REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS FOR SAFE AND PROPER OPERATION OF TAXICABS

This Part is promulgated pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 31-22-12, 31-38-4, and 31-47.1-7.

The purpose of this regulation is to establish minimum equipment and safety standards for taxicabs.

A.For the purpose of this Part, the following terms shall have the following meaning:

1.“Taxicab” means and includes any motor vehicle for hire, designed to carry seven (7) persons or less, operated upon any street or highway, or on call or demand, accepting or soliciting passengers indiscriminately for transportation for hire between such points along streets or highways as may be directed by the passenger or passengers so being transported provided nothing in the law shall be construed to include, as a taxicab, a jitney as defined or a motor vehicle in livery service.

A.Any taxicab operator must hold a Class I or Class IV chauffeur’s operator’s license when actively engaged in the operation of a taxicab and transporting passengers for hire.

B.The operator of every taxicab shall have a recent and distinct photograph of himself at least two and one half (2-1/2) inches wide and four (4) inches high, together with his full name and address posted in a conspicuous place in the taxicab operated by him.

The full name of the owner of every taxicab shall be displayed on each side of the rear doors of the same in letters at least two (2) inches high, and whenever any such taxicab shall be used or operated upon any public highway of this State with the consent of such owner, express or implied, or under any agreement with such owner, express of implied, the operator thereof, if other than such owner, shall, in case of accident, be deemed to be the agent of such owner.

A.All equipment shall be maintained in proper adjustment and kept in condition.

B.The passengers’ section shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition.

C.Every taxicab shall be completely examined by the operator at adequate regular intervals or mileage intervals for mechanical or structural defects and necessary repairs shall be made before taxicab is placed in service. A record of such examination showing the major conditions corrected shall be retained for not less than six (6) months at the place where the taxicab is customarily domiciled.

Each taxicab shall be equipped with headlights and rear lights in accordance with the minimum requirements of the R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-23-1 et seq.

A.Each taxicab shall be equipped with two (2) sets of brakes, each operated independently of the other and conforming to the standards of construction and maintenance.

B.Emergency brake as well as foot brake shall be so constructed and maintained as to stop a fully loaded taxicab in accordance with the minimum requirements of R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-23-1 et seq.

C.Brake lines shall be so located as to prevent chafing or damage.

Each taxicab shall be equipped with a horn or other signaling device conforming to existing regulations or laws, to give a reasonable warning to other users of the highway of the approach of the vehicle.

Each taxicab shall be equipped with one or more suitable windshield wipers that will provide the driver with a reasonable clear forward vision or view.

The exhaust system shall vent at the extreme rear end of the taxicab body and not higher than the floor level.

A.All glazing shall be of an approved type.

B.The windshield shall be laminated safety plate glass.

C.All windows shall be safety plate glass, safety sheet glass, or a material having the visibility and shattering characteristics of safety sheet glass.

All tires shall be in good and safe condition.

Each taxicab shall, when being used as such, be in good mechanical condition and kept in a clean and sanitary condition throughout.

Each taxicab shall be equipped with a properly operating speedometer.

Each taxicab shall prominently display, to the front of the vehicle, a valid, official inspection sticker indicating compliance with the foregoing standards of inspection. Such inspections shall be made at least semi-annually, and the inspection sticker shall be placed on inside of the front windshield at top center.