As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
LIVERY VEHICLES
Any limousine or other vehicle which is designed to carry
15 or fewer passengers, including the driver, and carries passengers
for hire, business courtesy, employee shuttle, customer shuttle, charter
or other prearranged transportation, and which vehicle is not required
to obtain a taxicab license under this article.
OPERATOR'S PERMIT
Permit required by any person operating vehicles performing
services under a business owner's permit.
REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES
The filing with the City Clerk of certain information relative
to vehicles providing service under a business owner's permit.
TAXICABS
A motor vehicle with a seating capacity not to exceed eight
passengers, displaying on its exterior permanently painted or decal
identification markings, a light affixed to the roof of said vehicle,
and a taxi registration number plate issued by the Massachusetts Registry
of Motor Vehicles, operated for hire by or on behalf of the holder
of the business owner's permit or by an employee or independent
contractor of said permit holder; but which does not pick up, transport,
or discharge passengers along a set route.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to any business
operated in a manner and for the purposes stated in Chapter 159A of
the General Laws of Massachusetts. The provisions of this article
shall not apply to a holder of a certificate issued by the Department
of Public Utilities.
Prior to services rendered, taxicab and livery company dispatchers
or operators must inform customers of the cost of the ride and must
post a clear flat rate chart that is visible to passengers. In lieu
of these requirements a taxicab may instead have a meter (hard-wired)
with rates clearly posted and visible to passengers including the
flag drop charge (initial charge), per mile charge, and waiting time
charge.
Any owner or driver violating the requirements of §§
316-18,
316-19 and/or
316-20 shall be subject to a penalty of $100 for the first offense and $200 for each and every subsequent offense. Any owner or driver violating the requirements of §
316-17 shall be subject to a penalty of $300 for each and every offense. The City Council may suspend or revoke any permit issued under §§
316-17,
316-18, and/or
316-19 for violation of any state statute, City ordinance, or any rule, order or regulation promulgated by the City of Northampton and/or the City Council. Sections
316-17,
316-18,
316-19, and
316-20 may be enforced by criminal complaint, noncriminal disposition under Chapter
40 of the Code of Ordinances, or any other civil or criminal procedure available by law.