§ 102-62. Vehicle specifications and equipment.

No certificate shall be granted under this division unless the taxicabs of the applicant conform with the following provisions:

(1)

General construction. All bodies shall have four doors, two leading into the rear seat and two leading into the front seat, so constructed that they may be opened from the inside and the outside. Each door shall be constructed with a double safety catch.

(2)

Equipment. Every taxicab shall have the following equipment:

a.

Bumpers. All taxicabs shall be equipped with standard bumpers, both front and rear.

b.

Heater. Every taxicab shall be equipped with a heater with a shutoff appliance thereon, sufficient to heat the interior of the taxicab adequately in cold weather, and it shall be maintained in good working order.

c.

Defroster. Every taxicab shall be equipped with windshield defroster, and it shall be maintained in good working order.

d.

Speedometer. Every taxicab shall be equipped with a standard speedometer, in good working order and exposed to view. No taxicab shall be operated in taxicab service while its speedometer is out of repair or disconnected.

e.

Information to be posted. Every taxicab shall be equipped with a card frame, and the following information shall at all times be posted inside the taxicab in plain view of the passengers: the name and address of the operator; the rates and fares in effect; and the statement, "The driver shall not permit any other person to occupy or ride in this taxicab without the consent of the original passenger or passengers."

f.

Double windshield wiper. Every taxicab shall be equipped with a double windshield wiper, properly installed and maintained in good working order.

(3)

Required lights. In addition to lights required by state law, every taxicab shall be equipped with the following lights:

a.

A passenger compartment light adequate to illuminate the interior of the passenger compartment, and with a switch easily accessible to the passenger and driver.

b.

Lights which reflect red when brakes are applied, which shall be maintained in good working order.

c.

All taxicabs licensed by the town to operate therein shall, in addition to the lighting equipment required by G.S. 20-129 through 20-132, be equipped with two lamps or sections of light, one above the other, clearly visible for 100 feet, affixed to the front half of the top exterior of the taxicab; the lower light or section to indicate the name of the licensed taxicab operator, and the bottom section or light alone shall burn or show during the time the taxicab is occupied by one or more passengers and the taximeter is operating, and when the taxicab is vacant, both of the lamps or sections shall remain lighted.

(4)

Designation of taxicabs. The name of the taxicab company and the taxicab number shall be painted with permanent paint on both sides and rear of each taxicab with letters and numbers at least four inches high on the sides, and with numbers on the rear at least six inches high.

a.

Colors of paint shall be of sharp contrast to the color of surface paint to which it is applied, so as to be clearly visible.

b.

Colors of letters and numbers shall be considered a part of the color scheme, and shall be subject to approval of the inspector of taxicabs.

c.

No lettering or numbers shall be acceptable which have been painted upon a sheet of metal or other material which in turn can be removed or detached from the taxicab.

(Code 1985, § 113.18; Code 1999, § 98-69)