Evening star., 1944-02-06
Alexandria Due
To Adopt Taxi
Rules Tuesday
Measure Zones
City. Sets Top
Rate at IS Cents

ALEXANDRIA City Council paSSe(
the city's first comprehensive taxi.
cab ordinance on first reading Fri.
day, and is expected to adopt tn,
ordinances on final reading Tuesday
night.
The ordinance, prepared by City
Attorney Joseph M. Pancoast, GOV.
ers all points in the licensing, main.
tenance and operation of taxicahs
and, according to Mayor William 7
Wilkins, should prevent unfair war.
time charges and assure service In
safe and sanitary cabs.
The councils recent order freez
Ing the number of cabs pending
adoption of the ordinance gives tn,
trafiic board power to decide or
the number Of cabs needed and tC
issue certificates of necessity &C
cordingly.
The new ordinance provides fol
continued operation of cabs already
IN service if owners comply with
provisions of the ordinance, but re-
quires any one seeking to license ad-
ditional cabs to satisfy the traffic
board that they will fill public
need. The certificates would be
issued only after the applicant has
been investigated by the Police De-
partment. A certificate would cost
$40.
Prospective drivers, who must be
over 81, also would be investigated
and fingerprinted by police. They
would be required to pay 81 for the
application, whether granted or not
so cents for fingerprinting, and 81
for the permit, which is to be re-
newed annually at cost of 50.
May Revoke Permits.
Certificates and drivers permits
may be revoked by the traffic board
for violation of any traffic law,
failure to comply with all regula-
tions, driving while intoxicated, OF
for moral turpiture or criminal con-
viction.
Under the ordinance, all cabs
may be inspected by the Police De-
partment at any time, and are to
be of the four-door type with ap-
proved speedometer and rear view
mirror, and without shades or cur
tains which might shield the occu-
pant from view Permits and rates
OF fare are to be displayed.
Fleet owners would be required
to have all cabs painted alike when
their color scheme has been ap-
proved, and cabs would carry the
name of the owner on the door.
Owners would be required to have
a listed telephone to receive calls,
and the ordinance also prohibits
cruising or the carrying of non-
paying passengers. Conduct of driv-
ers while waiting at the stands
would be regulated
Cabs would be prohibited from
carrying more than five passengers
at one time.
Locations Of stands would be
designated by the traffic board
after the approval of the owners
of abutting property has been OBJ
tanned. and it would be unlawful
for any other vehicle to park in
the areas set aside for the use of
taxicabs.
Owners would be required to carry
$4,000 liability insurance and ST.
600 property damage insurance on
each cab.
Zones, Subzones Set Up.
The ordinance also provides for
special permits costing 81 to cabs
operating from points within the
city to points outside the city, and
likewise to those operating from
outside the city to points within
Alexandria.
The city would be divided into
three zones and two Sub-zones, with
maximum rates set at 35, so and
rs cents. An hourly charge of $3.50
would be fixed. The following boun-
daries would be established:
Zone l - Potomac River on the
East, corporate limits and railroad
tracks on the West, Skaters lane on
the North, and Hunting Greek on
the South; zone 2-railroad tracks
on the East, the intersection Of
Davis avenue and Braddock road,
and a line running south from there
to the intersection of Duke and
Roth streets on the west, Braddock
road on the North, and Duke street
extended on the South; zone 2B-
Potomac River on the East, Hume
avenue to the intersection of Davis
avenue and Braddock road on the
West and North, Braddock road and
Skaters lane on the South.
Zone 3A-Western boundary of
"a on the East, corporate limits on
the West, Crestwood road on the
North, and Duke street extended on
the South; zone 3B-Potomac River
on the East, corporate limits on the
West and North, and Hume avenue
to the intersection of Davis ave-
nue. and Braddock road and Crest
wood drive on the South.
The following rates would be estab-
lished for interzone travel:
Zone l to all points within the
zone, IS cents; to zones "a and 3A,
so cents, and to zones 2B and 3B,
IS cents. Zones "a, 2B. ga and 3B,
to all points within the subzones,
IS cents, and to all other points
with the exception Of zone l, so
cents.
Union Station is considered either
In zone or zone "a, depending on
the zone in which the trip originates,
and when street is the dividing
line between zones, it is considered
In both zones, with both sides of
the street in the zone nearest the
destination.
Penalties for the violation of any
section Of the ordinance range from
SO to $500 and up to six months
in jail.
Under the measure, it is criminal
offense for passenger to ride in a
taxicab with the intent of refusing
to pay his fare.
Smoke Control Plan