52 Pa. Code § 1017.5 - Basic vehicle standards
(a)
State vehicle standards. In addition to standards required
under the act, this part and orders of the Authority, a taxicab must
continually satisfy the applicable Department of Transportation equipment
inspection standards in 67 Pa. Code Chapter 175 (relating to vehicle equipment
and inspection) when providing taxicab service.
(b)
Standard taxicab vehicle
requirements. Each taxicab is subject to all of the following
requirements:
(1) A taxicab must have four
functioning and properly aligned doors which comply with the standards provided
in 67 Pa. Code Chapter 175. The doors must have the following properly
installed and maintained components:
(i)
Functional exterior and interior door handles which are operable by
passengers.
(ii) Intact door seals
(door gaskets and doorway padding).
(iii) Functional windows which are operable
by passengers.
(iv) Doors that open
without resistance and close securely.
(v) Functional interior door locks which are
operable by passengers.
(2) A medallion taxicab shall utilize the
services of a dispatcher approved by the Authority under Chapter 1019 (relating
to dispatchers) and dispatch-related equipment must function
properly.
(3) A medallion taxicab
must be equipped with operable technology that is approved by the Authority
that facilitates two-way communication.
(4) Except as provided in paragraph (5), the
taxicab must have a functioning dome light firmly affixed to its roof. The dome
light must be lit when the vehicle is available for service. The dome light
must comply with the approved design submitted by the taxicab's certified
dispatcher under §
1019.7 (relating to name, colors
and markings review).
(5) A
rooftop-advertising panel with ends that illuminate to indicate when the
taxicab is available for service may be used instead of the dome light,
provided that the rooftop-advertising panel meets the requirements in
subsection (e).
(6) A taxicab must
display taxicab rates approved by the Authority as provided in section 5703 or
5720 of the act, or both (relating to rates; and wages).
(7) A taxicab must be equipped with operable
seatbelts for every passenger and the driver.
(8) A taxicab must be equipped with a
protective shield which separates the front seat from the back seat and bears
the manufacturer's name, or a safety camera system that is approved by the
Authority as provided in §
1017.71 (relating to taxicab
safety cameras). If a medallion taxicab certificate holder opts to install a
protective shield, it must meet the following minimum requirements:
(i) The upper portion of the shield must
extend from the top of the front seat to a point not more than 3 inches from
the ceiling of the vehicle and must be constructed of a clear, see-through,
bullet-resistant material.
(ii) The
shield must have either a sliding window controlled by the vehicle operator and
capable of being locked by the driver, or a payment exchange cup or tray or
similar device which allows the operator to receive payment from passengers in
the back seat of the vehicle without unduly exposing the vehicle operator to
danger.
(iii) The upper portion of
the shield may not obstruct the vehicle operator's view of the road to the rear
of the vehicle.
(iv) The lower
portion of the shield must extend the full length of the front seat and be
constructed of a bullet-resistant material.
(v) Both the upper and lower portions of the
shield must extend from a point flush with the left hand side of the vehicle
across the vehicle to a point flush with the right hand side of the
vehicle.
(vi) The shield may not
have an edge or projection protruding into the area where a passenger or driver
will sit or move.
(vii) The shield
must be installed in a manner which does not prevent voice communication
between the vehicle operator and passengers in the vehicle.
(viii) The shield must be installed in a
manner which allows heat and air conditioning to maintain the taxicab's
temperature at levels required under paragraph (14).
(ix) The shield must be sufficiently
transparent to allow a passenger to easily read the meter and the taxicab
driver's certificate.
(9)
A taxicab must be equipped with a meter approved for use as provided in §
1017.23 (relating to approved
meters) and may not be equipped with a device that has the capability of
allowing the meter to register a nonapproved rate.
(10) A taxicab may not be equipped with a
push bumper.
(11) The interior,
exterior and trunk compartment of a taxicab must be clean so as to present a
positive appearance and to prevent possible transfer of dirt, dust, grease,
paint or other markings to a passenger's clothing or luggage. A taxicab must be
free of objectionable odors. For example, a taxicab may not smell like urine,
feces, animals, insects, decomposing organisms, poor human hygiene or
garbage.
(12) Upholstery of a
taxicab's passenger seats may not be torn in excess of 3 inches or have
protruding springs or other material capable of tearing a passenger's skin or
clothing. Passenger seat tears in excess of 3 inches shall be properly repaired
and may not be mended with tape.
(13) A taxicab's interior must consist of
matching features, including door panels.
(14) A functioning air conditioner capable of
keeping the interior of the taxicab at a constant temperature between 60° and
78° Fahrenheit.
(15) A taxicab must
contain a legible commercially- produced map of the City of Philadelphia for
use by the taxicab driver.
(16) A
taxicab's exterior paint must be in good repair and consistent with the colors
and markings of the taxicab's dispatcher, and the exterior of the vehicle may
not have dents larger than 12 inches and may not have loose body panels or
bumpers.
(17) In addition to other
postings required by this subpart, a taxicab must have posted in the passenger
compartment in a place easily observed by passengers, all of the following
information:
(i) A prohibition against
smoking, eating and drinking while in the taxicab.
(ii) The availability of noncash payment
options.
(iii) Information in both
written English and Braille on how to submit a taxicab service-related
complaint to the Authority.
(iv)
The taxicab's dispatcher and the number assigned to the taxicab under §
1017.14 (relating to taxicab
numbering).
(18) The
Authority may require the installation of a separate heating and air
conditioning system in a taxicab if necessary to comply with paragraph
(14).
(19) A taxicab must have
operational interior lights.
(20) A
driver operating a taxicab and who transports a child anywhere in the taxicab
shall comply with
75 Pa.C.S. §
4581
(relating to restraint systems).
(21) The taxicab must have a trunk or storage
area large enough to accommodate a folded manual wheelchair.
(22) Properly affixed and matching hubcaps or
wheel covers for all four tires.
(c)
Interstate travel. No
requirement of this subpart or any Authority regulation may be interpreted to
disrupt or interfere with interstate commerce exclusively regulated by or
pre-empted by the government of the United States.
(d)
Smoking prohibited.
Persons may not smoke in a taxicab.
(e)
Advertising.
(1) The display of commercial advertisements
on the exterior or interior of a taxicab is permitted only upon 72 hours
advanced written notice by the medallion certificate holder to the Director and
Manager of Enforcement prior to the display of the advertisement, which must
include a color copy of the advertisement and a written description of the
advertisement's placement on or within the taxicab. The use of a
rooftop-advertising panel as provided in subsection (b)(5) is excluded from the
72 hours advanced written notice requirement.
(2) Commercial advertisements, colors,
markings and other displays required by this part must be securely fastened to
the taxicab, may not obscure the driver's view in any direction and may not
violate any provision of 75 Pa.C.S. (relating to Vehicle Code) or 67 Pa. Code
(relating to transportation).
(3) A
commercial advertisement will not be permitted if it violates any requirement
in §
1017.12 (relating to required
markings and information).
(4) A
commercial advertisement for display on the exterior or interior of a taxicab
will not be permitted as follows:
(i)
Advertisements that do not relate primarily to the economic interests of the
publisher or its audience, or that do not direct attention to a business,
industry, profession, commodity, service, activity, institution, product or
entertainment offered for sale.
(ii) Advertisements relating to the sale or
use of alcohol, tobacco products or firearms.
(iii) Advertisements that relate to
sexually-oriented businesses, products or services.
(iv) Advertisements that are obscene or
pornographic.
(v) Advertisements
relating to political campaigns or ballot measures.
(vi) Advertisements that are false,
misleading, defamatory or infringe on any copyright, trade or service mark,
title or slogan.
(f)
Inspection by medallion taxicab
certificate holder. A medallion taxicab certificate holder shall
inspect each of its taxicabs on a daily basis to confirm that the taxicab
complies with this subpart. A medallion taxicab certificate holder may select a
person to conduct the inspections required under this subsection on the
medallion taxicab certificate holder's behalf.
Notes
Subsection (b)(12) has been recognized as invalid. Germantown Cab Company v. Philadelphia Parking Authority, 155 A.3d 669 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2017).
The provisions of this § 1017.5 temporarily amended under 53 Pa.C.S. § 57B 02.
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