Public Vehicles

The public vehicle license of any operator of a taxicab or motor vehicle for hire shall
be confiscated and forwarded to the commanding officer of Public Vehicles, if any of
the following circumstances exist:


1. The operator is arrested;
2. The operator is issued the court copy for a moving violation;
3. The operator is given an ordinance complaint for conduct unbecoming a taxicab
driver; or
4. The operator is given an ordinance complaint for high flagging (failure to display
fare to passenger).
D E T R O I T P O L I C E D E PA R T M E N T
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D E T R O I T P O L I C E D E PA R T M E N T
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2022
201\.8 Public Vehicle
The operator of a public service vehicle whose public vehicle license has been
confiscated or suspended shall not be permitted to operate the vehicle until
permission is obtained from the commanding officer of Public Vehicles.
201\.8 - 4 Operation of Taxi Cabs
Members should familiarize themselves with regulations specific to taxicabs. The following
list (not inclusive) is regulations that taxicabs drivers must comply with:
5. Operators of taxicabs shall refrain from smoking while carrying passengers;
6. It shall be the responsibility of taxicab drivers and drivers of cars for hire to turn
in any property left by a passenger to the nearest police station, within twentyfour (24) hours, unless the company maintains a regularly established lost and
found department;
7. An operator who persistently violates the public vehicle regulations by
congregating in taxicab stands, gambling or using loud and inappropriate
language shall be reported to the commanding officer of Public Vehicles on an
Incident Report;
8. Operators of taxicabs shall not be permitted to carry other passengers without
the consent of those first employing the taxicab;
9. The operator of a taxicab or car for hire shall not allow any person to ride with
them on the front seat unless the rear seat is filled to capacity;
10. The operator of a taxicab shall not solicit passengers who are waiting at an
established loading point to take passage on a city owned bus;
11. While passing a public place for the purpose of soliciting passengers, an
operator shall not turn and pass again until they have gone a distance of two
(2) square blocks;
12. Taxicabs and cars for hire shall park in single file at designated stands. A
metal sign designating the number of cars permitted to park will mark all
authorized stands. If parked in the rear of the stand, they may leave the vehicle
for not more than thirty (30) minutes; and
13. Each taxicab driver is required to maintain a trip sheet record containing the
following:
a. Date;
b. Cab number;
c. Name of the driver;
d. Start and end time of work day;
e. Taximeter and odometer readings – beginning and end; and
f. Addresses or intersections where fares were picked up and discharged –
listed in chronological order. The location at which the fare was picked
up shall be recorded before beginning the trip, and the address at which
the fare is discharged shall be recorded as soon as the passenger
leaves the cab.
D E T R O I T P O L I C E D E PA R T M E N T
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2022
201\.8 Public Vehicle
It shall be the responsibility of the cab owner to file and retain all trip sheets for a
period of ninety (90) days. Trip sheet records must be presented for examination upon
demand of a police officer, and the officer may retain the trip sheet as evidence for
court.
Any taxicab driver violating these provisions shall be issued a Miscellaneous
Ordinance Violation for improper trip sheet record. An Incident Report containing all
information relating to the violation and the number of the ordinance violation shall be
forwarded to the commanding officer of Public Vehicles.
201\.8 - 4.1 Disputes
Officers should attempt to resolve "cab and a fare" disputes to the satisfaction of both
parties. However, if no agreement can be reached and arguing persists, the
responding member shall request both parties to accompany the officer to the
district/precinct station. The officer in charge of the station desk shall make further
attempts at reconciling the matter. If this fails, the officer in charge of the station desk
may direct the investigating officer to issue a Miscellaneous Ordinance Violation for
Disorderly Conduct (fail to pay/accept disputed public vehicle fare).
201\.8 - 5 Department of Transportation Bus Drivers
Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) bus drivers encountering problems with
persons aboard their buses will activate emergency four-way flashers. Officers
observing these flashers shall board the bus and take appropriate action.

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