Except for vehicles which furnish only zone or special service under Section 601, all taxicabs operated under the authority of this ordinance shall be equipped with taximeters fastened in front of the passengers, visible to them at all times day and night, and after sundown the face of the taximeter shall be illuminated. Said taximeter shall be operated mechanically by a mechanism of standard design and construction, driven either from the transmission or from one of the front wheels by a flexible and permanently attached driving mechanism. They shall be sealed at all points and connections which, if manipulated, would affect their correct reading and recording. Each taximeter shall have thereon a flag to denote when the vehicle is employed and when it is not employed, and it shall be the duty of the driver to throw the flag of such taximeter into a nonrecording position at the destination of each passenger or group of passengers unless a passenger declares to the driver that no clearance of the meter shall be made until all or certain designated passengers in such taxicab reach their respective destination. The passenger making such declaration shall be responsible for the whole fare upon reaching his destination.

It shall be unlawful for any holder to allow and for any driver to drive such taxicab unless the fare to be charged is determined by the meter in accordance with the schedule of fares contained herein, and except as specifically provided herein, no other fare shall be charged to passengers than is recorded on the dial of said meter for the trip. In addition to the penalty which may be assessed against the driver for such violation, the City Manager may suspend the certificate of the holder as generally provided for herein.

The said taximeter shall be subject to inspection from time to time by the Police Department. Any inspector or other officer of said Department is hereby authorized either on complaint of any person or without such complaint to inspect any meter, and upon discovery of any inaccuracy therein, to notify the person operating said taxicab to cease operation. Thereupon said taxicab shall be kept off the streets until the taximeter is repaired and in the required working condition. (Ordinance No. 1989-31)