§ 123. Rules and regulations.  


Latest version.
  • A.

    It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor offense for any chauffeur or certificate holder to fail to comply with the following rules and regulations.

    1.

    While in charge of or driving a taxicab, paratransit vehicle or utility vehicle for hire, a chauffeur shall have in his possession a current, valid driver's license, appropriate to the vehicle being driven, issued by the state of Oklahoma.

    2.

    While on duty, a chauffeur shall display his chauffeur's license in his vehicle in the manner prescribed by Subsection 118.G. of this chapter.

    3.

    At all times a chauffeur shall drive his taxicab, paratransit vehicle or utility vehicle in a safe, prudent and careful manner and in compliance with city and state traffic rules and regulations.

    4.

    While on duty, a chauffeur shall not engage in any unlawful act.

    5.

    Neither the certificate holder nor the chauffeur shall allow a taxicab, paratransit vehicle or utility vehicle to be operated which is in an unsafe operating condition or that fails to meet any requirement of this title.

    6.

    A taxicab shall not be operated if it contains an inaccurate or unsealed meter. The chauffeur and certificate holder shall make certain that the approved meter rate is set and that the meter reading is reasonably visible to all passengers at all times.

    7.

    The interior and exterior of a taxicab, paratransit vehicle or utility vehicle must be maintained in a clean condition, in good repair and in full compliance with this title. Prior to the beginning of each shift, the chauffeur shall physically inspect the vehicle and make certain the vehicle complies with all provisions of this title.

    8.

    A chauffeur shall not monitor or respond to any call for taxicab or paratransit service transmitted through a holder's frequency other than his own. The dispatch radio shall be audible at all times when the taxicab or paratransit vehicle is available for service.

    9.

    The certificate holder shall require and the chauffeur while on duty shall present and maintain a clean, neat and well-groomed personal appearance such as not to disparage the community, and generally comply with the following:

    a.

    The term "neat and clean" as it relates to clothes shall mean that all clothing is clean, free from soil, grease and dirt and without rips or tears.

    b.

    "Clean" means that state of personal hygiene, body and hair cleanliness and absence of offensive body odor normally associated with reasonable clothes laundering and bathing or showering.

    c.

    "Well groomed" means beards and mustaches are groomed and neatly trimmed, and scalp and facial hair is neatly trimmed, and combed or brushed.

    d.

    A chauffeur, unless otherwise authorized, shall not wear as an outer garment any of the following:

    (1)

    Undershirt or underwear, tank tops, body shirts (see-through mesh);

    (2)

    Swimwear, jogging or warm-up suits, or sweatshirts or similar attire;

    (3)

    Shorts or trunks (jogging or bathing), cut-off shorts;

    (4)

    Open-toed shoes or sandals, or any similar clothing.

    e.

    Summer clothing may include Bermuda shorts (hemmed slack material) that extend down to within two (2) inches of the top of the kneecap.

    f.

    A chauffeur shall wear a collared shirt as part of the uniform.

    10.

    A chauffeur shall provide prompt, efficient service, shall be polite and courteous and shall act in a professional and dignified manner at all times while on duty.

    11.

    A chauffeur shall not leave his vehicle in a taxicab or paratransit stand unless time is needed to assist a passenger or unless his absence is due to mechanical or electrical problems with his vehicle.

    12.

    A chauffeur shall not induce any person to be transported by any taxicab, paratransit vehicle or utility vehicle for hire by willful misrepresentation.

    13.

    A chauffeur shall not dismiss nor discharge any passenger at a point other than the requested destination without good cause. If a passenger is discharged for good cause, it shall be done, if at all possible, at a safe, well-lighted place, convenient to public transportation. A chauffeur shall immediately notify his holder of any such incident. The holder shall conduct an investigation into the circumstances and, within one (1) working day, report his findings to the Director.

    14.

    A chauffeur shall not overcharge any passenger; nor shall he request, demand or arrange for compensation in an amount greater than the taxicab, paratransit vehicle or utility vehicle for hire rate applicable to the service provided.

    15.

    A chauffeur shall not solicit a gratuity; however, a gratuity from a passenger may be accepted if it is given voluntarily, without solicitation.

    16.

    A chauffeur of a taxicab shall activate the taximeter at the beginning of each trip and deactivate the taximeter upon completion of the trip, providing the customer with the receipt printed by the taximeter, unless the trip is a fixed-rate trip approved as such pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. A chauffeur of a taxicab shall apply all fares in accordance with Section 134.F. of this title.

    17.

    A chauffeur shall not attempt to influence the destination of a passenger unless requested by the passenger and shall not accept fees or gratuities from anyone other than the passenger or the passenger's agent.

    18.

    A chauffeur shall place the passenger's luggage or packages in and out of the taxicab, paratransit vehicle or utility vehicle for hire when requested to do so.

    19.

    A chauffeur shall assist a passenger in and out of his vehicle when requested to do so; provided, however, that the driver shall not be required to lift or carry any passenger.

    20.

    Each chauffeur shall complete a separate manifest for each shift of duty on a form approved by the Director and contained as an appendix to this title. The manifest shall legibly and accurately record each trip as it occurs, including the time, place of pickup, destination, number of passengers and the amount charged. Each chauffeur shall retain his manifests in chronological order and they shall be available for inspection by the Director for a period of one (1) year.

    21.

    Chauffeurs and passengers shall not smoke in a taxicab pursuant to 21 O.S.Supp.2003, § 1247.A.

    22.

    All holders and chauffeurs shall comply with all lawful requests, orders or directives issued by the Director.

    23.

    All holders and chauffeurs shall adhere to all rules and regulations promulgated by the Mayor and Tulsa Airport Authority adopted pursuant to this title.

    24.

    A chauffeur shall remain on duty for no more than sixteen (16) hours in any twenty-four (24) hour period.

    25.

    A chauffeur shall not recommend any hotel or motel, bar, private club, restaurant or other business establishment, nor attempt to divert patronage from one (1) business establishment to another, unless the passenger specifically requests the chauffeur's recommendation.

    26.

    A chauffeur shall search the interior of the taxicab, paratransit vehicle or utility vehicle for hire at least once a day for lost articles. If a lost article is found, the Chauffeur shall follow the procedure set forth in Section 128 of this chapter.

    27.

    A chauffeur shall immediately report a passenger's refusal to pay a fare to the Police Department, either in person or by telephone.

    28.

    A chauffeur shall not fasten or lock the doors of his taxicab or paratransit vehicle in such a way that it is impossible for a passenger to open the doors from the inside.

    29.

    Neither a certificate holder nor a chauffeur shall allow a taxicab, paratransit vehicle or utility vehicle for hire to be operated without a current, valid vehicle permit as required by Section 113 of this chapter.

    30.

    A chauffeur of any taxicab, paratransit vehicle or utility vehicle for hire shall not transport any number of persons, including the chauffeur, which is greater than the manufacturer's rated seating capacity for the vehicle.

    31.

    A chauffeur shall not operate a radio or any other audio device at a volume which might be offensive to a passenger, and he shall change stations or turn off the same upon a reasonable request of the passenger.

    32.

    A chauffeur shall not permit a passenger to enter or exit his vehicle on a two-way street by the left rear door when another vehicle is approaching.

    33.

    A chauffeur, when requested to do so, may transport and deliver baggage, packages or other types of personal property which are not accompanied by a passenger.

    34.

    An off-duty chauffeur shall display signs indicating his off-duty status as required in Section 139 of this chapter.

    35.

    A chauffeur may not represent that his taxicab is engaged when in fact it is vacant, nor shall he represent that it is vacant when it is engaged.

    36.

    Any person violating any of the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00), excluding costs, fees and assessments.

    B.

    It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor offense for any chauffeur or any certificate holder to fail to comply with the following rules and regulations.

    1.

    While on duty or within twelve (12) hours prior to being on duty, a chauffeur shall not partake of any alcoholic beverage, intoxicating liquor, narcotic, sedative, barbiturate, marijuana or any other drug which may impair his driving ability; and, while on duty, a chauffeur shall not have any such beverage or substance in his possession.

    2.

    A chauffeur shall not have a firearm, explosive device or illegal weapon in his possession while on duty.

    3.

    A chauffeur shall not operate a taxicab, paratransit vehicle or utility vehicle for hire while his ability or alertness is so impaired, or so likely to become impaired because of fatigue, illness or any other cause as to make it unsafe for him to operate the vehicle.

    4.

    Any person violating any of the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment in the City jail for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days or by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), excluding costs, fees and assessments, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each day in which a violation occurs shall be deemed a separate offense.

( Ord. No. 23483, § 1, 4-28-2016 )