Taximeter.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 46-30
in effectSec. 46-30. - Taximeter.
(a) A licensee or permittee shall not drive or cause or suffer or allow to be driven a taxicab in the city, unless the taxicab is equipped with a properly functioning taximeter. A licensee shall not carry a passenger, whether for hire or not, unless the taximeter is in the recording position. Provided, however, it shall be an affirmative defense to prosecution under this subsection that the only passenger in the taxicab at the time the taximeter was not in recording position was a person riding for training purposes only, and:
(1) The passenger had a valid license issued by the city at the time he was riding as a passenger;
(2) The passenger had not driven a taxicab within the city for 30 days or more prior to the date the defendant was charged for violation of this subsection; and
(3) At the time the person was riding as a passenger, there was a sign indicating that a passenger was riding for purposes of training as a licensee. The sign must be located so that it would be visible to any person who might ride in the vehicle as a passenger for hire.
(b) A licensee may utilize a virtual taximeter, provided the virtual taximeter meets the applicable standards as established and updated or amended in the National Institutes of Standards and Technology's Handbook 44 and enforced by federal or state Departments of Weights and Measures or comparable agency or program. The virtual meter must be visible to a passenger seated in the rear of the vehicle, and the virtual taximeter must have been submitted to the city and approved by the director prior to use.
(c) Except for any deposit or scheduling fee required for taxicab vehicle for hire services provided as pre-arranged transportation services or as otherwise provided in this article, all charges and collections for hire shall be based upon the taximeter reading. The dial showing the fare shall be in full view and readily visible and readable by the passenger or passengers at all times taxi service is being rendered.
(d) Upon receipt of a complaint or information that a permittee or licensee is operating or has operated a taxicab vehicle in violation of this section, the director shall require the subject permittee's or licensee's records and the subject taxicab vehicle's taximeter to be inspected by the director at a time and location designated by the director.
(e) A permittee shall not drive or cause or suffer or allow to be driven and a licensee shall not drive any taxicab on which any modification has been made to the taximeter or virtual taximeter or to any mechanical or electrical parts of the taxicab activating the taximeter or virtual taximeter that causes rates higher than those authorized in this division to be recorded and shown on the taximeter or virtual taximeter.
(Ord. No. 2014-754, § 2(Exh. A), 8-6-2014; Ord. No. 2016-736, § 16, 10-5-2016; Ord. No. 2019-669, § 19, 9-4-2019)
Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH46VEHI_ARTIITA_DIV1GE_S46-30TAFetched: 10/26/2026