Section 29.314. Vehicle and equipment requirements

(a) Seating capacity. A call or demand service may be operated only in vehicles with seating capacities of eight passengers or less, excluding the driver.

(b) Meters. Meters must conform with the following requirements:

(1) A call or demand vehicle operated within this Commonwealth shall be equipped with a meter.

(2) The meter shall be installed in the front of the vehicle so that, at all times, it is plainly visible to and the fare is readily ascertainable by all occupants of the vehicle. The face of the meter must be properly illuminated at all times.

(3) No meter affixed to a vehicle may be operated from a drive other than the transmission of the vehicle unless some other method is, upon petition, specifically approved by the Commission.

(4) Unless otherwise permitted by the Commission, the meter and meter driving equipment must be sealed so that the meter case, meter driving equipment or additional gear boxes, if any, cannot be disconnected without breaking a seal.

(5) The responsibility for sealing the meter and appurtenant equipment and for maintaining the seals intact while the vehicle is in operation lies with the certificateholder.

(6) It is the responsibility of the certificateholder to cause the meters to be so regulated that the fare is calculated and registered in accordance with the current tariff rates on file with and approved by the Commission.

(7) The meter must be in operation during the entire time the vehicle is engaged by a passenger, and the passenger shall be required to pay only the amount recorded by the meter, except that, when back-mileage or surcharge provisions of the tariff of the carrier apply, the back-mileage charge or surcharge shall be added to the amount recorded by the meter. Each meter charge shall be collected only once regardless of whether the vehicle is being used in exclusive service or in nonexclusive service.

(8) Paragraph (7) does not apply when the filed tariff provides for a flat rate in lieu of a metered charge for transportation beyond a certain mileage point or for a zone-based fare structure. This paragraph is invalid after January 1, 2007.

(c) Vehicle age and mileage. A vehicle that is more than 10 model years old or has more than 350,000 miles of cumulative mileage registered on its odometer may not be operated in call and demand service. For example, for a vehicle with less than 350,000 miles, the last day on which a 2016 model year vehicle may be operated in taxi service is December 31, 2026. Electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles and vehicles utilizing alternative fuels, as defined in 75 Pa.C.S. § § 102 and 9002 (relating to definitions), may operate in call and demand service until the vehicle age of 12 model years or the cumulative mileage level of 350,000 miles registered on the odometer. For example, for a vehicle with less than 350,000 miles, the last day on which a qualifying model year 2016 alternative fuel vehicle, hybrid electric vehicle or electric vehicle may be operated in taxi service is December 31, 2028. This subsection is effective January 19, 2016.

(d) Dome lights. Unless otherwise permitted by the Commission, vehicles operated by call and demand carriers must have a dome light affixed to the roof of the vehicle. The dome light shall be visible from a distance of 100 feet from the front and rear of the vehicle. The dome light shall be illuminated only when a customer does not occupy the vehicle.

The provisions of this § 29.314 adopted January 23, 1987, effective January 24, 1987, 11 Pa.B. 409; amended August 4, 2006, effective August 5, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 4181; amended July 17, 2015, effective January 19, 2016, 45 Pa.B. 3828. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (321683) to (321685).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 29.314 amended under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § § 501, 1102, 1103, 1301, 1501, 1502, 1504, 1506, 1508 and 2301 and Chapters 23 and 25.

Notes of Decisions

Technical Fitness

Substantial evidence supported the Commission’s findings and conclusions in regard to technical and financial fitness in granting the common carrier application even though loan applications and some equipment purchases were still pending. Yellow Cab Co. v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, 673 A.2d 1015 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1996).

Cross References

This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 29.311 (relating to conditions); 52 Pa. Code § 29.353 (relating to method of operation in paratransit service); and 52 Pa. Code § 30.31 (relating to vehicle equipment requirements).