In order to ensure that the city’s vehicle requirements
are complied with, the operator and the owner of the vehicle shall
be required to obtain a city vehicle permit that will be affixed to
the vehicle. The fee for issuing the permit shall be ten dollars ($10.00).
The fee should be paid to the billing and collection department before
the vehicle is inspected and the receipt for payment should be shown
to equipment services to verify payment. No person shall drive a taxicab
and no operator shall permit a vehicle to be used as a taxicab when
it does not have affixed a valid current city vehicle permit. The
permit will be valid for a period of one (1) year. To obtain a permit,
the owner must deliver the vehicle to the maintenance garage of the
city for inspection. A city employee will inspect the vehicle pursuant
to a checklist prepared by the director of equipment services and,
if the vehicle is in compliance, issue the vehicle permit. Until such
time as a valid current city inspection sticker is affixed to the
vehicle, it shall not be operated and used as a taxicab in the city.
(Ordinance 85-76, sec. 1, adopted 9/10/85; Ordinance 95-13, sec. 1, adopted 2/14/95; 1957
Code, sec. 20-13)
Before being allowed to operate upon the streets of the city,
each taxicab shall be inspected and approved pursuant to the laws
of the state. No taxicab shall be driven or operated upon the streets
of the city unless the same is in safe condition and free of mechanical
defects, with brakes in excellent condition, and the interior and
exterior appearance shall be clean and maintained in a reasonable
state. Each taxicab shall be further regularly inspected once each
year and shall be subject to at least one (1) annual random inspection.
In the event that a taxicab is not approved, it shall be suspended
from operation until it complies with all city requirements.
(Ordinance 85-76, sec. 1, adopted 9/10/85; Ordinance 98-14, sec. 1, adopted 2/10/98; 1957
Code, sec. 20-14)
(a) Each
taxicab operated upon the streets of the city shall have painted upon
both sides, in letters and numbers more than three (3) inches in height
and one-half (1/2) inch in width, the trade name of the organization
under whose license such taxicab is being operated and the number
assigned to such taxicab by or under the direction of the chief of
police.
(b) Such
letters and numbers shall be painted on each taxicab with permanent,
nonwashable paint of a color sharply contrasting to the color of the
taxicab so that the same will be readily apparent, and such letters
and numbers shall not at any time be covered with any substance, material
or other object that would prevent the same being seen, or in any
way obscure their visibility.
(c) In
lieu of painted markings, a decal meeting the same specifications
can be used.
(d) Taxicab
companies shall not have more than two color schemes. Any color scheme
must clearly show that the vehicle is operating as a taxicab, and
must be distinguishable from the color scheme of other taxicab companies
and must be approved by the chief of police.
(Ordinance 85-76, sec. 1, adopted 9/10/85; Ordinance 95-13, sec. 1, adopted 2/14/95; Ordinance 2008-05 adopted 2/12/08; 1957 Code, sec. 20-16; Ordinance
2008-31 adopted 7/22/08)
(a) The
interior of each vehicle for hire shall be maintained in a clean condition,
free of foreign matter and offensive odors. There shall be no litter
in the vehicle or trunk and the seats shall be kept clean and without
holes or large wear spots.
(b) All
vehicles for hire shall present a clean environment for passengers.
(c) All
taxicabs shall be required to post and maintain a sign clearly readable
to the passengers in the vehicle which shall read as follows: “The
driver and taxicab company are required by law to maintain the interior
of the cab in a clean condition, free of foreign matter, and offensive
odors. Complaints may be filed with the Police Department (Sergeant
in the Traffic Division), No. (432)-335-5756. This cab number is __________.”
(Ordinance 85-76, sec. 1, adopted 9/10/85; Ordinance 95-13, sec. 1, adopted 2/14/95; 1957
Code, sec. 20-17; Ordinance 2008-31 adopted 7/22/08)
(a) The
minimum weight of a taxicab shall be two thousand (2,000) pounds,
as determined by the manufacturer’s specifications.
(b) No
taxicab shall be equipped with shades, curtains, or any other vision-obstructing
device.
(c) No
taxicab shall have less than four (4) doors, and each taxicab must
be either an SUV or a sedan.
(d) No
taxicab shall be a model that is more than seven (7) years old with
the following exceptions: taxicabs permitted for service to Midland
International Airport shall be no older than five (5) years.
(Ordinance 85-76, sec. 1, adopted 9/10/85; Ordinance 86-58, sec. 1, adopted 8/26/86; Ordinance 98-14, sec. 1, adopted 2/10/98; 1957 Code, sec. 20-18; Ordinance 2008-31 adopted 7/22/08)
(a) Exterior.
Headlights, taillights, brake lights, directional signal lights,
license plate lights, windshield, vent glasses, windshield wipers,
all other vehicle glass, glass window raisers, doors and door locks,
trunk lid, trunk, hood, and interior door handles, exhaust system,
hubcaps, bumpers, fenders, body and tires shall be maintained in a
reasonably clean condition. There shall be no tears or rust holes
in the vehicle body and no loose pieces such as fenders, bumpers or
trim hanging from the vehicle body. There shall be no unrepaired body
damage which would create a safety problem or interfere with the operation
of the vehicle.
(b) Interior.
The rearview mirror, steering wheel, foot brakes, parking brakes,
and air conditioning and heating systems shall be inspected to ascertain
that each is functioning properly. The upholstery, floor mats, head
lining, door panels, and trunk compartment shall be inspected to determine
whether they are clean and free of tears and that the trunk has sufficient
space for passengers’ luggage. The taximeter shall be inspected
to determine that it is properly calibrated.
(Ordinance 85-76, sec. 1, adopted 9/10/85; 1957 Code, sec. 20-19)