[Ord. No. O-17-3, 4-19-2017]
Unless otherwise expressly stated, whenever used in this chapter,
the following words shall have the meanings given to them by this
section. Whenever used in this chapter, pronouns and other references
to persons and entities shall be considered to include the masculine
and the feminine, and the singular and the plural, as the sense and
neutral application thereof shall require.
CHIEF OF POLICE
The Chief of Police of the City of Poughkeepsie, or the officer
designated by him to perform the duties and carry out the responsibilities
assigned to the Chief of Police hereunder, unless otherwise specified.
CITY
The City of Poughkeepsie, New York, unless otherwise specified.
EXEMPT VEHICLE
Any motor vehicle which is used for commercial transportation
purposes for charge or by 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 bus or van used for educational purposes; a bus or other vehicle
used for mass transit; or a vehicle being used in a funeral or for
such other purpose as the law or the Chief of Police, or his designee,
may determine to be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
FARE
Either a customer or passenger paying or for whom a charge
has been paid to hire a lawfully licensed taxicab or for-hire vehicle
for transportation services under this chapter or the charge so levied
and lawfully incurred by such passenger, according to the sense thereof
as used herein.
FOR-HIRE VEHICLE
Any motor vehicle used to transport seven passengers or fewer,
on a prearranged for-hire basis. Taxicabs, wheelchair-accessible vans,
and funeral cars are excluded from this definition. Such vehicle must
display license plates with the "livery" designation. A for-hire vehicle
shall possess within the vehicle for inspection by any police officer
a valid contract for hire executed by all parties and be registered
with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles as a "livery"
and such vehicle must display New York State registration plates with
the "livery" designation only.
[Amended by Ord. No. O-18-2, 5-7-2018]
FOR-HIRE VEHICLE CONTRACT
A written agreement, on a form approved by the City of Poughkeepsie,
between an owner or driver of a for-hire vehicle and the passenger(s)
who contracted with the for-hire vehicle which is executed at pickup
and contains the name of the company, driver's name, pickup time
and date, pickup and dropoff location, passenger name(s) and the amount
of the fare. The for-hire vehicle contract must be executed in triplicate
with a copy provided to the customer. The City Clerk's office
shall hold a copy of the approved for-hire vehicle contract on file
and the same shall not be altered or amended by the company without
the knowledge and consent of the City.
FOR-HIRE VEHICLE LICENSE
A license issued by the City of Poughkeepsie to a person
authorized to operate a for-hire vehicle.
FOR-HIRE VEHICLE NUMBER
A number included on each for-hire vehicle license and sticker
issued by the City Clerk; each vehicle so licensed shall be assigned
one unique number as described in this chapter.
FOR-HIRE VEHICLE PERMIT
A permit issued by the City of Poughkeepsie to the owner
of a for-hire vehicle to allow such vehicle to be dispatched from
a base station.
OPERATOR
Any person owning or having control of the use of one or
more taxicabs or for-hire vehicle used for hire upon the streets of
the City or engaged in the business of operating a taxicab or a taxicab
company in the City of Poughkeepsie.
RATE CARD
A card on which is printed the tariff rates or fares charged
for taxicab service in the City, as provided by this chapter.
ROOF LIGHT
Equipment attached to the roof of a vehicle, or extending
above the roofline of a vehicle, and containing the word "taxi," "taxicab"
or "cab."
STREET
Includes any street, alley, avenue, thoroughfare, court,
bridge, lane or similar public place in the City.
TAXICAB
A 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. Such vehicle
must display license plates with the designation "Taxi" on them.
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.
TAXICAB DRIVER'S LICENSE
A license granted by the City to any otherwise-qualified
person to drive any licensed taxicab for hire or under hire upon the
streets of the City.
TAXICAB LICENSE
A license granted by the City to any business or person to
keep for hire any vehicle to be used as a taxicab in such City, each
such license being specifically issued to one specified vehicle only.
TAXICAB NUMBER
A number included on each taxicab vehicle license and sticker
issued by the City Clerk; each vehicle so licensed shall be assigned
one unique number as described in this chapter.
TAXICAB STAND
Includes any place alongside the curb of a street or elsewhere
which is exclusively reserved by the Chief of Police and/or by the
codes and rules of the City for the use of taxicabs and specifically
designated therefor.
TAXIMETER
A mechanical instrument or device, approved by the Police
Chief, by which the charge for hire of a taxicab is mechanically calculated
and on which said charge is plainly indicated.
TRIP SHEET
One or more sheets of paper upon which the driver and/or
operator records information pertaining to each trip carrying one
or more paying passengers, as described in this chapter.