§ 162-380. Criteria and regulation of inspection standards.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, the director of the department of safety and permits shall have the authority to inspect for hire vehicles, other than taxicabs, where they are customarily housed or at inspection locations deemed appropriate by the director.

(1)

Investigators may issue a "do not operate" for vehicles with no air conditioner, no heater, no brake lights, broken door handles, balding tires, or for safety hazards.

(2)

Each for hire vehicle shall be maintained in a clean condition. There shall be no tears or rust holes in the vehicle body and no loose pieces such as fenders, bumpers or trim hanging from the vehicle body. There shall be no unrepaired body damage or any body condition that would create a safety problem or interfere with the operation of the vehicle. There shall be no tears or rust holes. Failure to maintain a vehicle in such a condition may result in a "do not operate."

(3)

Grills of all vehicles must be in place and complete. Paint must be well-blended with the natural configuration and color of the vehicle. Repairs should have a smooth surface. Engines must not give off excessive smoke/fumes or noise. Failure to maintain a vehicle in such a condition may result in a do not operate.

(4)

The time frame that deficient vehicles may operate with minor deficiencies, such as no hubcaps and deficiencies with signage is set at three days or the next inspection date, whichever is sooner.

(5)

The time frame that vehicles may operate when deficient for full paint job only is set at 15 calendar days.

(6)

"Vehicles for hire" shall be inspected in accordance with the following criteria:

i.

For hire inspection criteria:

a.

Proof of insurance;

b.

CPNC certificate;

c.

Vehicle registration;

d.

All motor vehicles must have a current and valid safety inspection sticker (brake tag); and

ii.

Taxicabs:

a.

Exterior check list:

1.

Head lights;

2.

Taillights;

3.

Stop and turn light signals;

4.

License plate light;

5.

Windshield (no dangerous cracks);

6.

Vent glass;

7.

Windshield wipers;

8.

All door glass as well as rear window glass;

9.

Door risers (glass riser);

10.

Fenders;

11.

Doors and door locks;

12.

Main body;

13.

Trunk lid;

14.

Splash shields;

15.

Bumpers;

16.

Hub caps;

17.

Color scheme;

18.

CPNC numbers;

19.

Stripes and stripe colors;

20.

Name of CPNC holder (owner) in correct area (front fender);

21.

Exhaust system (muffler and tail pipes);

22.

Wheel alignment, toe in and camber (front wheels not more than one-half inch of play (in and out movement));

23.

Tires, free of visible fabric tears or bulges;

24.

Parking brakes (must be capable of holding vehicle on an incline);

25.

Interior of vehicle (upholstery, floor mats, head lining, door panels) must be clean. Rate stickers must be displayed (interior rear);

26.

Trunk compartment (must be clean and neat, should contain only radio equipment, tools and spare tire, with sufficient space for luggage). Solid flooring; and

27.

Check meters, Passenger Information Systems (PIMs), camera systems, silent alarm, Global Positioning Systems (GPS).

b.

Interior checklist:

1.

Rear view mirror;

2.

Steering wheel (should not have more than four inches free play and free from rough movement); and

3.

Foot brakes (when applied should be effective (hold) with at least two inches pedal reserve and equalized).

c.

Information to be displayed. All taxicabs shall the following affixed to the taxicab:

1.

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 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. All telephone numbers shall include the area code.

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, 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 taxicab. 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)

All taxicabs 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 inscribed 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".

iii.

Buses. Buses must be equipped with the following:

a.

Two market lights, amber color, one on each side front. Same in rear mounted on upper side of vehicle;

b.

Clearance lights, same as above, amber in front, red in rear on top of vehicle;

c.

Fire extinguisher, air pressure recovery; and

d.

Current LPSC certificate (inspection) LPSC numbers painted on vehicle.

iv.

Animal drawn vehicles:

a.

Must be in good physical condition;

b.

Steps must be secure;

c.

Check for cracks in body frame;

d.

Fifth wheel, and all other wheels, for end play, good hubs and spokes; and

e.

Check shaft and visible condition of all harnesses.

(7)

This provisions of this section shall become effective of August 1, 2012.

(Code 1956, § 12-7; M.C.S., Ord. No. 21480, § 5, 4-1-04; M.C.S., Ord. No. 22085, § 1, 11-17-05; M.C.S., Ord. No. 24849, § 1, 4-19-12; M.C.S., Ord. No. 24994, § 1, 8-23-12)