Title
Amending Chapter 376 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code pertaining to taxicab fares.
Body
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAINT PAUL DOES ORDAIN:
SECTION 1
Section 376.15 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
Sec. 376.15. - Fares and charges; regulations.
(a) Fares. No person, firm or corporation owning, operating or controlling any motor vehicle operated and licensed as a taxicab shall may charge any other rate except as herein provided:
(1) The maximum rate of fare for taxicabs operating within the city shall will be two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) for the first fraction of a mile of one-fifth (1/5) of a mile or fraction of greater proportion. The rate for each additional mile beyond the first mile shall may not exceed two dollars twenty cents ($2.20) seventy-five cents ($2.75). All fares beyond the first fraction shall will be calculated in forty-four cent ($0.44) fifty-five cent ($0.55) increments of one-fifth (1/5) of a mile, or a fraction of greater proportion. Each taxicab company's minimum and per-mile rates shall must be registered with the department of safety and inspections. Minimum and per mile rates may be changed following a seventy-two-hour notice to the department of safety and inspections and approval of said rate change. Rates must be posted on the outside right and left rear doors of the taxicab and inside the passenger compartment in the following manner and of sufficient size and shape so as to be clearly legible:
Taxicab Fares
(Maximum not to exceed) two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) first one-fifth 1/5 mile
(Maximum not to exceed) forty-four cents ($0.44) fifty-five cents ($.055) each one-fifth 1/5 mile
(Maximum not to exceed) minimum fare five dollars ($5.00) six dollars ($6.00).
(2) No greater for the operation of such taxicabs, than as described in subsection (1) above shall may be charged by the operators thereof; provided, however, that discounts of up to fifteen (15) percent may be applied to the total fare on the following conditions:
a. Such discounts are clearly posted inside the passenger compartment of the taxicab;
b. Such discounts may be given only to persons in one (1) or more of the following groups:
1. Senior citizens (age fifty-five (55) or older);
2. Persons with disabilities; and
3. Officers and employees of businesses located within the city whose volume use of
taxicabs is significant.
(3) No extra fare shall will be charged by the owner or operators of such taxicabs for additional passengers.
(b) Waiting time. Charges for waiting time shall may not exceed the following:
(1) For each hour of "waiting time at address," and "waiting time for engagement," twenty-four dollars ($24.00).
(c) "Waiting time" defined. "Waiting time at address" is herein defined to mean the time beginning when a cab arrives at an address to which it has been called, and ending when it departs from such address.
"Waiting time after engagement" shall means the time a cab is not in motion at the request of the passenger or passengers after the cab has commenced the transportation of such passenger or passengers.
(d) Hourly rates. Nothing herein contained shall may prevent any person from making an agreement with the operator of a taxicab to furnish transportation at a rate to be agreed upon between them for an hour, day, week, month or longer period, except that when furnished by the hour, the minimum rate shall will be six dollars ($6.00), but the person with whom the operator of a taxicab makes such agreement shall may not be permitted to hire out the vehicle to any other person.
(e) (d) Annual Review of fares and charges every three two calendar years. Every three two calendar years, The license inspector the department of safety and inspections shall will , each calendar year during the month of May, review the maximum allowable fares and charges for taxicab services to determine whether they should be adjusted. If it is determined that such the amount fares and charges should be adjusted. The license inspector department of safety and inspections will make such recommendation to the city council.
SECTION 2
This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force thirty (30) days following its passage, approval and publication.