Section 1017.24. Meter activation and display

(a) A taxicab meter may not be in operation before the taxicab is engaged by a passenger. The taxicab meter must be in operation during the entire time the vehicle is engaged by a passenger.

(b) A taxicab passenger shall be required to pay only the amount recorded by the taxicab meter.

(c) The meter must continuously display the current rate charged for an active fare and the display must be visible to the passenger.

(d) The meters in every taxicab must have properly attached and approved receipt printers specified by the Authority in § 1017.23 (relating to approved meters), including the following:

(1) The ability to issue a receipt containing information required by the Authority, including:

(i) The mileage of the trip and amount paid, expressed in United States dollars.

(ii) The vehicle’s taxicab number.

(iii) The taxicab’s dispatcher.

(iv) The driver’s certificate number.

(v) The Authority’s phone number or email address to be used to report complaints.

(vi) The time and date of the fare.

(2) The ability to provide drivers with driving directions through a global positioning system.

(3) Global positioning system tracking to monitor the location of each taxicab and provide driving directions to the taxicab driver.

(4) The ability to pay fares through the use of credit card and debit card processing hardware mounted in the passenger compartment. A transaction, processing or other fees associated with the acceptance of a credit card or debit card fare payment and delivery of the fare payment to the taxicab driver may not exceed 5% of the total fare amount.

(5) A driver recognition function to permit only Authority certified drivers in possession of a taxicab driver’s certificate to activate and then use the meter to provide taxicab service.

(6) The ability to be remotely disabled by the Authority.

(7) The ability to communicate voice and text messages between the driver, dispatcher and the Authority.

(8) A distress button that can be easily activated by a driver to silently communicate to the dispatcher the need for emergency assistance.

(e) Partial-rights certificate holders are not required to comply with subsection (d).

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 1011.11 (relating to record retention); 52 Pa. Code § 1017.63 (relating to receipts); 52 Pa. Code § 1017.74 (relating to safety camera requirements); 52 Pa. Code § 1021.11 (relating to driver requirements); and 52 Pa. Code § 1021.12 (relating to additional requirements).