2015-0366
INTRODUCED BY: V.J. ST. PIERRE, JR, PARISH PRESIDENT
(DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING)
ORDINANCE NO. ____________
Title
An ordinance to amend Chapter 22.5 Vehicles For Hire, Article II. Taxicabs to increase the application fee, amend the residence requirement, clarify the vehicle standard, and adopt the regional taxicab rate structure by reference.
Body
WHEREAS, St Charles Parish regulates taxicabs as required by Louisiana Revised Statute 33:4792; and,
WHEREAS, the public necessity and convenience is best met by taxicabs domiciled in St. Charles Parish; and,
WHEREAS, the fees to obtain and renew certificates for taxicabs in St. Charles Parish currently are lower than those charged by other jurisdictions in the region; and,
WHEREAS, the St. Charles Parish Council recognizes the benefits to passengers, drivers, and regulatory agencies to standardizing taxicab fares throughout the Greater New Orleans Region,
NOW, THEREFORE, THE ST. CHARLES PARISH COUNCIL HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION I. That the St. Charles Parish Code, Chapter 22.5 Vehicles For Hire, Article II. Taxicabs, Section 22.5-20. Application for CPNC is hereby revised to add words in bold and delete words in strikethrough as follows:
All applicants must apply to the planning department for a CPNC by completing an application and remitting the application fee of $200. Any applications not completed in full shall be returned as incomplete.
SECTION II. That the St. Charles Parish Code, Chapter 22.5 Vehicles For Hire, Article II. Taxicabs, Section 22.5-21. Domicile requirement, is hereby revised to add words in bold and delete words in strikethrough as follows:
An applicant for a CPNC must have resided in St. Charles Parish, or a contiguous parish, for the past six (6) months, and must presently reside in this parish, or a contiguous parish.
SECTION III. That the St. Charles Parish Code, Chapter 22.5 Vehicles For Hire, Article II. Taxicabs, Section 22.5-23. Taxicab inspection requirements, is hereby revised to add words in bold and delete words in strikethrough as follows:
Inspections shall ensure that a taxicab meets the minimum criteria to obtain a permit or decal to operate at Louis Armstrong International Airport for delivering passengers to destinations within Orleans Parish. Reinspections are required on a semiannual basis. Failure to provide required passing semiannual inspection report to the parish may result in revocation or suspension of a CPNC.
SECTION IV. That the St. Charles Parish Code, Chapter 22.5 Vehicles For Hire, Article II. Taxicabs, Section 22.5-26. Fee for CPNC, is hereby deleted.
SECTION V. That the St. Charles Parish Code, Chapter 22.5 Vehicles For Hire, Article II. Taxicabs, Section 22.5-29. Renewal and expired CPNCs, is hereby revised to add words in bold and delete words in strikethrough as follows:
Each CPNC in good standing shall be renewable during a two-month period beginning with the first day of December of the year of expiration and extending through the last day of January of the year for which renewal is sought, subject to payment of twenty-five fifty dollars ($25.00) ($50.00) provided all other requirements of this article are met. Failure to renew a CPNC by January 31st shall constitute a new application.
SECTION VI. That the St. Charles Parish Code, Chapter 22.5 Vehicles For Hire, Article II. Taxicabs, Section 22.5-39. Rates of fare and fare cards, is hereby revised to add words in bold and delete words in strikethrough as follows:
Sec. 22.5-39. Rates of fare, and rate cards and charges
(a) In general. It shall be unlawful for any person to ask, demand, or collect any rate of fare other than as specified herein for use of a taxicab; and it shall be unlawful for any passenger of any vehicle taxicab to refuse to pay the driver thereof the legal rate charged pursuant to the provisions of this section.
(a) (b) Rates and charges to be posted. The owner of each vehicle regulated by the provisions of this article shall post therein the rates and charges specified herein which are applicable to the vehicle, and it shall be unlawful for any person to operate same unless the rates and charges are posted as prescribed in this section. The rates and charges specified in this section shall be printed in legible type on a card or sticker not less than four (4) inches by seven (7) inches, shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the side rear windows of the vehicle facing in, and shall be so arranged that passengers can readily determine the exact rate of fare and charges payable by them.
(b) (c) Rates and charges Meter fare for taxicabs.
(1) Minimum Meter fare. The minimum meter fare shall be two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) which shall entitle the passenger to be transported any distance less than one-eighth mile; and the total meter fare shall include an additional twenty cents ($0.20) for each additional one-eighth or incomplete fraction thereof, that the passenger is transported, providing that whenever the speed of the taxicab is less than the rate of one-fifth mile per forty (40) seconds, mileage shall be computed at the rate of one-fifth mile per forty (40) seconds. There shall be an additional charge of one dollar ($1.00) per passenger after one (1) passenger on all regular taxi trips. The meter fare for taxicabs shall be the same meter fare for taxicabs adopted by the New Orleans City Council, found in the Code of the City of New Orleans (Chapter 162, Article VII, Division 4) and available upon request from the St. Charles Parish Department of Planning and Zoning.
(2) Personalized service. Whenever a taxicab driver is called upon to render a time-consuming, personalized service, beyond his normal transportation of passengers, the minimum fare shall be, six dollars ($6.00) or the meter fare, whichever is greater. Unless an agreement to this charge has been reached between the parties prior to the trip, there shall be no additional charge to the passenger. Airport rates of all jurisdictions apply. Any St. Charles Parish taxicab originating a trip at the Louis Armstrong International Airport with a destination in any jurisdiction that has established taxicab fare zones shall charge the fare established.
(3) St. Charles Parish has no airport fare zones or rates. The maximum fare for a trip from the Louis Armstrong International Airport to a destination in St. Charles Parish shall be the meter fare unless a lower fare is agreed upon by the driver and passenger(s).
(4) Taxicab hourly rate. Whenever A taxicab may be is chartered by the hour., such arrangement shall be made between the driver and passenger at the start of the charter trip, and The rate thereof shall be thirty-five dollars ($30.00) ($35.00) per hour, unless a lower rate is agreed upon. The driver may require a minimum of two (2) hours.
(d) Taxicab rates for additional passengers. An additional charge of one dollar ($1.00) per person for all passengers over one (1) shall be charged.
(e) Airport rates. The taxicab rate to or from New Orleans International Airport (Moisant Field) shall be eighteen dollars ($18.00) or the meter fare, whichever is greater, unless an agreement to this charge has been reached between the parties prior to the trip.
(f) (d) Fare receipt to be furnished on request. Upon request, the driver of any taxicab shall furnish the passenger with a receipt showing the date, origin and destination of trip, amount of fare, CPNC number, and the driver's name.
(g) (e)Taximeters shall be subject to inspection by the sheriffs office without charge, upon complaint. Any person designated by the sheriffs office is authorized to inspect any meter and, upon discovery of any inaccuracy, shall notify the person operating the taxicab to cease operation until the taximeter is repaired and in required working condition.
The foregoing ordinance having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
And the ordinance was declared adopted this day of , 2015, to become effective five (5) days after publication in the Official Journal.
CHAIRMAN:______________________________________________
SECRETARY:_____________________________________________
DLVD/PARISH PRESIDENT:_________________________________
APPROVED:______________ DISAPPROVED:__________________
PARISH PRESIDENT:______________________________________
RETD/SECRETARY:_______________________________________
AT:_______________RECD BY: _____________________________