5.30.100 Required equipment.
In addition to the mechanical equipment required in BMC 5.20.070(D), every taxicab shall have the following equipment:
A. Every taxicab shall be equipped with an operable two-way radio that receives and transmits a signal only on the frequency used by that taxicab’s dispatch service. At no time may a taxicab be equipped with an apparatus capable of monitoring a frequency used by a dispatch service other than that used by that taxicab’s dispatch service. The radio of each taxicab shall be identifiable through the dispatch company through which the taxicab is dispatched.
B. Every taxicab shall be equipped at all times with an interior light of not less than two (2) candlepower arranged so as to illuminate the entire passenger compartment. The light shall be illuminated whenever passengers are being loaded or unloaded from the taxicab between one-half (1/2) hour after sunset of one (1) day and one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise the next day. No shades or blinds shall be drawn over any windows of the taxicab while occupied by a passenger.
C. Every taxicab shall be equipped with a nonflashing light on the exterior of the roof of a type approved by the transportation inspector. The light shall be illuminated only when the taxicab is in service.
D. All taxicabs, limousines and buses must have factory seat belts for the maximum number of passengers that may be transported in a particular vehicle.
E. River taxis shall have the following:
1. Four- (4-) wheel drive vehicle with at least twelve- (12-) inch clearance;
2. VHF radio;
3. Dual battery system;
4. All equipment listed in subsections A through C of this section in addition to the following: a come-a-long or winch and shovel; ground and air flares; carbon monoxide detector; first aid kit; safe alternate form of heat, i.e., candles, canned heat, etc., one (1) wool blanket, one (1) survival or space blanket for each potential passenger, spare tire, and tools required to change a tire, i.e., jack lug wrench, etc.;
5. A river taxi driver shall carry clothes appropriate for the weather conditions and the number of passengers for a particular trip, to include but not be limited to winter hats, boots, gloves, pants and coats.
F. Every regulated vehicle shall be equipped at all times with a video camera surveillance system. The surveillance system shall be capable of recording and storing the data of at least seventy-two (72) hours of in-service operations. The recorded data shall be stored on board the taxicab or transmitted for storage. The stored data for the immediately preceding seventy-two (72) hours of recording shall not be altered or manipulated by any person, and shall be made available for review and inspection by the transportation inspector for purposes of enforcement of Chapters 5.20 and 5.40 BMC and this chapter or by a peace officer as defined in AS 1.10.060 upon request. For good cause, the transportation inspector may order retention of recorded data of specific dates, trips, or incidents for up to two (2) years.
1. The video camera surveillance system shall have the capability to operate twenty-four (24) hours a day, record video only, and be compatible with surveillance during both daytime and nighttime. The surveillance system shall either have continuous operation or be activated by the opening of a door, or some other self-initiating device which does not require the specific decision or action by the chauffeur to activate the surveillance system. The system shall be capable of producing high-quality pictures for law enforcement use. The system shall have cameras facing the front and rear and positioned in a manner that provides views of the regulated vehicle interior that are visible to passerby and does not violate privacy rights. A limousine shall not have video surveillance of the passenger area designed and intended to provide privacy from the chauffeur and public view, but may have a view into that area when a privacy partition or device is open. [Ord. 18-09 § 2; Ord. 15-21 § 2; Ord. 01-02 § 3.]