Sec. 32-27. Equipment; appearance, construction and
maintenance.
In addition to equipment required of motor vehicles by the Code
of Virginia, as amended, every taxicab registered in this city
pursuant to section 32-2, whether operated as a taxicab or not:
(a) Shall display the taxicab vehicle and driver registration
cards, which shall face the passengers and be so located as to be at
all times in plain view of such passengers.
(b) Shall be equipped with a heater in good working order
sufficient to heat the interior of the taxicab adequately in cold
weather.
(c) Shall be equipped with seat belts for all passengers.
(d) Shall not be equipped with shades or curtains which can be
manipulated in such a way as to shield the occupants or the driver
from observation or obstruct the rear-view window.
(e) Shall be either of the built-for-the-purpose or of the closed
or sedan type and shall be equipped with at least two doors for the
entrance and exit of passengers, in addition to the doors which
give access to the driver's compartment. Passenger doors must be
so constructed that they will remain securely fastened during
normal operation but may be readily opened by a passenger in
case of emergency. Each door shall be constructed with a double
or safety lock.
(f) Shall be equipped with approved safety nonshatterable
glass in the windshield and all windows. The center partition, if
any, between the driver's compartment and the passenger
compartment shall be of this type glass or plastic.
(g) Shall be equipped with a standard speedometer properly
installed, maintained in good working order and exposed to view
and properly lighted at night. No taxicab shall be operated in
taxicab service while such speedometer is out of repair or
disconnected.
(h) Shall not be equipped with any other lights or signal device
except as allowed by the Code of Virginia, as amended.
(i) Shall be equipped with a taximeter as prescribed by this
chapter.
(j) Shall be equipped with an "On Call" sign, to be used when
the taxicab is en route to pick up a passenger or awaiting a
passenger at a designated place in response to the request of the
passenger. This sign shall be visible from the street and placed in
the lower right-hand corner of the front windshield or upon the
right-hand sun visor.
(k) Shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition and shall be
swept and dusted at least once each day. At least once every seven
days the interior shall be cleansed thoroughly with suitable
antiseptic solution.
(l) Shall be painted with a distinctive color scheme and
insignia, which may be registered with the chief of police or his
duly designated representative. Once the owner of a taxicab or
taxicab fleet has registered such color scheme and insignia, no
person shall be permitted to operate under different ownership a
taxicab having a color scheme and insignia so similar as to be
confusing to the public. (1-9-74, § 1.)
