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5.20.070 Vehicle operations and inspections.
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A. All regulated vehicles shall be inspected by a designated inspection station and the approved inspection form presented to the transportation inspector before a permit will be issued. At least twice a year thereafter, all regulated vehicles shall be inspected. No regulated vehicle may be operated until it has been inspected and found to be in compliance with this chapter and Chapters 5.30 through 5.50 BMC and any other applicable law. The transportation inspector may also inspect a regulated vehicle at any time to determine if the vehicle is in compliance with all provisions of this chapter and Chapters 5.30 through 5.50 BMC, and keep the vehicle out of service for a reasonable time in order to perform the inspection.

B. When a regulated vehicle has been operating under any permit for two (2) years or has accumulated a total of two hundred thousand (200,000) miles, whichever occurs first, the transportation inspector may increase the required annual inspection frequency to four (4) inspections annually, after reasonable notice to the permittee.

C. No person may operate a vehicle as a regulated vehicle unless such vehicle is in a safe, clean condition and in compliance with all applicable laws. If the transportation inspector determines that a regulated vehicle is mechanically unsound, unclean or otherwise out of compliance with all applicable laws, the permittee shall take the vehicle out of service immediately upon notification from the transportation inspector.

D. Mechanical Equipment Standards.

1. The steering mechanism shall be in good working order and wheel play shall not exceed two (2) inches;

2. All door hinges and latches shall be in good mechanical working order so that doors open easily and close securely. All door locks shall function as designed;

3. All windows shall be fully operable and composed of approved safety glass. The windshield shall have no chips or stars larger than a twenty-five cent ($0.25) piece and shall not be cracked above four (4) inches from the bottom or below four (4) inches from the top of the windshield. No cracks in a vertical position are permitted on either side of the windshield. At no time shall a driver’s vision be obstructed by damage to the windshield, side windows or rear window. Interior and exterior mirrors shall be firmly attached to the vehicle;

4. All brakes shall be in good mechanical working order. When pressed, the brake pedal shall not be less than one and three-fourths (1 3/4) inches from the floorboard. Brake linings shall not be less than one thirty-second (1/32) of an inch at any point. Brake drums shall not exceed forty one thousandths (40/1,000) of an inch in excess of factory specifications;

5. The exhaust system, gaskets, tailpipes and mufflers shall be in good condition. Exhaust fumes shall not permeate into the interior of the vehicle;

6. The vehicle shall be equipped with four (4) tires, each of which shall have tread depth measurements at approximately every one hundred twenty (120) degrees of its circumference of not less than two thirty-seconds (2/32) of an inch. There shall be no sidewall damage to the tires;

7. The speedometer shall be properly installed and maintained in good working order and exposed to view;

8. The interior of the vehicle shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, and be free from torn upholstery and from damaged or broken seats;

9. All exterior and interior lights and turn signals shall be in good mechanical order. Headlights shall be properly aligned for both high and low beam use. Headlights shall be on when operating the vehicle for hire regardless of time of day;

10. The horn and two (2) windshield wipers shall be in good mechanical working order;

11. All wire connections shall be permanent and located out of the way of the driver and passengers;

12. The vehicle shall be structurally sound and not have cracked or dented fenders and shall be painted so as to provide reasonable protection against structural deterioration. Body and sheet metal should have all the manufactured parts securely mounted with no dangerous protuberances;

13. Defrosting and heating systems shall be operational;

14. There shall be no measurable leakage of fluids or oil from any part of the vehicle;

15. The vehicle shall be equipped with a readily accessible fire extinguisher with a gauge that clearly indicates that the unit is fully charged, mounted and readily accessible within the driver’s immediate reach in the vehicle;

16. The vehicle shall be equipped with accessible and operable seat belts for all seats;

17. The vehicle shall comply with the provisions of AS 28.05.095 regarding child safety restraints and seat belts;

18. The vehicle’s odometer shall be kept in good working order.

E. All regulated vehicles shall be subject at all times to an inspection by the transportation inspector, or a police officer who has reason to believe that the vehicle does not comply with all federal, state and local equipment laws or regulations. [Ord. 21-21 § 2, 2021; Ord. 02-30 § 2; Ord. 02-07 § 2; Ord. 01-02 § 3. Formerly 5.20.080.]