ORDINANCE NO. 14,493

AN ORDINANCE to amend the Municipal Code of the City of Des Moines, Iowa, 2000, adopted by Ordinance No. 13,827, passed June 5, 2000, and amended by Ordinance No. 13,850, passed August 7, 2000, by amending Section 126-121 thereof, relating to taxicab trip rates.

Be It Ordained by the City Council of the City of Des Moines, Iowa:

Section 1. That the Municipal Code of the City of Des Moines, Iowa, 2000, adopted by Ordinance No. 13,827, passed June 5, 2000, and amended by Ordinance No. 13,850, passed August 7, 2000 is hereby amended by amending Section 126-121 relating to taxicab trip rates, as follows:

Sec. 126-121. Trip rates.

(a) Taxicab fares shall not exceed the following rates:

(1) For the first one-ninth mile or fraction thereof for one person . . . . $1.40

(2) For each succeeding one-ninth mile or fraction thereof . . . . $0.20

(3) For each additional passenger over the age of 12 for the whole journey . . . . $0.50

(4) For each minute of waiting time or fraction thereof . . . . $0.35

(5) Insurance surcharge per trip . . . . $0.60

(6) Night surcharge per trip (10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.) . . . . $1.00

(7) Excess expense surcharge per trip not to exceed $1.00, as may be put into effect by resolution adopted by the city council.

(b) Taxicab fares shall not be lower than the following rates:

(1) For the first one-fifth mile or any fraction thereof . . . . $0.90

(2) For each succeeding one-fifth mile or fraction thereof . . . . $0.20

(3) For each 1 1/5 minutes of waiting time . . . . $0.20

(4) For each additional person for the whole journey . . . . 0.10

(c) An additional fare of $0.50 may be collected from each passenger transported from the airport if the holder enters into an agreement with the city regarding minimum levels of service and methods of operation.

(d) Waiting time shall include the time when the taxicab is not in motion, beginning with the arrival at the place to which it has been called, the time consumed while standing at the direction of the passenger, the time while stopped in the observance of traffic controls, or due to delays in traffic when the taxicab is traveling at a speed which is slow enough for the time rate to exceed the mileage rate on the taximeter.

(e) No charge shall be made for the time lost because of the inefficiency of the taxicab or its operator or time consumed by premature response to a call. In no event shall the taximeter accumulate charges for time and distance concurrently, nor shall the taximeter be set so there is a time charge when the taxicab is moving at a velocity in excess of the rate per hour divided by the rate per mile.

(f) For service in picking up and delivering packages and parcels, the ordinary rates provided by subsection (a) of this section shall apply.

(g) This range of fares shall be binding on all taxicab owners and operators. The collection of fares at a higher or lower rate shall constitute a misdemeanor.

Sec. 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as provided by law.

FORM APPROVED:

Bruce E. Bergman, City Attorney

T.M. Franklin Cownie, Mayor

Attest:

I, Diane Rauh, City Clerk of the City of Des Moines, Iowa, hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true copy of an ordinance (Roll Call No. 05-2359), passed by the City Council of said City at a meeting held September 26, 2005 signed by the Mayor on September 26, 2005 and published as provided by law in the Business Record on October 10, 2005 Authorized by Publication Order No.4951.

Diane Rauh, City Clerk