A. It is unlawful for any carrier to operate any taxicab in the city unless and until such taxicab is equipped with a taximeter of a design which has been approved by the chief law enforcement officer, and it shall be the duty of the carrier operating such taxicab, and also the driver thereof, to keep such meter operating at all times within such standard of accuracy as may be prescribed from time to time by the chief law enforcement officer. No passenger shall be carried in any such taxicab unless such taximeter is in operation. This provision shall apply regardless of whether the taxicab is engaged for a trip entirely within the boundaries of the city or partially outside thereof and such meter shall be kept operating continuously during the entire time that it is engaged in the transportation of passengers for compensation, regardless of the point of destination, provided such destination is within five mile of any exterior boundary of the city.

B. The taximeter shall be placed in each taxicab so that the reading dial showing the amount to be charged is well lighted and readily discernible to a passenger riding in any such taxicab.

C. Every taximeter used in the operation of taxicabs shall be subject to inspection at any time by the chief law enforcement officer, or his representatives. Upon discovery of any inaccuracy of such taximeter, the operator thereof shall remove, or cause to be removed from service any vehicle equipped with such taximeter until such taximeter has been repaired and accurately adjusted.

D. Every taximeter shall be inspected and tested for accuracy by the carrier at least once each year. Upon the completion of such inspection and of any adjustments necessary to cause such taximeter to operate within the standards of accuracy approved by the chief law enforcement officer, the carrier shall cause to be placed upon such meter a gummed label having printed thereon the following:

This taximeter was inspected and tested on (date), and found to comply with standard of accuracy prescribed by the chief law enforcement officer of the city of Wasco, California.

The date on which such inspection was made shall be stamped in the blank space provided for that purpose. No such label shall be removed except at the time a subsequent inspection is made.

E. It is unlawful for any driver of any taxicab, while carrying passengers, to display the flag attached to the taximeter in such a position as to denote that such vehicle is not employed, or to fail to throw the flag of the taximeter to a position indicating such vehicle is unemployed at the termination of each and every service.

F. All charges for taxicab service shall be calculated and indicated by a taximeter, and at all times while the taxicab is engaged, the flag of the taximeter shall be thrown into a position to register charges for mileage, or into a position to register charges for waiting time. No taximeter shall be used whose mechanism will register a combined charge for mileage and waiting time in any single position, and no taximeter shall be so operated as to cause any charge to be registered thereon except during the time while the taxicab is engaged by a passenger, or passengers into a position to register charges for mileage, or into a position to register charges for waiting time. No taximeter shall be used whose mechanism will register a combined charge for mileage and waiting time in any single position, and no taximeter shall be so operated as to cause any charge to be registered thereon except during the time while the taxicab is engaged by a passenger, or passengers. (Ord. 473 §1, 2002).