This subtitle applies to a person providing taxicab services under a taxicab permit or taxicab driver’s license issued by the Commission.

A person must have a permit issued by the Commission whenever the person operates as a taxicab business in or from a point in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, the City of Cumberland, or the City of Hagerstown. The provisions of this division relating to taxicabs or of any public local law relating to taxicabs do not limit the jurisdiction of the Commission over a taxicab business as a common carrier even if the taxicab business operates in a jurisdiction other than Baltimore City, Baltimore County, the City of Cumberland, or the City of Hagerstown.

An applicant for a permit to operate a taxicab business shall submit to the Commission an application on the form that the Commission provides. The Commission shall issue a permit if, after investigation, the Commission determines that issuing the permit would be best for the public welfare and convenience. In determining whether to issue a permit, the Commission shall consider all relevant factors including: the number of taxicabs to be used; the taxicab and other transportation services already available in the locality; and the rate to be charged. If it appears that a taxicab company is making an effort to mislead the public by imitating the name, design, or distinctive combination of colors of any taxicab already approved by the Commission, the Commission shall: reject the taxicab company’s application for a permit; or revoke or suspend the taxicab company’s existing permit.

Each permit applies only to the particular taxicab designated in the permit. Each permit is subject to the terms and conditions that the Commission establishes. The Commission shall set a term of at least 1 year for each permit. The Commission may renew a permit in accordance with the standards set forth in § 10-203 of this subtitle. If sufficient cause is shown, the Commission may amend, suspend, or revoke a permit.

A permit may not be assigned or transferred unless, after investigation, the Commission approves the assignment or transfer as best for the public welfare and convenience. An applicant for an assignment or transfer of a permit shall submit to the Commission a written application that sets forth the purpose, terms, and conditions of the proposed assignment or transfer.

Each taxicab for which a permit is required shall have the word “taxicab” appear conspicuously on the taxicab. The Commission shall: determine the form and style of a badge; and issue to each licensed taxicab driver a badge with the taxicab driver’s license number on the badge. A licensed taxicab driver shall display the badge conspicuously in the interior of a taxicab whenever operating the taxicab.

A taxicab for which a permit is required may not be operated unless the permit holder: obtains from an insurer authorized to transact business in the State, a liability insurance policy that: is approved by the Commission in all respects, including policy provisions, form, and amounts; and insures the permit holder and taxicab driver against liability to a passenger or member of the public for property damage, personal injury, or death resulting from an accident in which the taxicab is involved; or deposits with the Commission a bond with a casualty or surety company authorized to do business in the State that: is approved by the Commission in all respects, including provisions, form, surety, and amounts; and is made out to the State as obligee for the use and benefit of passengers and members of the public, and undertakes to indemnify passengers and members of the public against property damage, personal injury, or death resulting from an accident in which the taxicab is involved. Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a cancellation or revocation of an insurance policy or bond that is required under subsection (a) of this section may not take effect until 45 days after the date the Commission receives written notice from the revoking party. Cancellation or revocation of an insurance policy or bond issued by the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund may not take effect until 30 days after the date the Commission receives written notice from the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund. At any time, if the Commission determines that the existing bond or insurance protection is inadequate, the Commission may require new or additional bond or insurance as a condition of operation.

In addition to other duties specifically imposed by this subtitle, while driving a taxicab, a taxicab driver: shall accept as passenger and convey where directed any orderly person, on request, unless previously engaged or unable or forbidden to do so by this section, other valid law, or regulation; except when transferring a vehicle to or from repair facilities, have in the taxicab driver’s possession a manifest that contains: the time and date issued, the expiration time, the taxicab driver’s name and badge number, and the taxicab number; space for meter readings and the calculation of driver income; and any other information considered necessary by the Commission; shall report each change of residence within 72 hours to the Commission; shall answer promptly all communications and summonses received from the Commission; shall deliver all fares and all other legal charges received to the permit holder if working on a commission basis; may not operate a taxicab while the taxicab driver’s operator license or taxicab driver’s license is suspended; may not allow any other person to use the taxicab driver’s badge or identification card; may not allow any other person to drive the taxicab and return the taxicab to the permit holder’s garage on completion of the shift to which the taxicab driver was assigned; shall proceed with passengers to destination by the shortest practicable route; shall give a receipt for fares on request on an authorized form; may not operate a taxicab for more than 12 hours of any continuous 24-hour period; shall display in the interior of the taxicab at all times, while on duty, the identification card with photograph attached in the frame provided for the card and photograph; and shall charge only the rate of fare or charge established by law. When assigned to a taxicab, the taxicab driver is responsible for ascertaining that the taxicab is in good working order. A taxicab driver may not tamper with rate cards, the meter, meter light, cable, speedometer cable, or any other equipment that is required to be in the taxicab by law or that registers fares and charges.

A taxicab driver shall make maximum use of service communications with the driver’s switchboard operator or dispatcher in order to keep the driver’s taxicab available for response to calls. A taxicab driver may not solicit the patronage of a person who is at the terminal of another common carrier or at an intermediate point along an established route of that carrier to use that common carrier’s service. Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not prohibit or interfere with a response to a call for a taxicab whether the call is made by telephone or by signal from a pedestrian. Taxicabs being operated in Baltimore City: may transport a passenger from Baltimore City into Baltimore County and return to Baltimore County for the same passenger; but may not solicit a passenger within Baltimore County at any time. This subtitle may not impede the operation of taxicabs between Baltimore City and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in the manner allowed by law. A taxicab may not carry more than the number of passengers designated on the rate card. A child in a passenger’s arms is not counted as a passenger. Only one person may occupy the front seat with the driver. A taxicab may be used from a railroad station or other public place of special assembly to serve jointly not more than four passengers who are bound for the same, or approximately the same, location. A passenger who has engaged a taxicab may not be compelled to share the taxicab with another person. A taxicab driver may not refuse service in order to group passengers more profitably. Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, if a taxicab is occupied by several passengers bound for different destinations, each passenger or party shall be charged the fare recorded on the meter at the time of arrival at the passenger’s or party’s destination. A party or individual passenger may not be charged more than the fare applicable at the established rate for transportation over the shortest and most direct route. A taxicab driver may not solicit another passenger while en route to the destination of passengers or parties initially occupying the cab. A driver of a taxicab may not operate the taxicab: recklessly; in an unsafe manner; or in disregard of the public general or local laws or municipal ordinances governing the operation of motor vehicles.

A taxicab permit holder shall post in each of its taxicabs a schedule of its fares on a rate card. The rate card shall be printed and arranged in a way that allows a passenger to determine readily the exact fare payable by the passenger. A person may not collect a fare other than a fare appearing on or determinable from the rate card posted in the taxicab. This subsection does not apply to a taxicab operating in the City of Hagerstown. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, while in service, each taxicab for which a permit is required shall be equipped with: an accurate taximeter that is properly installed and connected; or another device the Commission approves for measuring the charges for service. A fixed charge may be made for any trip by taxicab between: a point within the political subdivision in which the taxicab is normally operated and a point outside of the political subdivision; the Maryland Port Administration’s cruise terminal facilities and: Fort McHenry; the World Trade Center Institute in Baltimore; or Penn Station in Baltimore; or points within Baltimore City, as approved by the Commission. A fixed charge shall be calculated on a mileage basis that the Commission approves.