§ 55.09. Vehicle Safety and Equipment Standards.

Every Vehicle-for-Hire shall meet the following minimum safety and equipment standards:

(1)

Tires. Tires shall be of the size appropriate for the Vehicle-for-Hire and with no mismatched tires. There shall be no cuts into the tire cord or sidewall area or localized worn spots that expose the ply. No tire is permitted with less than 2/32 inches remaining when measured in any two (2) grooves at three (3) equally spaced intervals around the circumference of the tire, or when the tire has tread wear indicators that are visible.

(2)

Operational Horn. The Vehicle-for-Hire shall be equipped with an operational horn with the actuating button mounted in the location designated by the vehicle manufacturer and operated in the manner designed and assembled by the vehicle manufacturer.

(3)

Windows. The windshield, side and rear windows shall operate as designed and be assembled with no breakage, cracks or pits that may impair visibility or hinder the safety of passengers. No windows on Vehicles-for-Hire shall be composed of, covered by, or treated with, any material which would cause the vehicle to be in violation of Florida Statutes § 316.295.

(4)

Doors. All doors must have operating handles that allow opening from the inside and outside. Handles, knobs and armrests are to be free of breaks and must be securely mounted. Door hinges and hold stops must function correctly. Door seals and gaskets must be intact and operating to seal water and odors from entering the passenger compartment from outside. All door panels must be intact to prevent accidental injuries on door and window mechanisms.

(5)

Interior Condition.

(a)

General Condition. All standard interior equipment shall be complete and intact, including, but not limited to interior lights, headliner, dashboard, head rests, window cranks, and gear shifts.

(b)

Seat Condition. Seat covers shall be permanently attached or fixed to all seats in the Vehicle-for-Hire, and have no exposed wire or sharp edges either from metal or hardened vinyl. The rear seat must be of a type, size and mounting approved by the vehicle manufacturer. No broken springs, sagging or horizontal slippage is allowable in any seat.

(c)

Floor Condition. Floor covering material shall be secure and contain no rips or loose folds. The floor board of the Vehicle-for-Hire shall be free of rust and holes.

(d)

Loose Objects. No loose or moving objects or externally mounted speakers shall be placed on the deck behind the rear seat, or on the front dash board. No decorations or other objects will be permitted to hang from permanently mounted fixtures in a Vehicle-for-Hire.

(6)

Seat Belts. Each Vehicle-for-Hire shall have seat belts available for passengers in all seats except jump seats, spaces designed to accommodate wheelchairs or where the seat belts are not required by law. Seat belts shall be provided in operating condition and easily accessible by all passengers. Seat belts shall also be clean and free of grease and other objectionable substances. For the purpose of this section, seat belts which are placed under the seat or between the lower and upper portions of the seat are deemed not easily accessible.

(7)

Windshield Wipers. Each Vehicle-for-Hire shall have standard operational windshield wipers for the entire front windshield which shall be controlled electronically or by vacuum and operated from the interior of the Vehicle-for-Hire. The wiper blades shall be in such a condition as to make firm contact with the windshield when operational, and shall not be torn or badly worn.

(8)

Brakes. Each Vehicle-for-Hire shall contain an operational parking brake and a primary brake system which acts on all four (4) vehicle wheels. There shall be no visible leaks in the brake line, wheel cylinder or any part of the brake system and no frayed cables. All primary brake systems shall demonstrate a reasonable total braking force when tested, using the "quick stop method" and with the Vehicle-for-Hire operating at a speed of at least twenty (20) miles per hour. Brake linings and/or disc pads, when measured at the thinnest point shall not be less than one-sixteenth ( 1/16 ) of an inch. Brake linings and/or pads shall also be firmly attached to the brake shoe and/or disk coupler. Disc brake rotors and brake drums shall be of a size and type appropriate for the vehicle, with no cracks or other damage which change or impair the functional surface.

(9)

Headlights, Turn Signals, Brake Lights and Tail Lamps. Every Vehicle-for-Hire shall be equipped with operational State of Florida-approved headlights, and turn indicating lamps or devices on the front and rear of the vehicle and a foot brake activated stop light on the rear of the Vehicle. Each Vehicle-for-Hire shall also have a tail lamp so situated on the vehicle as to illuminate the rear license plate with a white light and render it clearly legible.

(10)

Steering Mechanisms. Steering mechanisms shall neither be worn or jammed, nor shall there be more than two (2) inches play to the left or right of center, measured at the steering wheel rim with the road wheels in a straight ahead position, on wheels up to eighteen (18) inches in diameter, or three (3) inches of play on wheels over eighteen (18) inches.

(11)

Exhaust Systems. There shall be no leakage of exhaust gas at the manifold gasket, manifold and exhaust line gasket, muffler and muffler connections or at any other point in the exhaust system as determined through a visual and audible inspection. The tail pipe shall discharge exhaust from the rear or sides of the passenger and luggage compartment. No part of the exhaust system shall pass through or leak into the part of the Vehicle-for-Hire occupied by passengers, as determined by visual inspection.

(12)

Air Conditioning and Heating. Every Vehicle-for-Hire, except for Residential Shuttles, shall be equipped with an adequately operating air conditioning and heating system, and windshield defrost or defogging system, which controls the temperature of the interior of the vehicle between 68 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

(13)

Correction of Defects. Every Vehicle-for-Hire Permit-Holder shall repair or replace any equipment or parts of the vehicle found to be worn out, defective or creating a safety hazard by the vehicle inspection facility as a result of the inspection required in Section 55.21(1)(b), below.

(14)

Taxicab Meters. Every Taxicab shall be equipped with mechanical or electronic devices commonly called a "Taxicab meter" or "meter" for registering the fare to be charged. Each Taxicab meter shall be inspected, approved and sealed pursuant to Florida Statutes ch. 531.

(a)

Location of Meter. Every meter in use shall be placed in the Taxicab at a location that will be plainly visible at all times to the passengers of such Taxicabs. Between the hours of sunset and sunrise the dial of the meter shall be illuminated whenever the ignition of the vehicle is on.

(b)

Operational Requirements. Whenever a Taxicab is not hired, the meter shall show no fare. When a Taxicab is hired, the meter shall be in the calculating position. Upon the completion of service by a Taxicab, the meter shall be returned to the non-calculating position and its dial cleared.

(c)

Duty of Taxicab Permit-Holder. It shall be the duty of the Taxicab Permit-Holder to have the meter in good working condition and operating accurately as to the registration of mileage and fare. Such meters shall be sealed in a manner that will prevent any person from tampering with or changing the adjustment of the meter.

No other category of Vehicle-for-Hire shall be equipped, have installed, or possess within its interior a Taxicab meter or meter, whether or not the meter is in operation.

(15)

Posting of Consumer Signs. It shall be the duty of the Vehicle Permit-Holder to post the following signs within the interior of every Vehicle-for-Hire:

(a)

a comment/complaint sign on the lower left corner of the right rear door window which states: "If any comments or complaints, call the Company or the City of Orlando at ___________. The City Permit Number of this Vehicle is #_______"; and

(b)

the rate and/or surcharge sign as required in Section 55.17(2)(c), below.

All signs posted shall be at least two (2) inches by three (3) inches in size and approved by the Vehicle-for-Hire Administrator.

(Ord. of 4-20-1998, Doc. #31157; Ord. of 12-14-2009, § 2, 0912141105; Ord. No. 2013-6, § 3, 2-4-2013, Doc. #1302041203)