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Home My WebLink About8339-93 Amending Article 4 Chapter 4 Required Vehicle Equipment for Safety of Taxicab Drivers ORDINANCE No. 8339-93 Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana_ January 11, 93 19 Attest: � _ ' 'Y`""� City Clerk IRENE K. GAMMON Attest: President of Common Council Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana— January 12, 93 19 - City Clerk IRENE K. GAMMON Approved and signed by me •/ '` l `� 19 (7/AY`4- Mayor ro • ORDINANCE NO. R339- 93 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING ARTICLE 4 OF CHAPTER 4 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO REQUIRED VEHICLE EQUIPMENT FOR THE SAFETY OF TAXICAB DRIVERS STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT The purpose of this ordinance is to amend Section 4-61 of Article 4, Chapter 4 of the Municipal Code to require specific equipment to be installed in taxicabs for the protection and safety of taxicab drivers. This ordinance is in response to increased concern about the safety of taxicab drivers in light of recent violent crimes where taxicab drivers have been victimized. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AS FOLLOWS: Section I . Subsection (b) of Section 4-61, of Article 4, Chapter 4 of the South Bend Municipal Code is amended to read as follows: Section 4-61. Taxicabs (b) Vehicle inspection; issuance of license; eeatents; maintenance: (1) Prior to the use and operation of any vehicle under this section, the vehicle shall be thoroughly examined and inspected by the Police Department and found te-eemply-Faith-shell reasenable-ruses-arid-reguiatiens-as-may-be-preseribed-by-the Beard-ef-Puble-Works---These-rules-and-regulatieas-shall-be premuigated-te-previde-safe-transpertatien-and-shall-speeify-shell safety-equipment-and.-reguiatery-devees-as-the-Beard-ef-Publie Works-deems-neeessary-to be in safe operating condition and in compliance with the requirements of this section. Each taxicab must be equipped with the following driver protection and safety features, all of which shall be in conformance with s.ecifications ado.ted b the Board of Public Works: a. A system enabling the silent activation of a distress or trouble signal by the driver; b. A permanently installed drop safe; and c. Signs or decals affixed to the taxicab advising the public that the taxicab is drop safe equipped and that the driver does not have a key to the safe or such other message as may be approved by the Board of Public Works. The equipment required by this section shall be maintained in good working order at all times. The taxicab license for any vehicle in violation of this section shall be subject to immediate suspension, and such vehicle shall be subject to impoundment as provided hereafter. (2) When the Police Department finds that a vehicle is in safe operating condition, is in compliance with the requirements • as established by the Board of Public Works to insure the maintenance of safe operating conditions. No license or renewal of license shall be issued for any vehicle unless it has passed Police Department inspection within sixty (60) days prior to such issuance or renewal. ( 4) Every vehicle operating under this section shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition.aeeerding-' e-rues-arid regulatlens-prey bigated-ley-the-Beard-ef-P blie-Werks- Section II. Upon passage by the Common Council and approval by the Mayor, this ordinance shall become effective on March 1, 1993 . etc4LALR--,..1, Me ' =-r 'Sou tend Common Council giummittrr Report ilia the (common (dour tt of the Cita of lout fend: Your Committee of the Whole to whom was referred BILL NO. 121-92 SECOND READING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING ARTICLE 4 OF CHAPTER 4 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO REQUIRED VEHICLE EQUIPMENT FOR THE SAFETY OF TAXICAB DRIVERS. Respectfully report that they have examined the matter and that in their opinion This bill should be recommended to the Council favorable. Thomas Zakrzewski Chairman • SOUTH BEND BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Specifications Relating to Safety Equipment and Devices for Taxicabs Vehicle Safety Feature Equipment. Every taxicab, as a condition of licensing or renewal of licensing on or after March 1, 1993 , must be equipped with the following safety features: (1) A system enabling the silent activation of a distress or trouble signal by the driver by either of the two ( 2) methods set out below: (a) A system enabling the silent activation of distress or trouble light or lights. The distress or trouble light or lights shall be visible from at least the front and rear of the taxicab and must not protrude beyond the sides of the taxicab. The distress or trouble lights shall be either white or amber in color or have a white or amber colored lens. The lights shall be placed in either the dome light assembly or installed on the front and rear ends of the taxicab. The lights shall flash between 60 and 120 times per minute. The lights shall have a minimum light output of 25 candlepower. The flasher for the lights shall be silent when operating. The flasher for the lights shall be triggered by a foot switch, which is easily accessible to the driver without interfering with the operation of the vehicle. (b) A system enabling the silent activation of a warning to a dispatcher or the police department either by radio or telephonic communication. The radio or telephonic communication device must be activated by a floor switch which is easily accessible to the driver without interfering with the operation of the vehicle. The communication device must instantaneously alert a dispatcher or the police department that a vehicle is in "distress" , and the system shall provide for a means of communicating the location of the taxicab. If the system uses a dispatcher the licensee must submit certification that a dispatcher will be on duty 24 hours per day. All such systems must be reviewed by the Police Department for compliance prior to approval. ( 2) A permanently installed drop safe. The safe shall be made of steel and shall be bolted or welded permanently to the door, floor or seat frame of the taxicab so that it is reachable from the driver' s seat. The safe shall be no smaller than 3" x 3 1/2" x 2" . The safe shall be designed so that folded currency may be inserted into the safe through a drop slot, and may only be removed by means of a door or slide-out bottom that is opened with a key. The key shall not be kept on the driver or in the • taxicab during the operation of the cab. ( 3) Signs or decals affixed to the taxicab advising the public that the taxicab is drop safe equipped and that the driver does not have a key to the safe, or such other message as may be approved by the Board of Public Works. Each taxicab shall exhibit a decal or sign on the exterior of each rear door. The sign or decal shall contain the following in red luminous letters at least two ( 2) inches in height on a white background: DROP SAFE EQUIPPED DRIVER HAS NO KEY The Board will consider and may approve other messages in lieu of that set out above, if such message is deemed to be equal or superior in its deterrent effect. ( 4) All safety equipment described by these specifications must be maintained in good condition at all times. If a licensee changes safety equipment, the Police Department must be notified and the taxicab reinspected within 48 hours after such change to insure compliance with Section 4-61 of the Municipal Code and the requirements of these specifications. txispecs.bpw 4',.� 0SOUTH'8 t \\NI ..' - :`�� N� �'% City of South Bend �\FACE/ a: Joseph E. Kernan, Mayor K 1865 .? Department of Law Richard A. Nussbaum, II, City Attorney December 16, 1992 Mr. Eugene Ladewski Member South Bend Common Council 4th Floor, County-City Building South Bend, Indiana 46601 Re: Proposed Changes to the South Bend Municipal Code Relating to Required Vehicle Equipment for the Safety of Taxicab Drivers Dear Mr. Ladewski: Please find enclosed a revised version of a proposed ordinance, which would amend the South Bend Municipal Code to require the installation of specific equipment in taxicabs for the protection and safety of taxicab drivers. Also, enclosed are some proposed specifications for approval by the Board of Public Works which describe the required safety equipment and devices more precisely. In the enclosed version of the proposed ordinance, I have made all of the changes that we discussed in the Taxicab Ordinance Review Committee meeting on December 15, 1992. It is my understanding that you will now file this ordinance with the Common Council for action on January 11, 1993. This should work out well since the proposed effective date of this ordinance is March 1, 1993 . Passage by the Council on January 11, 1993, would allow six weeks for taxicab owners to obtain and install the required equipment. 1400 County-City Building • South Bend, Indiana 46601 • 219/235-9241 Thomas L. Bodnar John E. Broden Aladean M. DeRose Jeffrey M. Jankowski Jenny Pitts Manier Mary Hall Mueller Robert C. Rosenfeld S ■ •_ Mr. Eugene Ladewski December 16, 1992 Page 2 Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance to you relative to this matter. Very truly yours, Mary Hall Mu ler Assistant City Attorney MHM\sb cc: Mayor Joseph E. Kernan Richard A. Nussbaum, II All w/Encs. 1ladewski