§ 20-62. Inspection of vehicles required.
Before the use and operation of any taxicab under this chapter, said vehicle shall be thoroughly examined and inspected by the taxicab inspector and found to be capable of providing safe and sanitary transportation.
In addition, every taxicab shall be inspected semi-annually by the taxicab inspector to determine that the vehicle is capable of providing safe and sanitary transportation. The taxicab inspector may also make unannounced inspections at reasonable times to determine that taxicabs conform with this chapter. Semi-annual inspections will occur in the months of May, June, November and December. Franchise operators must pay an inspection fee to off-set the costs of the semi-annual inspections. This fee will be set by town council annually when setting the Town of Chapel Hill Fee Schedule.
Every taxicab shall be required to display a Town of Chapel Hill issued taxi inspection sticker on the back window of the vehicle. This inspection sticker shall be affixed by the taxi inspector or under the direction of the taxi inspector.
If, in inspection, an vehicle should be found to be unsafe or not to conform with this chapter, notice shall be given by the taxi-inspector to the franchisee and such vehicle shall not thereafter be operated as a taxicab until the town determines upon inspection that the vehicle has been placed back into safe condition for operating or into conformity with this chapter. Nothing herein shall be construed to relieve any owner or operator of any vehicle from all or any duties imposed by law nor relieve such owner or operator from liability resulting from the unfitness of such vehicles or the negligent operation thereof.
Failure to present vehicles for an inspection in a timely manner upon reasonable notice by the town or failure to make the necessary corrections after failed inspections shall result in that vehicle not being approved for further use within the town and may result in revocation of the franchise.
(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1; Ord. No. 2012-09-24/O-2, § 1)