Condition of vehicle.
Minneapolis Code of Ordinances § 341.590
in effect341.590. - Condition of vehicle.
No taxicab shall be licensed, nor shall any person licensed under Article III of this chapter operate such vehicle, until it has been thoroughly and carefully examined and found to comply with the following:
(a) Every taxicab shall be in thoroughly safe condition for the transportation of passengers. Every taxicab shall be in full compliance with all state and federal regulations relating to vehicle equipment, maintenance and safety.
(b) To be well painted, and no taxicab shall be operated under its license until it has been painted in accordance with its authorized color scheme.
(c) Every taxicab shall have doors that can be easily opened from both the inside and outside, and the licensing official shall make or have made by competent inspectors such examination or inspection before a license is issued. No license shall be granted to any vehicle found to be unfit or unsuited for public patronage.
(d) Every taxicab shall be equipped with a taximeter in good working order, equipped with a light so placed as to enable the passenger at all times to see the fare registered when operating on the meter basis.
(e) All windows and windshields in each taxicab, whether in doors or side or rear windows, shall be of shatterproof or nonshatterable glass. Each taxicab shall be equipped with four-wheel brakes.
(f) The taxicab shall have windows in the rear and side of the taxicab sufficient in number and of such size, dimensions and clarity that passengers may be readily seen and identified through the windows.
(g) Every taxicab shall be equipped with at least three (3) doors in addition to the driver's door which open into the passenger compartment.
(h) Every taxicab shall be maintained in a clean condition both inside and outside at all times. Each vehicle exterior and interior shall be thoroughly cleaned at least once every seven (7) days. The licensing official may order a taxicab out of service at any time until such time as the vehicle has been cleaned.
(i) All hood and trunk latches shall be in proper working order.
(j) Each taxicab shall be substantially free from damage. The vehicle shall have no loose hanging metal, body molding or chrome stripping. The complete exhaust system shall be intact and in good working order. The taxicab shall not operate with large dents or major body damage, nor shall the taxicab operate with large areas of unpainted or rusted metal. Taxicabs shall have all required fenders, bumpers, doors, door handles and lights, all of which shall be in good working order. No taxicab shall operate with tires considered unsafe according to the standard set forth in Minnesota Statutes 169.723. Failure to meet all of the requirements of this chapter shall cause the taxicab to be found unfit or unsuited for public use, and such vehicle may be ordered off the streets of the City of Minneapolis.
(k) All licensed taxicabs shall be equipped with seat belts openly displayed, readily available, and installed for use in the left front, right front, left rear, and right rear seats.
(l) Every taxicab shall have a speedometer, odometer, gas gauge, oil pressure indicator, and gearshift indicator in good working order.
(m) All mechanical systems and components, including the exhaust system, shall be intact, functional, and in good working condition.
(n) Each taxicab shall be equipped with a top light on the roof of the cab that shall be lighted when the cab is in service and available to receive passengers. Such light shall be visible from all directions.
(o) Every taxicab licensee shall permanently affix to either the back of the front seat passenger side headrest, or the back of the front seat passenger side, beginning no lower than three (3) inches from the top of the front seat of the taxicab, an information card made of a laminated material at least three (3) inches by five (5) inches in size in Braille. This information card will contain the name of the taxicab company, the cab number and the telephone number of the licensing official or other city telephone number as directed by the licensing official. (83-Or-081, § 2, 4-8-83; 84-Or-003, § 1, 1-13-84; 88-Or-004, §§ 21—25, 1-15-88; 2000-Or-010, § 10, 3-3-00; 2004-Or-090, § 1, 8-20-04; 2008-Or-060, § 1, 8-8-08; 2013-Or-213, § 22, 12-6-13; 2014-Or-036, § 26, 7-18-14)
Source: City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Code of Ordinances, City Charter and Park and Recreation Board Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mn/minneapolis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT13LIBURE_CH341TA_ARTIVVELI_341.590COVEFetched: 11/2/2026