Seattle Comptroller/Clerk Files Index
Information modified on January 17, 2020; retrieved on March 28, 2024 11:56 PM
Clerk File 321468
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Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) Director's Rule FOR-HIRE-TRANSPORTATION-03-2019, Taximeters. |
Description and Background | |
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Current Status: | Filed |
Index Terms: | DEPARTMENT-OF-FINANCE-AND-ADMINISTRATIVE-SERVICES, ADMINISTRATIVE-PROCEDURES, TAXICABS, PRICE-REGULATION |
References: | Supersedes CF 310154 |
Legislative History | |
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Date Filed with Clerk: | October 15, 2019 |
PDF Copy: | Clerk File 321468 |
Text | |
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Department: City of Seattle Department of Finance and Administrative Services Rule No: FOR-HIRE TRANSPORTATION-03-2019 Supersedes: Replaces Clerk File 310154 (R-6.310.320.L) Publication: 8/22/2019 Effective: 10/14/2019 Subject: Taximeters Code and Section Reference(s): SMC 6.310.320.K and 7.04 SMC 6.310.140 (rulemaking authority) Approved: Division Director Business Unit Officer Calvin W. Goings, Department Director Date Date Date City of Seattle Taxicab, Transportation Network Company Vehicle and For-Hire Vehicle Rules ________________________________________ Rule FOR-HIRE TRANSPORTATION-03-2019 Taximeters (SMC 6.310.320.K and 7.04) This Rule provides guidance for the testing and approval of taximeters. A taximeter is defined by the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) as "any instrument or device by which the charge for hire of a passenger carrying vehicle is measured or calculated either for the distance traveled by such vehicle or for waiting time, or for both, and upon which such calculated charges shall be indicated by means of figures." For purposes of this Rule, a taximeter meeting the definition in SMC is assumed to meter a trip using either an on-board diagnostic (OBD) connection or a global positioning system (GPS) connection or some combination of the two. In addition to the testing and approval process, all references to taximeters in SMC Chapter 6.310 shall apply with equal force regardless of taximeter type, including but not limited to those using an OBD connection or a GPS connection. 1. Each taxicab shall pass a taximeter test at least once per year. Additional tests shall be required if the taximeter security seal is broken, the taxicab owner is replacing the vehicle, or as the Director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) or his or her designee (the Department Director) requires in order to confirm that the taximeter is functioning properly (e.g., is accurate or can produce an audit trail). The Department Director reserves the right to change the frequency of testing at any time. 2. Taximeter tests for OBD connections shall be performed following procedures contained in the most recent version of Handbook 44 Specifications, Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring Devices, as amended, published by the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). Taximeter tests for GPS connections and OBD/GPS combination connections shall be performed based on a checklist developed by the Department Director. The checklist shall cover meter drop, mileage, wait time, additional charges, displays, receipt issuance and audit trail/event logger and any other factors the Department Director deems necessary to determine the taximeter's accuracy. Before January 1, 2021, all taximeters with a GPS connection or OBD/GPS combination connection placed in service must meet one of the two following conditions: a. Have a certificate of conformance or approval proving compliance with the National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) or the California Type Evaluation Program (CTEP). At the Department Director's discretion, approval from another regulatory agency such as the Department of For-Hire Vehicles in Washington, DC, or the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission or approval from a testing program similar to NTEP or CTEP may substitute for NTEP or CTEP approval; or b. Have approval of the Department Director based on an evaluation checklist used in conjunction with King County. This checklist shall cover the taximeter's accuracy, technical attributes and security, fare transparency and receipting functions. All taximeters, regardless of type, placed in service after January 1, 2021, must have a Certificate of Conformance issued by the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) proving compliance with the National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP). 3. No taximeter test shall be performed on a vehicle during a change of vehicle until the annual vehicle safety inspection has been passed (please refer to the Director's Rule on vehicle safety inspections for more information). 4. All taximeter tests shall be scheduled by appointment only. If the taxicab is late for an appointment scheduled by the Department Director, the appointment shall be cancelled, a $50 monetary penalty shall be assessed against the vehicle owner, and 2 penalty points shall be assessed against the taxicab association. 5. The Department Director shall consider a taximeter (OBD connection) to not be "functioning properly" unless it has receipt paper and automatically prints a receipt at the end of each trip. The Department Director shall consider a taximeter (GPS connection and OBD/GPS combination connections) to not be "functioning properly" if it cannot issue either a paper receipt or an electronic receipt by email or text message. Any receipt, regardless of its medium or delivery method, must include taxicab name and number, date, start and end time of trip, distance traveled, fare, additional charges (e.g., additional passenger charge, tolls or fuel surcharge), total fare, and taxicab passenger complaint hotline telephone number. 6. Taximeters (OBD connection) shall be modified to meet the following requirements: (1) be disabled when there is no receipt paper, (2) automatically print a receipt at the end of each trip, (3) have statistical functions protected by a password issued by the Department Director to each taximeter technician, and (4) print receipts displaying the hotline telephone number (206) 296-TAXI where taxicab passengers can provide feedback on their experience. 7. Taximeters (GPS connection and OBD/GPS combination connections) shall be modified to meet the following requirements: (1) be disabled when there is no receipt paper and the system has lost the capability to issue an electronic receipt via email or text message, (2) automatically print or electronically transmit a receipt at the end of each trip, (3) have security features to protect trip and customer payment data, (4) activate the top light when in use as follows: the top light turns on when meter is on but not operating on a trip, top light turns off when a trip is initiated and top light turns off when meter is cleared at the end of a trip and (5) print or electronically transmit receipts displaying the hotline telephone number (206) 296-TAXI where taxicab passengers can provide feedback on their experience. 8. Any taxi association that has received approval from the Department Director to change its taximeter system to either add to or replace existing technology must submit an outreach and implementation plan to the Department Director. The plan shall address how the taxi association intends to communicate the taximeter change to its affiliated owners and drivers and to minimize technical issues during the new system's initial phase. |
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