Subchapter C. VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS
Sec.
30.31. Vehicle equipment requirements.
30.32. Vehicle operating requirements.
30.33. Inspection of vehicles.
30.34. Fines for violations.§ 30.31. Vehicle equipment requirements.
Vehicles operated in citywide call or demand service in cities of the first class shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) Other than a vehicle which the Commission specifically authorizes in writing to operate in call or demand service as an antique vehicle, a vehicle may not be operated in call or demand service in cities of the first class after June 30 of the year following the calendar year which is 6 years from the vehicle model calendar year, counting the vehicle model calendar year as the first of the 6 years. For example, the last day on which a 1986 model year vehicle may be operated in citywide call or demand service in a city of the first class is June 30, 1992.
(2) A vehicle shall satisfy the applicable Department of Transportation equipment inspection standards stated in 67 Pa. Code Chapter 175 (relating to vehicle equipment and inspection) when the vehicle is being operated.
(3) A vehicle shall have door hinges, door latches and doors in working order, and doors shall operate easily and close securely.
(4) A vehicle shall be equipped with an operable two-way radio connected to a centralized dispatch radio system.
(5) Exterior and interior advertising displayed on a vehicle shall be securely fastened and may not obscure the driver’s view in any direction.
(6) A vehicle shall be equipped with a sealed meter that satisfies the requirements in § 29.314 (relating to vehicle and equipment requirements) and is calibrated in accordance with the approved tariff.
(i) The meter shall be able to pass an accuracy test given by a Commission enforcement officer.
(ii) Upon passing the accuracy test, a Commission numbered seal will be placed on the meter by a Commission enforcement officer. A taxicab may not be operated without this Commission seal. If the seal becomes broken or damaged, the vehicle shall be removed from service immediately by either the medallion holder or the operator.
(7) Tariff fare rates shall be clearly displayed in a vehicle in accordance with § 29.316 (relating to tariff requirements).
(8) A vehicle shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.
(9) A vehicle trunk compartment shall be clean and suitable for carrying passengers’ luggage.
(10) A vehicle shall have snow tires or all-weather tires on the drive wheels between October 1 and April 1 of the following year.
(11) A vehicle shall be marked, painted and designed in accordance with § § 29.71(a) and (c) and 29.103 (relating to marking of vehicles; and simulating color or design). A vehicle shall also have painted or permanently affixed on each side its medallion number in the same dimensions as that prescribed by § 29.71(a). Vehicle markings shall be removed in accordance with § 29.72 (relating to removal of markings).
(12) A vehicle shall, for the safety of the vehicle operator, be equipped with a protective shield/barrier which separates the front seat from the back seat and bears the manufacturer’s name. The protective shield shall, at a minimum, meet the following requirements:
(i) The upper portion of the shield shall extend from the top of the front seat to a point not more than 3 inches from the ceiling of the vehicle and shall be constructed of a clear, see-through, bullet-resistant material.
(ii) The shield shall have either a sliding window controlled by the vehicle operator and capable of being locked by the vehicle operator or a payment exchange cup/tray or similar device which allows the operator to receive payment from passengers in the back seat of the vehicle without unduly exposing the vehicle operator to danger. If the shield has a sliding window, the window shall be locked while the vehicle is occupied by passengers except to allow the vehicle operator to receive payment from passengers.
(iii) The upper portion of the shield may not obstruct the vehicle operator’s view of the road to the rear of the vehicle.
(iv) The lower portion of the shield shall extend the full length of the front seat and shall be constructed of a bullet-resistant material.
(v) Both the upper and lower portions of the shield shall extend from a point flush with the left-hand side of the vehicle across the vehicle to a point flush with the right-hand side of the vehicle. Both the upper and lower portions of the shield may not have an edge or projection likely to cause injury.
(vi) The lower portion of the shield shall be installed in a manner which gives as much leg room as possible to passengers in the back seat.
(vii) The shield shall be installed in a manner which does not prevent voice communication between the vehicle operator and passengers in the vehicle.
(viii) The shield shall be installed in a manner which allows adequate ventilation to the back seat of the vehicle.
(13) A taxicab may not be equipped with a device that has the capability of allowing the meter to register a nonapproved rate. If found, this device will be confiscated by a Commission enforcement officer or by a police officer employed by a city of the first class and disposed of by the Commission’s District Office.
Authority The provisions of this § 30.31 amended under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § § 501, 2404(a), 2409 and 2412.
Source The provisions of this § 30.31 amended November 29, 1996, effective January 29, 1997, 26 Pa.B. 5816. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (205700) to (205701).
Cross References This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 30.33 (relating to inspection of vehicles).
§ 30.32. Vehicle operating requirements.
A vehicle will not be permitted to operate in citywide call or demand service in cities of the first class unless, prior to the vehicle’s operation in citywide call or demand service, the vehicle complies with the following requirements:
(1) The operation of the vehicle in citywide call or demand service in a city of the first class shall be authorized by a current certificate of public convenience issued by the Commission.
(2) The vehicle shall be described in a written communication sent to the Bureau of Transportation, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Post Office Box 3265, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105-3265. The vehicle description shall include the vehicle identification number, medallion number, vehicle make, vehicle model calendar year and Department of Transportation registration number (license plate/tag number).
(3) The vehicle shall have affixed to its hood a current fiscal year medallion issued by the Commission and marked with the medallion number assigned to the corresponding certificate of public convenience under which the vehicle is to be operated. If a vehicle becomes disabled or is retired from service, the medallion holder may, upon verbal notice to the Commission’s Philadelphia office to be confirmed in writing, remove the medallion from the vehicle. Upon removal, the medallion shall be immediately delivered to the Commission’s Philadelphia office where it will be held until a vehicle is presented for that medallion and successfully passes inspection by the Commission. Immediately before the annual reissuance of a medallion for a vehicle, the prior year’s medallion shall, under the supervision of a Commission enforcement officer, be removed from the vehicle hood during a Commission enforcement officer’s inspection of the vehicle in accordance with § 30.33(a) (relating to inspection of vehicles).
Cross References This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 30.33 (relating to inspection of vehicles).
§ 30.33. Inspection of vehicles.
(a) Inspection prior to issuance or reissuance of a medallion. Persons awaiting issuance or reissuance of a medallion shall submit their vehicles for inspection by a Commission enforcement officer prior to the issuance or reissuance of a medallion for each of the vehicles being submitted for inspection. A medallion will not be issued or reissued for affixing to a vehicle unless proper evidence of insurance for the vehicle is on file with the Commission; a current tariff filing exists; fees, fines and penalties have been paid; and the vehicle has been described in writing to the Commission in accordance with § 30.32(2) (relating to vehicle operating requirements) and has satisfied a Commission enforcement officer’s inspection by complying with the vehicle equipment requirements in § 30.31 (relating to vehicle equipment requirements). A medallion shall be affixed to a vehicle hood only under the supervision of a Commission enforcement officer.
(b) Inspection prior to transfer of a medallion from one vehicle to another vehicle. Prior to the transfer of a medallion from one vehicle to another vehicle, the vehicle which is to receive the medallion shall be submitted for inspection by a Commission enforcement officer whether or not the vehicle which is to receive the medallion has the same owner as the vehicle from which the medallion is being transferred. A medallion may not be transferred to another vehicle unless proper evidence of insurance is on file with the Commission; a current tariff filing exists; fees, fines and penalties have been paid; and the vehicle which is to receive the medallion has been described in writing to the Commission in accordance with § 30.32(2) and has satisfied a Commission enforcement officer’s inspection by complying with the vehicle equipment requirements in § 30.31. If the vehicle which is to receive the medallion satisfies the requirements in this subsection, the medallion shall, under the supervision of a Commission enforcement officer, be affixed to the hood of the inspected vehicle which is to receive the medallion. Removal of medallions from disabled or retired vehicles shall be accomplished as set forth in § 30.32(3).
(c) Inspection after issuance, reissuance or transfer of a medallion. Vehicles bearing medallions shall be subject to additional inspections to ensure continued compliance with the vehicle equipment safety requirements of § § 30.31 and 30.32, as follows:
(1) Commission enforcement officers and police officers employed by a city of the first class may enter upon the premises of the agent or lessee of a medallion holder where medallion cabs are maintained during ordinary business hours for the purpose of performing inspections upon vehicles used in regulated service. If necessary to ensure compliance with § § 30.31 and 30.32, an officer may direct that a vehicle be taken to an inspection station licensed by the Department of Transportation for further examination.
(2) Commission enforcement officers and police officers employed by a city of the first class may stop medallion cabs in operation to ensure continued compliance with § § 30.31 and 30.32. Officers may visually inspect the passenger, luggage, engine compartment and other parts of the vehicles necessary to ensure compliance with the safety regulations of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and the Department of Transportation. If necessary to ensure compliance with § § 30.31 and 30.32, an officer may direct that the vehicle be taken to an inspection station licensed by the Department of Transportation for further examination.
(3) A vehicle in operation which is found upon inspection not to comply with § § 30.31 and 30.32 will be placed out-of-service by a Commission enforcement officer or by a police officer employed by a city of the first class. When a vehicle is placed out-of-service, the Commission enforcement officer or police officer will state the reasons for doing so.
(4) The operator of a vehicle placed out-of-service shall notify the vehicle’s medallion holder that the vehicle has been placed out-of-service. The medallion holder is responsible for having mechanical defects in the vehicle corrected satisfactorily. The medallion holder is also responsible for taking appropriate action to correct the vehicle operator’s behavior if the vehicle operator has not complied with the Commission’s requirements for citywide call or demand service in cities of the first class.
(5) A vehicle which has been placed out-of-service may not be operated until repairs have been satisfactorily completed except that a vehicle may be continued in operation, without passengers, to the medallion holder’s nearest terminal, place of business or other similar location where repairs may be safely made if this operation of the vehicle is less hazardous to the public than permitting the vehicle to remain on the highway.
(6) A Commission enforcement officer or a police officer employed by a city of the first class may order a vehicle which has been placed out-of-service for safety violations to be reinspected by a Commission enforcement officer to ensure compliance with § § 30.31 and 30.32. If the vehicle is not in compliance with § 30.31 or § 30.32, the medallion will be removed from the vehicle and held by the Commission. A hearing on the matter will be held within 10 days following the date of removal.
(d) Annual State vehicle inspection. A vehicle operated in citywide call or demand service in cities of the first class shall, in addition to the other stated requirements, receive and satisfy the annual State inspection required by 75 Pa.C.S. Chapter 47 (relating to inspection of vehicles).
Authority The provisions of this § 30.33 amended under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § § 501, 2404(a), 2409 and 2412.
Source The provisions of this § 30.33 amended November 29, 1996, effective January 29, 1997, 26 Pa.B. 5816. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (205702) to (205704).
Cross References This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 30.32 (relating to vehicle operating requirements).
§ 30.34. Fines for violations.
Fines for violations of this subchapter range from $250 to $1,000 per violation.
Authority The provisions of this § 30.34 issued under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § § 501, 2404(a), 2409 and 2412.
Source The provisions of this § 30.34 adopted November 29, 1996, effective January 29, 1997, 26 Pa.B. 5816.
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