Rates of fare.
Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 36, § 134
in effectSection 134. - Rates of fare.
A. Rates which may be charged by a taxicab certificate holder are subject to the limits of a maximum rate schedule as recommended by the Transportation Advisory Board, and approved by the City Council; provided, if the Transportation Advisory Board fails to act on a request for change(s) to the maximum rate schedule within forty-five (45) days of receipt, the City Council may take action on the request. The maximum rate schedule shall become effective upon Council approval.
1. A fuel surcharge, in addition to the maximum rate schedule, may be approved if recommended by the Transportation Advisory Board, and approved by the City Council; provided, if the Transportation Advisory Board fails to act on a request for approval of a fuel surcharge within forty-five (45) days of receipt, the City Council may take action on the request.
2. Prior to initiating the fuel surcharge, holder shall:
a. Advise Director, in writing, of its intent to impose the surcharge. Written notice to the Director may be hand delivered or mailed by certified mail to the City Clerk at 175 E. 2nd Street, Suite 260, Tulsa, OK 74103, with proof of delivery;
b. Post prominent signage in each vehicle and at the Airport advising the customer of the amount of the approved surcharge;
c. Include the surcharge on the itemized customer receipt required by Section 134.F.3.
3. After receiving a recommendation from the Transportation Advisory Board, the City Council may withdraw approval of a fuel surcharge, in whole or in part, by giving at least thirty (30) days' written notice of the effective date to the holders; provided, if the Transportation Advisory Board fails to act on a request to withdraw approval of a fuel surcharge within forty-five (45) days of receipt, the City Council may take action on the request.
B. Each taxicab certificate holder shall file a rate schedule with the Director at the time of application for a certificate.
C. Any amendment to holder's rate schedules shall be filed with the Director at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of the new rates. No schedule amending rates of fare shall be filed by any taxicab certificate holder until ninety (90) days shall have elapsed since the Director received the previously filed rate schedule.
D. The rate schedule filed by a holder with the Director shall not prevent the charging of any lower rates of fare, nor shall the foregoing provisions prevent the granting of discounts and reduced rates of fare to certain groups of people for promotional or humanitarian reasons or for reasons of goodwill.
E. Taxicab rate schedules shall list and include the following items and none other:
1. Mileage charges after pickup. This rate shall be calculated on a fixed unit rate per one-fifth (⅕) mile driven. The initial one-fifth (⅕) mile driven may include an initial fare ("Flag Drop"). All mileage units following the initial one-fifth (⅕) mile shall be charged at the one-fifth (⅕) mile unit rate set out in holder's filed rate schedule. The flag drop rate and the one-fifth (⅕) mile unit rate charged shall not exceed the maximum rate schedule.
2. Waiting time. The rate for waiting time shall not exceed the maximum recommended by the Transportation Advisory Board and approved by the City Council.
3. Luggage charges per bag. Luggage charges must be explained to the passenger in advance of the passenger accepting the taxi service. Luggage charges must be added to the metered fare at the beginning of the trip by applying them to the meter total by use of the meter's "extra charges" function. Luggage charges shall not exceed Two Dollars ($2.00) per bag.
4. Toll charges. Toll charges to passenger shall only include the actual road toll charge the chauffeur paid for the trip.
5. Extra passenger charges. Extra passenger charges shall not exceed Two Dollars ($2.00) per extra passenger.
6. Minimum trip charge. Holder may include a "minimum trip charge" in its filed rate schedule which may be collected when the charge calculated by the meter is less than the minimum trip charge. The collection by a chauffeur from a passenger of a minimum trip charge (a) in excess of the charge listed in holder's filed rate schedule; or (b) in addition to the meter charge, shall be a violation of Section 123.A.14. of this title.
F. A chauffeur of a taxicab shall charge a rate of fare and provide a printed receipt as set forth in this Section 134 and further in accordance with the following provisions:
1. A chauffeur shall activate the taximeter at the beginning of each trip and provide the customer a receipt upon completion of the trip that satisfies paragraph 3. hereof; or
2. If the trip is subject to a minimum trip charge pursuant to the provisions of this section, the chauffeur shall activate the taximeter at the beginning of the trip but charge the appropriate minimum trip charge amount and provide the customer a receipt that satisfies paragraph 3. hereof; and
3. The chauffeur shall give the passenger an accurate receipt, printed from the meter at the time of payment. The receipt must include the name of the holder, information identifying the vehicle and its chauffeur, all items for which a charge was made, the total amount paid and the date of payment. The chauffeur shall sign or initial the receipt.
G. Taxicab rates of fare and associated charges must be posted on the passenger's side in the front of the vehicle and on both sides in the rear of the vehicle, in a place and manner visible to passengers from both the inside and outside of the vehicle. The holder's name, telephone number and vehicle unit number should be posted on or near the rates of fare information. The information required by this section shall be posted on a form or forms provided by the City. The City shall retain the right to post conspicuous and permanent signs in the immediate vicinity of all taxicab stands, whether located at Tulsa International Airport or otherwise, which clearly indicate taxicab rates of fare to prospective passengers.
H. It shall be unlawful and an offense for any passenger to refuse to pay the established rate after employing and using the taxicab, paratransit vehicle, or utility vehicle for hire.
I. The fare registered on the taximeter shall not be changed so as to cancel the amount of fare registered until after the fare has been paid or a charge ticket has been made and signed by the passenger.
J. A chauffeur may demand proof of ability to pay if he has reasonable cause to suspect that the passenger, due to his physical or mental state, may be unable to pay or may refuse to pay the fare at the point of destination.
K. Taxicab rides may be shared with the consent of all passengers under the following conditions.
1. When two (2) or more passengers engage a taxicab at the same location but are going to different destinations, the last passenger to leave the taxicab is responsible for the full metered fare plus any extra charges allowed pursuant to this section. When passengers arrive at destinations other than the final destination, the meter shall not be placed in a "hold" position.
2. When two (2) or more passengers engage a taxicab at different locations and are going to different destinations, each passenger pays the full metered fare; provided, however, that no extra charges may be assessed and that the meter is placed in a "hold" position when passengers are dropped off.
3. When two (2) or more passengers engage a taxicab at different locations but are going to the same destination, both passengers are responsible for their portion of the full metered or fixed fare plus any extra charges allowed pursuant to this section.
L. It shall be an offense for any person to call for a taxicab, paratransit vehicle or utility vehicle for hire without intending to use such vehicle upon its arrival; provided, however, that if a vehicle fails to arrive within thirty (30) minutes of the call requesting a vehicle and the holder fails to notify the person who requested the vehicle of such delay, the caller shall not be required to use the vehicle.
M. Paratransit rates will be based on the prearrangement of the use of the vehicle. For this section, prearrangement shall mean an advance appointment with a passenger to provide service that was initiated by a person contacting the company by telephone, correspondence or other oral or written communication.
N. Utility vehicle for hire rates. Fares shall be at a fixed rate per trip, per hour or other specified time period, and shall be posted in a conspicuous location which can be easily seen by the prospective passengers.
(Ord. No. 23483, § 1, 4-28-2016; Ord. No. 24128, § 1, 5-1-2019)
Source: City of Tulsa, Revised Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ok/tulsa/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT36TAPAVEUTVEHIRE_CH1TAPAVEUTVEHIRE_S134RAFAFetched: 10/28/2026