A.
No vehicle shall be operated as a Class B taxicab, as defined in
this chapter, within the City of Yonkers until it has been thoroughly
examined and inspected and found to comply with such reasonable rules
and regulations as may be prescribed by the Police Commissioner. Rules
and regulations shall be promulgated by the Police Commissioner to
provide safe transportation and shall specify, among other things,
such safety equipment and other regulatory devices as the Police Commissioner
shall deem necessary therefor; and no vehicle shall be operated as
a Class B taxicab, as defined in this chapter, until it shall have
been examined and inspected and found to comply with the provisions
of this article and the requirements of the Vehicle and Traffic Law
of the State of New York. The Police Commissioner is authorized to
divide the City into zones and to establish rates for Class B taxicabs
based on that map; the prices charged by the owners or drivers of
Class B taxicabs may not exceed the rates as defined by that map.
B.
No Class B taxicab shall pick up passengers within the City of Yonkers
unless the owner shall first have registered the Class B taxicab vehicle
with the Police Department as of the first day of April, and such
registration shall expire on the 31st day of March two years after,
unless sooner suspended or revoked.
C.
Every Class B taxicab shall be issued a vehicle number when it is
registered pursuant to this section. This number, together with the
name, address and phone number of the owner of the vehicle, must be
prominently displayed inside the vehicle in a form and manner acceptable
to the Police Commissioner.
D.
Every Class B taxicab shall display a sticker or decal indicating
such registration issued by the Police Department, which shall be
affixed on both rear sides of the vehicle, in a prominent location
acceptable to the Police Department.
E.
The owner of a Class B taxicab must provide the City with proof of
adequate off-street parking facilities for each vehicle that the owner
is seeking to register pursuant to this section. The adequacy of off-street
parking will be determined by the discretion of the Police Commissioner.
F.
The Class B taxicab owner must be fingerprinted as part of the registration
process.
G.
The fee for registration of a Class B taxicab pursuant to this section
will be $150 annually.
An inspection sticker, in such form as may be issued by the
Police Commissioner, showing that the vehicle meets the requirements
of this article, must be pasted on the inside lower right corner of
the windshield. No Class B taxicab shall be operated as such unless
the inspection sticker has been issued and is properly in place.
Any motor vehicle to be operated as a Class B taxicab must conform
to the provisions of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law and
to the following specifications:
A.
Doors. All bodies shall have four doors, two leading into the passenger
compartment and two leading into the driver's compartment, so
constructed that they may be opened from the inside and the outside.
B.
Heater. Every Class B taxicab shall be equipped with an adequate
heater of the type which will not permit the exhaust gases to enter
the interior of the vehicle.
C.
Rearview mirrors. Every vehicle operated under this article shall
be equipped with two adjustable rearview mirrors, one in the driver's
compartment, so installed as to enable the driver to obtain a reasonably
clear view toward the rear, and one installed on the exterior of the
vehicle on the driver's side to enable the driver to obtain a
further clear view of the highway directly to the rear.
D.
Speedometer. Every Class B taxicab shall be equipped with a standard
speedometer properly installed and maintained in good working order.
No vehicle shall be operated as a Class B taxicab while such speedometer
is out of repair or disconnected.
E.
Tire chains. Every Class B taxicab shall be provided with a set of
two tire chains in good condition, and such chains shall be used on
the two rear wheels when pavement conditions are such as to require
their use for the safety of the driver, passengers and the general
public.
F.
Windshield wipers. Every Class B taxicab shall be equipped with dual
windshield wipers properly installed and maintained in good working
order and shall be operated whenever weather conditions require.
G.
Upholstery and floor mats. When the original upholstery or floor
mats are found to be worn out or otherwise unsatisfactory for public
use, they shall be replaced with nonabsorbent washable material.
H.
Interior light. Every Class B taxicab shall be equipped with an interior
white light of sufficient candlepower to illuminate the interior of
said public vehicle after sundown, but in no case shall the bulb be
of less than six candlepower. Said light shall be so arranged as to
be automatically turned on by the opening of the right rear door of
said vehicle and shall also have a switch easily accessible to the
passengers.
I.
Mudguards, fenders and running boards. Mudguards, fenders and running
boards must be rigid, tightly fastened, free from dents or mutilation
and so constructed as to allow the full opening of the doors. The
exterior of the vehicle must be well painted and the finish must be
in good condition.
J.
Mechanically fit. All vehicles operated under this article must be
kept mechanically fit, with brakes, lights and signaling devices in
good working order.
K.
Radio. A radio, if there is one in the vehicle, except a radio used
by the operator in dispatching calls in connection with the business
of the operator, shall be played at the discretion of the passenger
and at no other time.
L.
(Reserved)
M.
Seat belts. All Class B taxicabs must provide seat belts for all
passengers in locations that are easy for passengers to find.
N.
Prohibited equipment. No Class B taxicab shall be equipped with any
equipment which is not, in the opinion of the Police Commissioner,
reasonably useful and necessary in the furnishing of safe, adequate
and convenient hiring service.
O.
Signs. All Class B taxicabs operating under this article must have
a sign in the passenger compartment on each side of each vehicle stating
"Pick up of passengers by this vehicle, other than by telephone request,
is illegal." Such sign shall be in a size and style approved by the
Police Commissioner. The Class B taxicab telephone dispatcher and
the Class B taxicab driver must both inform the passenger of the fare
before beginning the trip.
P.
Bills of rights.
[Amended 10-28-2014 by G.O. No. 13-2014]
(1)
All Class B taxicabs must display, where they can be readily seen by the riding public, and in a format and location approved by the Police Department, copies of the following Class B Taxicab Passenger's Bill of Rights and Taxicab Driver's Bill of Rights, described in Subsection P(2) and (3) below. Spanish translations of each must also be similarly posted.
(2)
The Class B Taxicab Passenger's Bill of Rights will read
as follows: "A Class B taxicab passenger has the right to:
(a)
The exclusive use of any Class B taxicab except in the event
of severe weather, public disasters or large mass gatherings or during
emergencies.
(b)
The taxicab license must be displayed at all times.
(c)
Report violations to the Yonkers Police Department.
(d)
Go to any destination in the City of Yonkers.
(e)
A safe and courteous driver who obeys all traffic laws; hazardous,
or imprudent driving is prohibited.
(f)
A knowledgeable driver who knows the geography of Yonkers and/or
has installed a working GPS system.
(g)
Air conditioning or heating is to be provided to the rear of
the vehicle upon request.
(h)
A noise-free trip: no unnecessary horn honking or radio.
(i)
Clean air: smoke and scent free.
(j)
Working seatbelts for all passengers.
(k)
A clean taxicab, including the interior, exterior and partition,
if any.
(l)
Be accompanied by a guide dog or service animal.
(m)
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).
(n)
A receipt with the correct cab company information upon request.
(o)
Decline to tip for poor service.
(p)
Request no other passengers share the cab.
(q)
In the case of an emergency involving the health, safety or
welfare of the passenger, the driver must call 911 for assistance
or may transport the passenger to the nearest police station or hospital.
(r)
Personal property left in a Class B taxicab must be returned
to the Police Department within 24 hours."
(3)
The Class B Taxicab Driver's Bill of Rights will read as
follows: "A Class B taxicab driver has the following rights:
(a)
Customers should be courteous, orderly and obey all laws or
service may be refused; in the event a passenger refused service requires
medical assistance, the driver shall call 911.
(b)
Customers must refrain from smoking.
(c)
Drinking and eating are not allowed in the taxicab.
(d)
Customers will not distract or otherwise prevent the taxicab
driver from focusing on driving the taxicab.
(e)
In the event the driver reasonably believes that his or the
passenger's health, safety or welfare is in danger due to the
requested destination, the driver has the right to refuse transport
to that destination.
(f)
Customers will pay the fare as requested by the driver, either
when entering the Class B taxicab or when reaching the destination.
Should the passenger dispute the fare, he/she should talk to the driver
first and then request to speak to the local dispatcher/manager; the
driver may then call for police assistance.
(g)
If the passenger leaves trash or bodily fluids in this vehicle,
a fee of $50 to clean the vehicle may be automatically added to the
fare and will appear as a separate charge on the receipt."
Q.
No vehicle may be used as a Class B taxicab that is more than 10
years old, as measured from the vehicle manufacturer's plate
bearing the month and date of manufacture, or from such other evidence
of vehicle year the Class B taxicab owner may produce. The Police
Department may grant an exception to this limitation only for Class
B taxicab vehicles that are in superb condition in all respects. Class
B taxicab owners must comply with this age limitation requirement
by inspections occurring on or after July 1, 1997.
A.
Inspection of all vehicles operated under this article shall be under
the direction of the Police Commissioner, who shall assign a member
of the Police Department of officer rank to be in charge thereof,
together with such other personnel necessary for such purpose.
B.
The Police Commissioner, officer in charge and/or such other personnel
assigned for such purpose shall have the right at any time after displaying
proper identification to enter into or upon any vehicle operated under
this article for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not any of
the provisions of this article are being violated.
C.
Consent decals or stickers. The Police Department shall make available
decals or stickers which drivers may, at their option, affix to the
rear driver's side window of the Class B taxicab, authorizing
a member of the Police Department to stop and search the vehicle at
any time.
A.
No vehicle shall be operated until it has been thoroughly and carefully
inspected and examined and found to be in a thoroughly safe condition
for the transportation of passengers, clean, fit, of good appearance,
well painted and varnished. The officer in charge and/or such other
personnel as may be assigned by the Police Commissioner for such purpose
shall make such inspection and examination before an inspection sticker
is issued. The Police Commissioner shall refuse approval of the issuance
of an inspection sticker to such applicant or, if already issued,
revoke or suspend an inspection sticker of any vehicle found to be
unfit for public patronage.
B.
The officer in charge and/or such other personnel as may be assigned
by the Police Commissioner for such purpose shall maintain constant
vigilance over all Class B taxicabs to see that they are kept in a
continued fitness for public use, and, to this end, all shall be inspected
four times every year and at such other times as the officer in charge
may deem necessary. The officer in charge and/or such other personnel
as may be assigned by the Police Commissioner for such purpose shall
endorse upon the inspection sticker the date of each and every inspection
and the result thereof. Reports, in writing, of all inspections shall
be promptly filed in the office of the Police Commissioner.
In order to facilitate the inspection of such vehicles, the
Police Commissioner may order the applicant to submit, in such form
as may be established by the Police Commissioner, a statement, signed
by an authorized New York State Inspection Station, as to the safety,
adequacy, condition and good working order of brakes, lights, steering
and/or any other mechanical features of the vehicle upon which the
Police Commissioner may require a report.
Any vehicle which is found, after such inspection as provided in § 110-137 of this article, to be unsafe or in any way unsuitable for private car rental may be immediately ordered out of service, and before being again placed in service shall be delivered to the Police Department at a designated point for reinspection.
Every owner shall institute a system of regular weekly inspections
of all vehicles and equipment and keep all vehicles and equipment
in proper repair and in a sanitary condition at all times. A record
of all such inspections shall be kept by the owner and shall be available
to the Police Commissioner or a member of the Police Department.
The holder of an inspection sticker shall be ordered by the
Police Commissioner to replace the holder's vehicle or other
equipment or accessories where it appears that the same no longer
meet with the reasonable standards of safe operation or public (vehicle)
appearance prescribed by the Police Commissioner. Upon failure of
the owner to comply with any order within 120 days after service thereof,
the inspection sticker shall be deemed to have been abandoned.
Any vehicle found by the owner, upon inspection, to be unsafe
for use as a Class B taxicab shall have such repairs and alterations
made as may be required, and the vehicle shall not be operated or
permitted to be operated until such repairs and alterations have been
completed.
The owner of every Class B taxicab operating within the City,
in addition to complying with all the conditions hereof, shall do
and perform or cause to be performed, with respect to each vehicle
operated, the following:
A.
Keep the interior and exterior in a clean and sanitary condition.
B.
Inspect the vehicle and its equipment at least once each week.
C.
Make such repairs and alterations as may be required and not operate
any vehicle until such alterations and repairs are completed.
E.
Report any driver to the Police Department who, in the owner's
opinion, is not qualified to hold a driver's license, stating
the reasons therefor.
F.
Furnish all reports to the Police Department or to the City Clerk
that the Police Department or the Police Commissioner may require.
G.
Keep open for inspection by the Police Department the record showing
the time of leaving and return of each vehicle, as well as the name,
the driver's license number and the make, license number and
owner of the vehicle.
H.
Garage all vehicles within the limits of the City of Yonkers and,
when the garage address is changed, report such change within 48 hours
to the Police Department.
I.
Keep such records of receipts from operations, payments to drivers,
mileage runs, accidents incurred and public liability claims paid
and of such other information as the Police Department may from time
to time by regulation provide, such records to be at all times open
to inspection by the Police Department.
No Class B taxicab shall have the dome light or the external
markings prescribed for taxicabs by this chapter; nor shall any such
Class B taxicab carry any advertisements in the interior or on the
exterior thereof, except that the name and telephone number of the
owner or operator of the Class B taxicab may appear on the exterior
thereof in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Police
Commissioner.
Cruising or the use of taxicab stands by Class B taxicabs is
prohibited.
All Class B taxicabs in use on the effective date of this article
shall comply with all of the provisions of this article within 60
days after this article's effective date. Thereafter, no Class
B taxicab shall be operated until it has complied with this article.
No passenger shall be carried in the front seat of any Class
B taxicab unless the back seat is fully occupied by other passengers,
and then not unless such person is a paid passenger.
Passengers may not smoke in a Class B taxicab, except with the
consent of the driver. Drivers may not smoke when transporting passengers.
