The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-01
PROPOSED ORDINANCE UP
FOR SECOND READING
TUESDAY, SEPT.
Q, 1919. w.
AN

= AN hO1NAN OG
To regulate the charges to be made by
public vehicles carrying passengers
for hire, and to provide for automatic
devices for recording distance trav-
eled for purpose of fixing charges.
Section /. Be 1t ordained by the
board of commissioners of the city Of
Memphis, That no automobile, auto car,
taxicab or other similar vehicle, except
sightseeing cars or auto BUSES having
a seating capacity of eight or more
passengers exclusive Of the operators
seat, which is licensed as a public pas
senger vehicle, shall be operated in
and upon the streets of the city OF
Memphis unless it have attached
thereto an automatic device or taxi
meter registering the distance Travelled.
The dial of such automatic device or
taximeter shall be equipped with a flag
of at least 3-inchx2-inch painted red,
or bearing thereon in letters of at
least 1-inch in height the word
Vacant or the words For Hire"
The flag post Of such flag shal! be
kept up or toward the vertical position
when the taXicab is for hire, and when
such taxicab Is engaged in the service
of a passenger or passengers, said flag
post shall be kept down or toward the
horizontal position.
Sec. 2. That the following charges
shall be the maximum rates to be
charged by vehicles carrying passengers
] for hire, otheIMthan cars operating upon
fixed rails or tracks in the city Of
Memphis.
(aJ Where the charge is by the dis
lance:
For the first half mile, OF fraction
thereof, for one person ,.......... Acc
For each one-fourth mile thereafter. .10c
For each~additional person for the
the whole journey ...,............ SOC
For each four minutes of waiting 100
4 Nh nNn ftNTRa An AraA t~z NrYlr
ing, controlling or operating n taxi
cab shall let the same for hire or re-
ward and demand or receive fee or
charge in excess of the above com
puted by the distance travelled, except
for waiting time as hereinafter pro-
vided.
Each such person, firm or corporation
may demand and receive for each four
minutes of waiting or fraction thereof,
10 cents. Such waiting time shall in
clude the time during which the taxi
cab IS not in motion, beginning five
minutes after call time at the place to
which 1t has been called, the time con-
sumed by unavoidable delay at street
crossings or bridges, and the time con-
sumed while standing at the direction
Of the passenger, but no charge shall
be made for time lost for inefficiency
OF the taxicab or its operator, or for
time consumed by the premature ar
rival In response to d call. 1t shall be
the duty OF the operator or driver of
every taxicab, at the termination Of his
services, to throw the flag to a ION
recording position on the taximeter, and
amount registered. The taximeter shall
not be changed until after the fare is
paid or a charge ticket therefor made
out and delivered to the person hiring
such taxicab. No driver or operator OF
, any taxicab shall permit any person to
II rida fbarnip nr fharann# which the fla o.
h on the taximeter is up or toward the
%verticle position, and no person shall
, tamper with, break or mutilate any tax
imeter with the intention to cause the
o same to register improperly or incor-
rectly. or i~naccurately, and no driver
' the use of said taxicab than is shoWn
to be due by the taximeter thereon. :.
Every person upon any taxlcab Shal
: be allowed to have conveyed with him
4 upon suchhvehicle without charge there
for, his ordinary light travelling bag
gage in amount not to exceed so pounds
q in weight. A fee of 80 cents may be
: charged for conveying a trunk or heavy
z baggage,
: Any person violating any of the pro
visions of this section shall be SUB,
jected to the payment of a fine of no
less than twenty-five nor more than fifty
1 dollars for each ~offense, and in the cast
Of any person licensed as public chauf'
feur found guilty of a second violation
Of the provisions of this section. theil
license shall be revoked in the discre'
} ton of the fire and police commits
ii Sioner.
d (b) Where the charge is by the tim'
consumed:
Where the seating capacity of the
is vehicle shall not exceed two pas
,r sengers at the rate of, per hour. $3.u'
j. I Where the seating capacity is three
in To five M sSenqerS. at the rate OF,
Provided that the operator of salt
vehicle shall not be compelled to rem
IL same for a fee of less than $1.50.
ID Where the seating capacity is for
more thar five passengers, at the
rate of, per hour ....,......... DO
Il In the absence of an express agree
or ment made at the time the vehicle !
"A hired the employment shall be held I
Of be made upon the basis Of the distanc
ia travelled. and the collection shall b
8 made according to the schedule for dis
nf lance irrespective of the size of tn
vehicle. In case of express agreemen
d. for charge by time consumed, the auto
al matte recording device or taximete
n shall be covered with a hood.
I'd ANY person violating any of the pro
as visions of this section shall be subjecte
a. to the payment of a fine of not les
II. than twenty-five nor more than fit
~ dollars for each ~offense, and in the cas-
is of n person licensed as u puOuC CHaul
ed feur found guilty of a second violatio
te Of the provisions Of this section, hi
re license shall be revoked in the discre
ton of the fire and police commits
,st sioner.
,ts Sec. 3. Be it further ordained, Ths
each public vehicle for the carriage {
~ passengers for hire shall keep a car
setting out the rates herein prescribet
RS in such vehicle and visible to the pas
rs, senger's eve, and the driver or opera
NJ tor shall show same to any passengt
lid upon request,
IA Sec. 4. Be 1t further ordained, Ths
,ly all vehicles for the carriage of passer
gers for hire for the use of the generi
of public in the city of Memphis. or hoft
tie ing themselves out to be public vehicle
10, for the carriage of passengers, shall !
required, when not otherwise engage
ed to carry any passenger or passenger
lc@ requesting said service, at the rai
ire herein provided. and a failure to
aid carry said passenger or passengers shs
le- be a misdemeanor, punishable upc
be conviction by a fine of not less the
of two nor more than fifty dollars for eat
eetI offense.
See. 5. Be it further ordained. TIL
of II any section of this ordinance shall
&c. held 10 be unconstitutional, that sa
,rk unconstitutionalitv shall affect TIL
wo section only, and not the entire o
ing dinance. each section hereof being e.
ct, pressly declared to be severablc.
as Sec. 6, BE it further ordained. TIL;
be this ordinance take effeet-30 days aft
the its final passage. the matter being OF
tof urgency and the public welfare r