Vehicles—Requirements.
Saint Paul Legislative Code § 376.09
in effectSec. 376.09. - Vehicles—Requirements.
No taxicab may be licensed until it has been thoroughly and carefully examined and found to comply with the following:
(1) To be in a thoroughly safe condition for the transportation of passengers, each vehicle must be inspected at the city service garage, at a cost determined by the license inspector to be paid by the applicant. The inspection must include, but not be limited to, inspection of tires, brake system, lights, electrical system, steering, wheel alignment, suspension, exhaust system, engine, transmission, drive train and frame in accordance with standards adopted by the inspector.
(2) Every taxicab must have a means to raise and lower windows and to open the doors from the inside of the rear passenger area, if so equipped by the manufacturer.
(3) Every taxicab must be equipped with fully operable safety belts for all passengers in both front and rear seats.
(4) Every taxicab, except those operated solely upon the hour basis, must be equipped with a taximeter in good working order, having a light, and sealed, and so placed as to enable the passenger at all times to see the fare registered when operating on the meter basis. No taxicab may be operated except upon the meter or hour basis.
(5) There must be conspicuously displayed in the compartment of the taxicab occupied by the passenger and on the outside right and left rear doors of the taxicab a printed card or sign showing the rate of fare charged, as hereinafter provided.
(6) Each taxicab must be equipped with a top light on the roof of the cab which must be lighted when the cab is in service and available to receive passengers. Such light must be visible from all directions.
(7) Each taxicab must be equipped with a radio or mobile telephone capable of two-way voice communication with the taxicab licensee's or affiliated licensee's base station from all locations within the city limits. The radio or mobile phone must be in operation at all times that the vehicle is available for service or in service for the purpose of dispatching taxicabs and receiving calls from drivers of such taxicabs. Every taxicab licensee must provide twenty-four-hour taxicab service and twenty-four-hour radio dispatch service within the city.
(8) The license inspector must make, or have made, by competent inspectors, such examination and inspection before a license is issued. A license will be refused to any vehicle found to be unfit or unsuited for public patronage.
(9) Subject to the exception set forth in section 376.17(b), each taxicab must be affiliated with a licensed taxicab service company affiliated with no less than five (5) city licensed vehicles.
(10) Each taxicab at the time of application or renewal must not exceed ten (10) years of age from the current model year.
(Code 1956, § 152.09; Ord No. 16874, 1-7-82; Ord No. 16981, 12-7-82; Ord No. 16992, 1-18-83; Ord No. 17381, § 1, 7-31-86; Ord No. 17525, § 1, 1-6-88; Ord No. 17764, § 4, 8-28-90; Ord No. 17881, § 4, 11-7-91; C.F. No. 94-199, § 9, 3-23-94; C.F. No. 97-870, § 1, 8-13-97; Ord 12-72, § 1, 1-23-13; Ord 16-16, § 1, 7-27-16)
Source: City of Saint Paul, Minnesota, City Charter, Legislative Code and Administrative Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mn/st._paul/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIILECO_TITXXIXLI_CH376TA_S376.09VEEQFetched: 11/1/2026