Taximeters and Vehicle for Hire Rates

Huntsville Code of Ordinances ch. 8, art. IV, div. 2, subpt. V

in effect

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-271 Taximeters.

Sec. 8-271. - Taximeters. (a) Taximeters required for all taxis. It shall be unlawful to own and operate or cause to be operated any taxicab upon the streets or thoroughfares of the city, unless such taxicab is equipped with a practical standard taximeter in good and workable condition designed to accurately measure distance traveled, and to record the time the vehicle is in waiting. Upon the taximeter there shall be indicated by means of figures the fare charged. (b) Readability. Indications of the amount of fare shall never be obscured from the view of any passenger. All openings through which any indications or markings are viewed at any time by the passenger shall be of such location, size, and design that the indications or markings may be read with accuracy. This shall be construed to mean, among other things, that between sunset and sunrise the face of any taximeter shall be illuminated by a suitable light so arranged as to throw a continuous steady light thereon and render the meter clearly readable to a passenger in the rear seat. (c) Seal. Adequate provision shall be made for sealing all taximeters in such manner that no adjustments, alterations, or replacements can be made that may affect in any way the indications, the time or mileage rates or, in general, the accuracy of the taximeter. Every taximeter shall be sealed by the chief of police or an inspector or deputy duly authorized by the chief of police or the director of the department of parking and public transit. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or allow or cause to be operated a taxicab equipped with a taximeter that is not sealed or has a mutilated or destroyed seal; provided, however, that upon request, the director of the department of parking and public transit, is authorized to issue a temporary permit to operate a taxicab without a sealed taximeter until the next scheduled or requested inspection, if the director of the department of parking and public transit finds that such taximeter required some adjustment, alteration or replacement which has been made. (d) Use of flag. It shall be unlawful for the driver of a taxicab to have the taximeter in a mode as to denote that such vehicle is not employed while carrying passengers or have the taximeter in a recording position when such vehicle is not actually employed, or to fail to put such taximeter in a non-recording mode at the termination of each and every service. Meters may not be operated in the time mode while the cab is in motion (no hot meters). No switches bypassing the top light are allowed. (e) Changing size of tires, gears cables, etc. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or allow or cause to be operated a taxicab with tires of a smaller size than those which were on the taxicab at the time the taximeter was last inspected and sealed, without first having the taxicab re-inspected. It shall also be unlawful to operate or allow or cause to be operated a taxicab utilizing any gears, cables, computer chips or other parts that could affect meter rates other than those on the taxicab when the taximeter was last inspected and sealed without first having the taxicab re-inspected. (Ord. No. 16-103, § 1, 2-11-2016)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-272 Vehicle for hire rates.

Sec. 8-272. - Vehicle for hire rates. (a) Taxicabs. (1) All taxicabs must base their charges on taximeters. The maximum rate is the rate authorized and recorded on a properly working and properly sealed taximeter. The passenger may be charged less than the maximum rate reflected on the taximeter. (2) The maximum rate to be charged for a trip to one destination by any taxicab shall be $5.00 for the first one-half-mile and $0.15 for each additional one-twentieth-mile. ($5.00 for the first one-half-mile and $3.00 for each mile thereafter.) (3) A driver may, in addition to the metered rate, require a waiting charge to be paid which shall not exceed the rate of $25.00 per hour, regardless of the number of passengers. Such waiting time shall include the time when the taxicab is not in motion, beginning with the time of arrival at the place to which it has been called or time consumed while it is standing at the direction of the passenger; but no charge shall be made for the first five minutes after arrival or for time lost on account of inefficiency of the taxicab or its operator or the time consumed by the premature response to a call or traffic conditions. A fare shall not be considered to be terminated until the taxicab is available for service to another customer. (4) All taxicabs operated within or under the certificate of public convenience and necessity of the same entity must charge the same rate. (5) Maximum rates charged must be displayed on each taxicab on the rear quarter panel in a size no smaller than one-inch letters with drop charges, rate per mile, and waiting time. (6) Maximum rates must be posted at the Huntsville International Airport and in all bus stations in a manner prescribed by the director of the department of parking and public transit. (7) Response cards must be placed in each taxicab in a manner clearly visible to passengers; referring persons with questions or comments to the City of Huntsville Public Transit Division and listing the phone number and vehicle permit number. (8) It shall be unlawful for the company or the driver of a taxicab to charge any passenger a fare for the use of such taxicab which is in excess of the rate established by this division and displayed on a properly working and inspected taximeter. Passengers shall have the right to pro-rate charges among themselves as they see fit. In the event the passengers cannot reach agreement as to their respective share of the total fare, the driver then shall be allowed to collect the fare to the point of final destination from the first passenger engaging the taxicab. (9) No driver shall allow or permit any other person to occupy or ride in such taxicab unless the person or persons first employing the taxicab shall consent to the acceptance of additional passengers. (10) If the metered fare for any trip to or from the Huntsville International Airport is less than $15.00, a minimum fare of $15.00 may be charged. On trips originating or terminating at the Huntsville International Airport, an additional $2.00 may be charged for each additional passenger, excluding children under the age of six years. (11) Every taxicab driver shall, upon the request of a passenger, give a receipt upon payment of the fare. The receipt shall indicate the beginning and ending points of the trip, the fare charged, the date, the company's name, and the vehicle number, and shall be signed by the driver. (b) Vehicles for hire other than taxis. Vehicles for hire other than taxis may charge on a per trip (flat fee) or per hour (time elapsed) basis, or a combination thereof, and vehicles for hire that are non-motorized may charge on a per trip or per hour basis, or combination thereof, conditioned as follows: (1) Airport shuttles may also charge based on a per person fee. (2) Limousines, luxury vehicles, and special shuttles shall, as a minimum base rate, charge $35.00 an hour, excluding other fees and gratuities, without prorating the first hour. (3) Vehicles for hire that charge in whole or part on an hourly basis shall not prorate the first hour. (4) The rates shall be uniformly applied to all passengers and shall be posted in each vehicle in a place visible to the passenger, except that companies that use an online enabled application (app) or digital platform to arrange for passenger service may post the rates in the online application (app) and on the company's website. (c) All rates for any vehicle for hire shall be placed on file by letter to the director of parking and public transit. (d) The driver is permitted to collect the amount owed from any passenger but it shall be left to the passengers to prorate the amount charged among themselves. (e) At any time and from time to time the city council may amend this section to provide for a change in the amount of rates or the method for setting rates applicable to some or all vehicles for hire. In such event the amendatory action shall apply to then-current and future certified companies and their vehicles. (Ord. No. 16-103, § 1, 2-11-2016; Ord. No. 22-70, § 2, 2-10-2022) (Ord. No. 26-837, adopted 9-24-2026)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-273 Unauthorized fares.

Sec. 8-273. - Unauthorized fares. (a) No company or driver shall demand or suggest that any passenger or prospective passenger pay a fare larger than that authorized in this division. (b) No company or driver shall demand or suggest that any passenger pay an amount that exceeds the posted rate. (Ord. No. 16-103, § 1, 2-11-2016)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 8-274 Credit cards.

Sec. 8-274. - Credit cards. (a) By January 1, 2016, all certified vehicle for hire companies, except for carriages and pedicabs, shall require their drivers to accept all major credit, debit, and charge cards (collectively "credit cards" for the purposes of this section) as payment for services rendered and shall accept any and all risk of nonpayment. (b) In the case of certified companies that accept credit cards, no additional charge shall be levied against a passenger for use of credit cards, nor shall any passenger be refused service for their use of credit cards. Drivers shall not set a minimum or maximum charge for any credit card transactions. Drivers shall provide all credit card paying customers with a truncated copy of their sales draft or charge receipt clearly showing the amount and date of the transaction, company's name and telephone number, the driver's certified vehicle permit number, and the transaction's authorization approval code. The truncated sales draft or receipt shall not include the credit card's expiration date or any more than the last four digits of the credit card's number. (c) In the case of certified companies that accept credit card payments, the vehicle shall be equipped with a fully-functioning wireless device that provides a secure credit card processing method, satisfies all Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard ("PCI DSS") requirements, and (i) encrypts any information transmitted to authenticate a credit card payment transaction for approval, (ii) generates a truncated printed sales draft or charge receipt, and (iii) accepts cards affiliated with all major credit card associations including, but not limited to, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover Network. Manual imprinting machines are prohibited. (Ord. No. 16-103, § 1, 2-11-2016)

Source: City of Huntsville, Alabama, publisher code (Municode) + enacted ordinances (City Council/Legistar)URL: https://library.municode.com/al/huntsville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH8BU_ARTIVVEHI_DIV2LIVE_SDVTAVEHIRAFetched: 11/6/2026