Explanation
Due to the significant increases in gasoline prices, Department of Public Safety, Division of Support Services, License Section and the Vehicle for Hire Board has been reviewing the existing rate schedule and discussing various proposals to address increasing operating costs. This review has included a comparison of rates in other Ohio cities as well as those for comparable-sized cities around the country. At its May 25, 2006 meeting, the Vehicle for Hire Board voted to recommend that the Columbus City Council approve proposed increases to the fare rate schedule for taxicabs operating in the City of Columbus. The maximum rates are set by ordinance and, with the exception of out-of-county fare rates, have not been increased or otherwise adjusted for inflation since February 2000. The Vehicle for Hire Board requests that these rate increases be approved to ease the financial burden on taxicab drivers who are otherwise required to absorb increased fuel and operating costs.
Fiscal impact: None
Title
To amend Section 591.06 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, to increase taxicab fare rates.
Body
WHEREAS, increasing fuel costs are creating a financial burden on taxicab drivers as they are unable to pass along any portion of these increasing costs to their customers; and,
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety, Division of Support Services, License Section, and the Vehicle for Hire Board has reviewed the existing rate schedule and compared it to those of other Ohio cities and comparably-sized cities outside of Ohio and determined that a rate increase is both reasonable and warranted in order to ease the financial burden on taxicab drivers who are otherwise required to absorb increased fuel and operating costs; and,
WHEREAS, the maximum rates that are allowed to be charged by taxicabs operating in the City of Columbus are established by ordinance and these rates have not been adjusted since February of 2000; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety, Division of Support Services, License Section, and the Vehicle for Hire Board at its May 25, 2006 meeting of the Vehicle for Hire Board voted to request and recommend that Columbus City Council approve the following proposed rate increases; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That Section 591.06 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, be and is hereby amended to read as follows:
591.06 Fare rate schedule.
All fares, charges, or fees for the use of taxicabs shall be determined by:
(a) Taximeter rate, which shall be computed by a taximeter, and such rate shall not be more than the maximum rate in the following schedule:
For the first one-ninth (1/9) mile or fraction
thereof................. $2.00 $2.75
For each additional two-ninths (2/9)
mile.................... $ .40 $ .45
Waiting time: For each appropriate period of one minute waiting time as registered by the taximeter clock... $ .40 $ .45
(b) Hourly rate shall be computed at twenty-four dollars ($24.00) twenty-seven dollars ($27.00) per hour or meter fare, whichever is greater, or
(c) Special trip rate is established for special trips as defined in Section 585.01(d) by being submitted to the vehicle for hire board, approved by the vehicle for hire board, and filed with the safety director.
Such rate may exceed the maximum meter rate. The vehicle for hire board may require prior to the approval of the special trip rate written evidence that the fare-paying passenger or organization sponsoring the passenger has been notified of the lower taximeter rate and agrees to the special trip rate.
(d) An airport fee may be added to each fare-paying trip, which departs from the airport with passengers or baggage upon presentation, to the person paying the fare of the taxi, of a surcharge ticket issued by the division of airports.
(e) Charges on trips to destinations outside the county shall not be limited by the taximeter rate but shall be mutually agreed upon by the driver and the passenger. The charge shall not exceed two dollars ($2.00) two dollars and twenty-five cents ($2.25) per one-way mile.
(f) Whenever two (2) or more passengers, prior to entering a taxicab mutually agree to share the cab, or whenever a taxicab is engaged by one (1) or more passengers and an additional passenger requests service and the original passengers agree to allow the additional passenger to ride with them, the charge to each passenger shall be subject to mutual arrangement among the passengers and driver, and the driver may not furnish service to the passengers until he explains to all passengers the manner in which the fare will be calculated and obtains the oral consent of all passengers. In no event shall the mutually agreed upon charge for all of the passengers exceed three-quarters (3/4) of the total of all the charges based on the maximum taximeter rate that would have been charged to each passenger if they had been traveling separately. Two (2) or more passengers traveling together to the same destination shall be charged no more than the meter rate plus any applicable surcharges.
(g) A telephone call surcharge of not more than fifty cents ($.50) may be added to each trip, which originates as a result of a telephone call to the dispatching station of the responding taxicab.
(h) A service fee of not more than fifty cents ($.50) may be added for trips, which are charged to credit cards or private accounts. No such charge may be assessed to any public or quasi-public agency, which has a contract with a taxicab company, unless such charge has been included in the contract.
(i) Non-transportation-related charges such as mobile telephone charges may be charged directly to the passenger and shall not be considered as part
of the taxicab fare.
Section 2. That existing Section 591.06 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, be and is hereby repealed.
Section 3. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.