§ 37-170. Required taxicab services.

(a)

Taxicab licensees are required to offer and to provide upon demand citywide taxicab services, 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Such taxicab services shall include the transportation of passengers, messages and packages. All such taxicab licensees shall provide 24-hour answering and radio dispatching capabilities or be affiliated with taxicab companies or associations of taxicab licensees that provide such capabilities; and all taxicabs shall be equipped with radio or two-way communication between driver and dispatcher. The taxicabs of licensees shall display the same name and respond to calls to the same telephone number and charge the same metered rates as all other taxicabs of the licensee.

(b)

No driver of a taxicab shall willfully refuse, without cause, to:

(1)

Accept an orderly passenger for transportation from any area of trip origin to any area of trip destination within the city.

(2)

Respond to a request for passenger service transmitted to such driver through the taxicab dispatch radio.

(c)

If the requested service cannot be rendered within a reasonable time, the prospective passenger shall be advised as to the reason for the delay and shall be notified as to how much time will elapse before the requested service will be provided.

(Code 1988, § 37-153; Ord. No. O-30-03, § 1, 8-7-2003)