Title
Ordinance to Amend and Reenact the City Code of the City of Hampton, Virginia by Amending Chapter 38, Vehicles for Hire, Article II, Division 1, Entitled, “Generally,” Sec. 38-19 and Sec. 38-20, and to Article II, Division 5, Entitled Article II “Fares,” Sec. 38-127, to update the requirements for taxicabs and the fares that may be charged to riders of taxicabs
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The rates allowed to be charged by taxicabs authorized to operate in the City of Hampton have not been increased since 2012. Meanwhile, taxicab companies are faced with rising gas and parts prices as well as competition from rideshare companies. City Council will consider amending the taxicab ordinance to increase the fares that may be charged as well as to increase the maximum model age of a taxicab and eliminate the requirement that all taxicabs from one company be painted with the same scheme.
Recommendation:
Rec
Adopt the Ordinance.
Body
BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia, that Sections 38-19 and 38-20 of Division 1, Article II, and Section 38-127 of Division 5, Article II, Chapter 38 of the City Code of the City of Hampton, Virginia be adopted to read as follows:
Chapter 38 - VEHICLES FOR HIRE
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ARTICLE II. - TAXICABS
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DIVISION 1. GENERALLY
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Sec. 38-19. - General vehicle requirements.
(a) Every taxicab for which a certificate is issued under this article shall be of the enclosed or sedan type, with four (4) doors, at least two (2) seats and of not less than five (5) passenger capacity.
(b) Every taxicab for which a certificate is issued under this article shall be no more than ten (10) model years of age.
(c) No taxicab shall be placed in operation as a public vehicle, unless and until the same is found by the chief of police or designee, as he may deem necessary to make or cause to be made, to be in proper physical condition to render safe, adequate and proper public service and so as not to be a menace to the safety of the patrons or the general public.
(d) All public vehicles shall at all times be kept in proper physical condition to the satisfaction of the chief of police or designee, so as to render safe, adequate and proper public service and so as not to be a menace to the safety of the patrons or the general public.
(e) Every public vehicle in service within the city shall be equipped with a standard speedometer properly installed, maintained in good working order and exposed to view. No taxicab shall be operated in taxicab service while the speedometer is out of repair or disconnected.
(f) All public vehicles operated in the city shall be equipped with a taximeter. Whenever any public vehicle is engaged, there shall be conspicuously displayed an identification light connected to the taximeter, which shall show light when the taximeter is in operation. All taximeters shall be kept accurate and in proper condition and repair and sufficiently lighted so that the figures thereon shall be plainly visible to the passengers.
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• Sec. 38-20. - Identification of vehicles, limitations on advertising.
(a) Every public vehicle shall bear, on the outside and on at least two (2) sides thereof, the name of the owner, in painted characters not less than two (2) inches high and plainly visible at a distance of one hundred (100) feet. On two (2) sides and the back of the vehicle, the owner's cab number shall be painted in characters three (3) inches high and plainly visible at a distance of one hundred (100) feet.
(b) No person shall use the term “taxi” or "taxicab" in any advertising or hold himself out as a taxicab or public vehicle, or represent himself to be such by means of advertisements, signs, trade names or otherwise, unless he has previously thereto complied with the conditions, regulations and restrictions prescribed by this chapter.
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DIVISION 5. - FARES
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Sec. 38-127. - General rates prescribed; charging different rates, discounts.
(a) The rates set out in this section shall be charged and collected for the transportation of passengers by a taxicab operating under a certificate granted pursuant to this article. No different rate shall at any time be charged or collected for such services except as further provided in this section or for such discounts as are granted to certain qualifying elderly or handicapped citizens and Medicaid recipients by certificate holders who have applied for and received approval from the chief of police to charge a specified discounted rate to such individuals or groups.
(b) The rates to be charged and collected for services by taxicabs within the corporate limits of the city shall be as follows:
(1) For the first one-seventh ( 1/7 ) mile ....., no more than $5.00
(2) For each additional one-seventh ( 1/7 ) mile or fraction thereof .....$0.35
(c) Notwithstanding the above provisions of this section, a certificate holder may enter into written contracts with organizations and companies to provide service on a negotiated basis upon a fare schedule agreed upon in the contract. All such contracts must be kept and preserved and shall be subject to inspection at the certificate holder’s business address within the city. The rates to be charged for services under a written contract may differ from the rates set forth in this section. Taximeters shall be in operation at all times during the transportation of passengers, however, the charge for such services shall be governed by the written contract, not the taximeter.
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