This chapter shall apply to all taxicabs, as defined herein,
which nonexclusively load or discharge passengers in the County of
Albany and the taxicab drivers and operators of those vehicles. For
purposes of this chapter, the actions of taxicab drivers shall be
treated as actions of the owner of said vehicles.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
COUNTY
The County of Albany, New York.
DIVISION
The Department of General Services, Division of Weights and
Measures, of the County of Albany.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
EXEMPT VEHICLE
Any motor vehicle which is used for commercial transportation
purposes for charge or hire by paying passengers or persons for whom
a fare has been paid but which is, or is being used as, an ambulance,
a truck carrying freight or otherwise engaged in interstate commerce;
a van or other like vehicle used for transportation of disabled, frail
or elderly persons; a bus or van used for school or educational purposes;
a bus or other vehicle used for mass transit; or a vehicle being used
in a funeral or for such other purpose; or any vehicle classified
as a limousine; a vehicle with a taxicab medallion issued by the City
of Albany; a vehicle included on a taxi owner's license issued by
the City of Cohoes; or any vehicle the Division may determine to be
exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
FARE
Either a customer or passenger paying or for whom a charge
has been paid to hire a lawfully licensed taxicab for transportation
services under this chapter; or the charge so levied and lawfully
incurred by such passenger.
LIMOUSINE
A luxury passenger sedan, usually with an extended wheelbase,
driven by a chauffeur.
OWNER
Any person owning or having control of the use of one or
more taxicabs used for hire upon the streets of the County or engaged
in the business of operating a taxicab or a taxicab company in the
County of Albany.
STREET
Includes any street, alley, avenue, thoroughfare, court,
bridge, lane, road or other public place in the County.
TAXICAB
Any motor vehicle engaged in the business of carrying persons
for hire, whether the same is operated from a street stand or subject
to calls from a garage or otherwise operated for hire, except vehicles
subject to the provisions of the Transportation Law and exempted thereby
from the provisions of this chapter or used by funeral homes or undertakers
in carrying on their business. A taxicab shall not include any exempt
vehicles as defined herein.
TAXICAB DRIVER
Any person who drives a taxicab available for hire or under
hire, whether such person is the owner or lessee of such taxicab or
employed by or in contract with a taxicab owner, operator or lessor.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
A. Display of Taxicab Passenger's and Driver's Bill of Rights. All taxicabs must display, where it can be readily seen by the riding public, and in a format approved by the Division, a copy of the following Taxicab Passenger's and Driver's Bill of Rights, described in Subsections
B,
C and
D below.
B. The Taxicab Passenger's and Driver's Bill of Rights.
(1) As a taxicab passenger, you have the right to:
(a)
Go to any destination in the Capital Region.
(b)
Direct the route taken: the most direct route or one of your
choice.
(c)
A safe and courteous driver who obeys all traffic laws.
(d)
A knowledgeable driver who speaks English and knows Capital
Region geography.
(e)
Air conditioning or heat upon request.
(f)
A noise-free trip: no horn honking or radio.
(g)
Clean air: smoke- and scent-free.
(h)
Working seatbelts for all passengers.
(i)
A clean taxicab: interior, exterior and partition.
(j)
Be accompanied by a service animal.
(k)
A driver who does not use a cell phone while driving a taxicab
unless he/she is using a hands-free device for taxicab business only
(radio dispatch is acceptable).
(l)
A receipt with the correct cab company information upon request.
(m)
Decline to tip for poor service.
(n)
Request no other passengers share your cab with you.
(2) Your taxicab driver also has rights that you should respect and abide
by, including the following:
(a)
Customers may be asked to pay an additional fee if the driver
leaves other passengers at the curb because of your request to not
share the cab with others.
(b)
Customers should be courteous, orderly and obey all laws or
service may be refused.
(d)
Drinking and eating are allowed as long as the drink has a lid
and the food is not dropped in the taxicab.
(e)
Do not distract or otherwise prevent the taxicab driver from
focusing on driving the taxicab.
(f)
Pay the fare as requested by the driver either when entering
the taxicab or when you have reached your destination. Should you
dispute the fare, you should talk to the driver first and then request
to speak to the local dispatcher/manager.
(g)
Understand that if you trash or get sick in this vehicle, particularly
from drinking alcohol, a fee to clean the vehicle may be automatically
added to the fare and will appear as a separate charge on your receipt.
C. For reference the following will be used and added to the displayed
Bill of Rights:
THIS TAXICAB LICENSE PLATE NUMBER IS: ____________________
D. To assist passengers, the following will be added to the displayed
Bill of Rights:
All complaints or comments may be reported to the Division at
518-447-7581 or via the Albany County website (www.albanycounty.com).
E. The Division will report annually to the Clerk of the Legislature
and the County Executive on the complaints submitted and post the
annual report on the Division's website.
This chapter shall be effective 90 days subsequent to filing
in the Office of the Secretary of State and shall apply to all transactions
occurring on or after the effective date of this local law.