Ch. 705

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

[50J.] 50L.

(a)     It shall be unlawful for any person to solicit for transport, transport or agree
to transport any person or baggage in any vehicle for hire unless the operator thereof is
duly licensed by the Public Service Commission.

(b)     It shall be unlawful for any person owning or in charge of any vehicle to
permit such vehicle to be used in violation of the provisions of this section.

(c)     Drivers of taxicabs shall be required to make maximum use of service
communications with their switchboard operators or dispatchers in order to keep their
cabs available for response to calls.

(d)     No taxicab driver shall solicit patronage of persons assembled at the terminal
of any other common carrier, or at intermediate points along any established route of said
carrier, when such persons have so assembled for the purpose of using the service of said
common carrier. This rule is not intended to prohibit, or interfere with, response to any
call for a taxicab, made by telephone or by signal from a pedestrian.

(e)     Taxicabs which are being operated in Baltimore City may transport passengers
from the city into Baltimore County and may return for the same passengers. No
passengers shall be solicited by the said taxicabs within the county at any time. Nothing in
this subheading shall serve to impede the operation of taxicabs between Baltimore City
and Baltimore-Washington International Airport in the manner heretofore permitted by
law.

(f)     No taxicab shall carry more than the number designated on the permit card. A
child in arms will not be counted as a passenger. No more than one person shall occupy
the front seat with the driver.

(g)     Cabs may be used to serve jointly from railroad stations or other public places
of special assembly not more than four (4) passengers who are bound for the same, or
approximately the same location, provided that no passenger who has engaged a cab shall
be compelled to share the vehicle with others, if unwilling to do so. Drivers shall not
refuse service in order to effect more profitable grouping.

(h) When a cab is occupied by more than one passenger bound for different
destinations, each passenger or party, as the case may be, shall be charged the fare
recorded on the meter at the time of arrival at destination except that in no event shall
any party or individual passenger be charged more than the fare applicable at the
established rates for transportation over the shortest and most direct route. Solicitation of
others while en route to the destination of passengers or parties, initially occupying the
cab, is prohibited.

(i) No driver of any taxicab shall operate the same recklessly, in an unsafe
manner, or in disregard of the public general or local laws or municipal ordinances
governing the operation of motor vehicles.

(j) Highway or bridge toll charges shall be assessed only when a passenger elects
to use a route where such charges occur.

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