Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE

TAXICAB COMMISSION OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

April 2, 2003



MEMBERS PRESENT

Chairman Wallace Archie, Mark Oropeza, Diane Quick, Lt. Julius Ross, Gerald

Ludwig.



MEMBERS ABSENT

James Brooks, Darren Phillips, Charles Pattillo.









Chairman Archie, Chairman, noting that a quorum was present and called the

April 2, 2003 meeting to order.





SECTION 21-8 DUTIES OF TAXICAB DRIVERS:

Chairman Archie asked if there were any questions regarding Section 21-8 (5)(c)



Section 21-8(5)(c): Proposed change to read ?No driver shall operate a taxicab

without a valid inspection/registration sticker issued by the Columbus Police

Department, and affixed to the left rear bumper?.



Taxicabs shall be registered with the Columbus Police Department, must

pass an annual safety inspection by a licensed garage approved and recorded by

said department and pass an annual cosmetic and meter inspection provided by

the Columbus Police Department. Upon passing said inspection(s) a Columbus

Police Department inspection sticker will be issued which will be valid from

June 1 through May 31 of each year. This sticker must be displayed on the left

hand side of the vehicle?s rear bumper. No vehicle shall be used as a taxicab

without a current inspection sticker issued by the Columbus Police Department.

Inspections for vehicles being newly placed into service may be accomplished at

any time as set forth by the Columbus Police Department, and, unless

accomplished within sixty (60) calendar days prior to May 31, will expire on

May 31 regardless of the initial inspection date. Renewal inspections for

vehicles already in service may be accomplished up to sixty (60) calendar days

prior to the May 31 expiration date.



After it was discovered that some of the language in this section is

similar to the language in Section 21-3 (5)(h)(4). Several members felt that

it was the responsibility of the driver as well as the owner and should be

mentioned in both sections.



Chairman Archie maintained that his only concern is with the June 1

through May 31st for inspection stickers. He said that we would need to vote

on that one and would come back to this section.





SECTION 21-9. IDENTIFICATION OF TAXICABS:



Lt. Ross expressed concerns with the terminology ?taxicab permit?. At

this time Chairman Archie, incorporating some of the comments from other

members, suggested the new proposed amendments as outlined in the first

sentence of this paragraph to read, ?The police chief shall have the power to

deny the registration/inspection of a taxicab where the color scheme or company

name attempts to copy another color scheme and name of other taxicab companies

so as to confuse the public as to the identity of different companies.



SECTION 21 ? 10. TAXIMETERS:



Section 21-10 was changed to add one sentence to the end of the current

ordinance and a proposed change to the title to read as follows: ?Taximeters

and Exterior Dome Lights.?



Additionally, all taxicabs shall be equipped with a permanently mounted

exterior roof dome light not less than six (6) inches in height bearing the

term ?taxi? or the name of the taxicab company. Said dome light shall be

connected to the taximeter?s on-off switch so that during the hours of

darkness, it will denote when the vehicle is employed and when it is not

employed.



Chairman Archie called attention to the excerpts that read: ?Said dome

light shall be connected to the taximeter?s on-off switch?



He explained that the dome light should have its own on-off switch and not

be connected to the taximeter. There was continued discussion on this matter

with various members expressing their views.



Mr. Oropeza suggested that the word ?taximeter? be removed and it read,

?Said dome light shall be connected to an on-off switch so that during the

hours of darkness, it will denote when the vehicle is employed and when it is

not employed.?





SECTION 21-11. MAXIMUM RATES OF FARE:



Lt. Ross suggested there should be mention of flat rate somewhere in this

section. There was some discussion among the members regarding flat rates and

the usage of the taximeters.



Proposed New 21-11 (b) to read as follows: ?Any flat rate must be equal to or

less than the shown meter rate and the meter must be run during any flat rate.



-This amendment would alter the current 21-11(b) to be listed as 21-11(c)

-This amendment would alter the current 21-11(c) to be listed as 21-11(d)

-This amendment would alter the current 21-11(d) to be listed as 21-11(e)

-This amendment would alter the current 21-11(e) to be listed as 21-11(f)

SECTION 21-12. RECEIPTS.



This section deleted, and moved to Section 21-8, paragraph (13)





SECTION 21-13. PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF CHAPTER PROVISIONS.



Amend the wording of Section 21-13 and renumber as Section 21-12, which

currently reads, ?Any person who drives a taxicab upon the streets of the city

without a permit as by this chapter required, or who drives a taxicab upon the

streets while his permit is suspended or revoked, or who violates any of the

provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.?



Proposed amendment of new Section 21-12: ?Any person who drives a taxicab upon

the streets of the city without a permit as required by this chapter, or who

drives a taxicab upon the streets while his permit is suspended or revoked, or

who violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a

misdemeanor.?



Lt. Ross also made comments regarding the birth date inspection. He said

that he believes that the Police Department is not in favor of that, because he

believes that the date of May 31st is sufficient enough time for people to get

out of the mold of waiting until the last minute. He advised that he would

re-address the issue with the Police Department personnel to see if we can go

in that direction.



SECTION 21-14. COLUMBUS TAXICAB COMMISSION.



Mr. Oropeza reminded the members that City Attorney Fay wrote this portion

of the ordinance dealing with the commission.





OTHER ISSUES:



Chairman Archie asked the members to look over the entire ordinance; therefore,

we would be prepared to discuss any other issues.





There being no further business to come before the commission and upon motion

made by Lt. Julius Ross and seconded by Diane Quick and unanimously carried,

the meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m.





By: _____________________________

Sandra T. Davis, Recording Secretary