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.
D. 
Employ only drivers who present proper certification pursuant to § 110-28 of this chapter.
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.
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.