Draft Ordinances for Board Order # 201267 — File 201846

DRAFT ORDINANCE CITY OF SOMERVILLE Ordinance No. 2016-_______ IN THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN: ________________, 2016 ORDINANCE REQUIRING TAXICABS TO ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS FOR FARE PAYMENT AND COMPLAINTS Be it ordained by the Board of Alderman, in session assembled, that the Code of Ordinances of the City of Somerville be hereby amended by adding below section (5) to Section 13-49, and editing the language of Section 13-61 of the Somerville Code of Ordinances: Section 13-49- Motor vehicle taxi requirements (5) All Somerville licensed taxicabs shall be equipped with electronic credit card processing capability (which includes the processing of an ATM/debit card used as a credit card). Such equipment shall allow the passenger to swipe the card in the rear compartment of the taxicab without handing the card to the Driver. Such equipment shall list fare, tolls, fees, and tips separately for processing purposes. Such equipment will also provide a printed receipt which includes the taxicab license number, date, time, and charge amount. Such equipment shall have the ability to electronically authorize the credit card transaction in a timely manner, and be fully functioning at all times. If a Somerville licensed taxicab does not have a fully functioning credit card reader, it shall be deemed unfit for service as a taxicab. Edits to Section 13-61 –Complaints “For any complaints concerning the service provided, including but not limited to fares, elderly discounts, driver courtesy, or lack of credit card processing capability, please contact your City Police Taxi Bureau at 625-1600, Monday through Friday 9AM to 4PM. Please note the date, time and Cab Number.”

DRAFT ORDINANCE CITY OF SOMERVILLE Ordinance No. 2016-_______ IN THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN: ________________, 2016 ORDINANCE CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND PICK UP OF TAXICAB PASSENGERS Delete Section 13-10 of the current Code of Ordinances and replace with the following language: Section 13-10- Solicitation, Pick Up of passengers, and Use of Front Seat a) Only a driver of a Somerville licensed taxicab may pick up a passenger on a public way who has hailed a taxicab. No vehicle without a licensed Somerville taxicab medallion shall pick up a person in response to a street hail, or may stand in a taxi stand. b) Each Somerville licensed taxicab shall be authorized to pick up passengers in Somerville pursuant to a telephone, digital request, radio call, or by any other type of pre- arrangement. c) No person having charge of a taxicab shall suffer any person to ride in the front seat of the taxicab, except when the seats inside the cab are fully occupied, and then only when the person so riding is a genuine passenger. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Ordinance shall be interpreted to limit the rights available to any persons under the Americans with Disability Act, the Massachusetts Public Accommodation Law (M.G.L. c. 272, §§ 92A, 98, and 98A) or any other applicable federal or state law.