the date, time, and vehicle number, and serial number of the camera;

h.

Be stored as or convertible to standard digital image formats;

i.

Must have a field of vision to capture all of the occupants of the vehicle;

j.

Be installed so that it will not interfere with the driver's field of vision or impede the use of any of the vehicle's mirrors;

k.

Must have all lead-free components.

l.

Must have 1 GB memory;

m.

Must record images at a resolution of at least 640 × 368 pixels;

n.

Must have image recording triggers:

i.

Still image recording must by triggered by any vehicle door opening. Upon the trigger, still images must be recorded a rate of one image every five seconds for 60 seconds, followed by one image every 15 seconds.

ii.

Video images must be recorded on a looping basis, and image storage must by triggered by any vehicle door opening. Upon the trigger, video images must be recorded for 60 seconds prior to the door opening and 60 seconds after the door is closed;

iii.

In an emergency-trigger event, system must be able to store 2.5 minutes worth of images prior to the trigger and 2.5 minutes after the trigger in an overwrite-protected format. Still image cameras must be equipped with an emergency trigger that will record images at the rate of one image per second for 60 seconds.

(2)

Signage. All vehicles equipped with a security camera system must have a decal on the passenger and driver side rear windows stating, "This vehicle is equipped with a security camera."

(3)

Use of digital still or video images. Access to any recorded image of persons in a taxicab is prohibited except by the taxicabs and for-hire vehicles bureau or the New Orleans Police Department. Violation of access to images shall result in revocation of AT CPNC.

(4)

Inspections. Camera systems must have the capability for inspection of the equipment that will indicate the system is functioning properly. The serial number of the camera must be readily accessible. The bureau may also inspect the viewing facilities of the owner or licensed manager and may ask for verification of viewing logs and/or all other documentation and equipment.

(5)

Driver behavior modification features. For the purposes of driver education and modification of driver behavior, security camera systems shall be equipped with driver behavior modification features which collect and store data created by vehicle movement triggers such as sharp turns, sharp stops, or quick accelerations.

a.

A CPNC holders or company owners may view images from outward facing cameras only.

b.

Cameras recording for driver modification purposes should be positioned such that the perspective is outward and over the vehicle's hood.

c.

All images must be logged electronically and the electronic log provided on a quarterly basis to the bureau.

d.

The bureau may view any reports and images associated with driver behavior upon request.

(6)

Procedures for security camera systems approval. Only camera systems meeting the minimum requirements and approved by the bureau may be installed.

a.

Applicants must submit a request in writing and provide written technical specification of the system; and

b.

Provide a demonstration of the system and all of its features to the bureau. After reviewing the technical specifications and viewing the demonstration, the bureau will respond directly to the vendor in writing within 30 days of the demonstration stating if the system meets the minimum qualifications set forth for security cameras and has been approved for use in the City of New Orleans.

(7)

The equipment required by this rule shall be maintained in good working order at all times. If an AT CPNC holder changes the security camera equipment, he or she must notify the bureau within 24 hours and the vehicle will be re-inspected to ensure compliance with this section.

(8)

Every AT CPNC holder shall file, on a form designated by the bureau, a detailed description of the safety features to be installed in each AT vehicle. This form shall be submitted at the time of licensing, renewal of licensing, and whenever there is a change of the safety features to be used in the cab

(9)

If bureau personnel or a New Orleans Police Department official requests access to any record produced by the digital security camera systems to assist in the investigation of any complaint or crime, the taxicab company must provide access to the record within 24 hours. Records may only be accessed by bureau personnel or a New Orleans Police Department official, and only when a bureau complaint number or police complaint number has been generated.

(10)

It shall be unlawful for any AT CPNC holder, taxicab company, or driver to allow any person to intentionally access any records produced by the security camera systems. Violation of this section shall be grounds for revocation of driver's permit and AT CPNC.

(11)

It shall be unlawful for any AT vehicle driver to cover, tamper with, damage, disturb, remove or disable a digital security camera system in a taxicab. Violation of this section shall be grounds for revocation of driver's permit and AT CPNC.

(12)

All AT vehicles shall be equipped with silent alarm feature to notify dispatch of danger.

(e)

Insurance. The holder of an AT CPNC shall file with the Bureau, and keep in effect at all times, a policy of insurance with an insurance company licensed to do business in the State of Louisiana. At a minimum, the policy must provide the following coverage:

(1)

For injury to one person in any one accident ..... $25,000.00

(2)

For injury to two or more persons in any one accident ..... $50,000.00

(3)

For property damage in any one accident ..... $25,000.00

(f)

Radio. Any AT vehicle must be equipped with a mobile radio or computerized communication system. Such systems must be in contact with a central dispatching facility at all times.

(g)

Trips sheets.

(1)

At the beginning of each period of duty the driver shall record on the driver's trip sheet:

a.

The driver's name and the number of the taxicab;

b.

The time at which the driver began the period of duty by means of a time clock provided by the certificate holder;

c.

The meter readings for total miles, paid miles, trips, units, extra passengers and extra charges; and

d.

The odometer reading of the taxicab.

(2)

During each period of duty the driver shall record on the driver's trip sheet:

a.

The time, place of origin and destination of each trip; and

b.

The number of passengers and amount of fare for each trip.

(3)

At the end of each period of duty the driver shall record on the driver's trip sheet:

a.

The time at which the driver ended the period of duty.

b.

The meter readings for total miles, paid miles, trips, units and extra passengers; and

c.

The odometer reading of the taxicab. A certificate holder shall furnish a trip sheet form for each taxicab operated by a driver during the driver's period of duty.

(4)

AT CPNC holder shall retain all trip sheets of all drivers in a safe place for a period of three years immediately succeeding December 31st of the year to which they respectively pertain and shall make such manifests available for inspection by the Bureau upon reasonable demand.

(5)

Falsifying trip sheets shall be grounds for revocation of an AT driver's permit and an AT CPNC.

(h)

Information to be displayed on AT vehicles. All AT vehicles shall have affixed to the following:

(1)

AT CPNC number, affixed by means of permanent, nonmagnetic decals to the front left hood, the rear right trunk lid and each front fender, at least five inches in height, news gothic bold in style, with a width of at least three-eighths of an inch in a color that is most prominent against the background color. Name of the AT CPNC holder in the correct area on each front fender at least two inches in height, in a bureau approved font with a width of at least three-eighths of an inch in a color that is most prominent against the background color.

(2)

Name of company, painted or permanently affixed by decal, according to specifications provided by the director, to the right and left front doors.

(3)

Schedule of rates, painted or permanently affixed by decal to the left and right rear doors.

(4)

Schedule of rates; identifying information. Each taxicab shall have a schedule of passenger rights, [section] 162-455, affixed to the rear of both front seats a device, approved by the bureau, which shall hold a color photocopy of the driver's permit and the passenger's rights information.

(5)

Logo and identification scheme. Each company shall submit to the bureau a company logo and identification scheme which shall not be the same or similar to any other and which within ten days shall be approved or rejected. Upon approval, the company logo and identification scheme shall be affixed to each AT vehicle. The logo and identification scheme shall be affixed to the left and right front doors and any other part of the vehicle, if applicable, and shall not be less than 12 inches in height, but not greater than 24 inches in height.

(6)

Top lights.

a.

Except for vehicles that have received an exterior advertising permit for a roof-top advertising display device, all AT vehicles shall be equipped with a top light permanently affixed to the exterior roof of the taxicab. The top light shall consist of three sections. The central section shall be inscripted in plain block numbers indicating the CPNC number of the accessible taxicab to which the top light is affixed. The left and right sections shall be identical to each other and shall display the words "off duty".

b.

The top light, when lit, must be visible at 300 feet in normal sunlight.

c.

The top light shall be installed and maintained in such manner that the top light will automatically be lit when the taximeter is not activated and the top light will automatically be unlit when the taximeter is activated. Each taxicab must be equipped with a driver-operable switch that will enable the driver to manually turn on and off the top light to display "off duty".

d.

Prohibited items. No bumper stickers, or stickers other than those identifying markings approved by the bureau, shall be placed on the body of an AT vehicle. No advertising shall be allowed on the body of any AT vehicles.

(7)

All AT vehicles will have an accessibility symbol affixed to them as prescribed by the bureau.

(i)

Corrections and related matters:

Information to be Displayed	Time Given for Corrections
Company sign not properly affixed	Three days, or next inspection date
CPNC not placed correctly	Three days, or next inspection date
Trade name not placed correctly
Faded/discolored vehicle markings
Phone number or rate signs not properly located	Three days, or next inspection date
Taximeter	Meter passes at 40 seconds
Meter is fast	Do not operate
Meter is slow	Do not operate
Mechanism that must be operable	Three days or next inspection
Interior light or electrical problem	Three days or next inspection
(1) Headlights (one beam)	Three days or next inspection
(2) Taillights (one side)	Three days or next inspection
(3) Signal lights (one) tag light	Three days or next inspection
(4) Both signals not operable	Do not operate
(5) Brake lights	Do not operate
(6) Door opener (handles)	Do not operate
Climate control	Do not operate
(1) Air conditioner (summer time) does not cool	Do not operate
(2) Heater will not warm up (winter time)	Do not operate
Loud muffler	Three days or next inspection
Trunk lock	Three days or next inspection
Tires:
(1) Balding tires	Three days or next inspection
(2) Balding with thread showing	Do not operate
Windshield cracks:
Cracks 12 inches or more	15 days to replace
Unattractive, or safety hazard	Do not operate
Overall paint job	15 days
Headliner	15 days
Spare tire:
(1) No spare tire in trunk	Do not operate
(2) Bald and improper thread	Do not operate
(3) Spare tire not inflated	Have driver inflate right away
Interior light or electrical problem:
Non-functional mobile radio or computerized communication system	Do not operate
Malfunctioning driver safety equipment	Do not operate
Non-operational or non-compliant credit and debit card processing equipment or receipt printing device	Do not operate

 

(j)

Each holder will sign an affidavit that they agree to operate said AT CPNC 40 hours per week, 47 weeks per year. Additionally, AT CPNC holders will operate eight vehicles at the following times: 6:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.; 2:00 p.m.—10:00 p.m.; 10:00 p.m.—6:00 a.m. AT CPNC holders may operate additional hours over the specific hours assigned to each AT CPNC.

(M.C.S., Ord. No. 24846, § 1, 4-19-12; M.C.S., Ord. No. 25746, § 1, 3-27-14; M.C.S., Ord. 27992, § 3, 2-7-19)