2003 Regular Legislative Session

Department Statutory Changes

(new language is incorporated)

 

 

Effective 90 days from Sine Die, 2003 Regular Session:

1.        Clarifies when penalty amounts are applied (41-2092).

2.        Increases civil penalty amounts under specific circumstances (41-2115).

 

41-2092. Licensing fees; definitions

F. If a person fails to pay a license, permit or certification fee on or before the date the fee is due, the department shall impose a penalty equal to twenty per cent of the fee. For each thirty day period after the date the fee is due, the department shall impose an additional penalty equal to twenty per cent of the fee. If a person fails to pay a license, permit, or certification fee and all related penalties for ninety days after the fee is due, the department shall cancel the license, permit or certification.

 

41-2115. Civil penalties

A. A person who violates this chapter, any rule of the department or any license requirement is subject to a civil penalty imposed by the director. A person who violates this chapter, any rule of the department or any license requirement may request a hearing to review a civil penalty imposed under this section. The department shall conduct the hearing in accordance with chapter 6, article 10 of this title. The civil penalty shall not exceed five hundred dollars for each infraction nor more than five thousand dollars for any thirty day period at each business location, for each registered service representative or for each public weighmaster, provided that no person shall be assessed more than fifty thousand dollars per thirty day period.

 

B.  The director may double the maximum civil penalty if any of the following apply:

1.     a commercial device is found to be in violation with results that favor the retailer at more than twice the allowable tolerance as stated in national institute of standards and technology handbook 44.

2.     a package is found to exceed the maximum allowable variation for the labeled quantity allowed in national institute of standards and technology handbook 133 or the average error of the lot is twice the sample error limit in favor of the retailer.

3.     a stage II vapor recovery system reinspection fails the required tests.

4.     a maximum civil penalty has been imposed on a  retailer for a price posting or price verification violation and in a reinspection, if conducted within ninety days, the failure rate is ten percent or more and at least one error is in favor of the retailer.

A.    The attorney general shall bring actions to recover penalties pursuant to this section in the superior court in the county in which the violation occurred or in a county where the agency has its office. All monies derived from civil penalties shall be transmitted to the state treasurer to be deposited in the state general fund.

 

Effective July 1, 2004:

1.  Establishes the requirement that taxis, limousines, executive sedans and sedans must be properly licensed and have and maintain commercial insurance or they cannot be licensed by the department (41-2051, 2052, 2091, 2092).

2.  Establishes the requirement for meters and external signage (41-2095, 2096).

 

41-2051 Definitions.

9. “Executive sedan” means a motor vehicle used as a taxi and a limousine.

"Inspector" means state officials of the department of weights and measures.

 

11.  “Limousine” means a motor vehicle that is designated by the manufacturer and identified by the vehicle registration as a limousine if both the limousine and a driver are provided for hire solely by the individual agreement and the service is not available for open solicitation by passengers on streets or at taxi stands.

 

23. “Sedan” means a motor vehicle with a seating capacity of less than sixteen passengers, excluding the driver and that meets all of the following requirements:

(b)     has at least two doors for passenger ingress and egress.

(c)     is furnished for hire on an exclusive basis

(d)     has a charge or fare based on a geographic area.

 

24. “Taxi” means a motor vehicle, not including an executive sedan or limousine that meets all of the following requirements:

(a)     has a seating capacity of less than sixteen passengers, excluding the driver.

(b)     has at least two doors for passenger ingress and egress.

(c)     is furnished  for hire on an exclusive basis.

(d)     has a charge or fare based on time or mileage or both time and mileage.

 

25. “Taxi meter” means a commercial device that meets the requirements of the national institute of standards and technology handbook 44 as prescribed by section 41-2064.

 

41-2052. Political subdivisions; taxis, limousines, sedans or executive sedans

A.  This title does not prohibit a political subdivision of this state or a public airport operator that operates a public airport pursuant to section 28-8421, 28-8423 or 28-8424 from establishing the number of taxis, limousines, sedans or executive sedans that may conduct business in the political subdivision or at the public airport operating pursuant to section 28-8421, 28-8423 or 28-8424 or from setting additional or more restrictive requirements for the conduct of that business.

 

41-2091. Licensing devices used for commercial purposes; authorization to test devices used for all other purposes; fees; certification; transaction privilege tax license records; notification

C. If a fare is based on time or mileage or both time and mileage, a sedan shall have a commercial device and shall obtain a license as prescribed by the department.

 

K. The department shall not issue a license for a taxi, limousine, executive sedan or sedan unless the taxi, limousine, executive sedan or sedan meets the requirements for both of the following:

1.        motor vehicle licensing as prescribed by the department of transportation.

2.        motor vehicle insurance as prescribed by section 28-4033.

 

L. The department shall revoke a license if the taxi, limousine, executive sedan or sedan fails to maintain the requirements for either of the following:

1.        motor vehicle licensing as prescribed by the department of transportation.

2.        motor vehicle insurance as prescribed by section 28-4033.

 

M. A taxi, limousine, executive sedan or sedan shall have a license issued under this chapter posted on the outside of the rear window as required by the department.

 

41-2092. Licensing Fees; definitions

(Eliminates G. definitions of taxicab and time and linear measuring devices.)

 

41-2095. Meters; duplicate receipts

A.  Every taxi that has a charge or fare based on time or mileage or both time and mileage shall have a taxi meter.

 

B.  The taxi meter shall be visible to the passengers of a taxi or executive sedan. The taxi meter indicator reading shall be visible to the passengers in letters at least one-quarter inch in height that states that a passenger can ask to see the meter reading.

 

C.  If a taxi has the capability of producing a duplicate receipt, the driver shall print the duplicate receipt and provide the duplicate receipt to the passenger paying the fare.

 

41-2096 Signage.

B. A taxi, limousine or executive sedan shall display interior signage that contains the  licensee’s business name and address and that is all of the following:

1.     permanent.

2.     in letters at least one-half inch in height.

3.     readily visible.

4.     accurately representing all fares and the fare computation method.

 

C. A taxi is required to display exterior signage that contains the licensee’s business name and address, that contains the word taxi or cab and that is all of the following:

1.     permanent.

2.     in letters at least three inches in height.

3.     readily visible and a minimum of one inch in height for fare information.

4.     accurately representing all fares and the fare computation method.