Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 815 - Division of Public Utilities and Carriers
Chapter 50 - Common Carriers
Subchapter 10 - Motor Carriers of Passengers
Part 2 - Rules Governing Transportation of Passengers via Taxicabs and Limited Public Motor Vehicles (815-RICR-50-10-2)
Section 815-RICR-50-10-2.8 - Rules Regarding Drivers and the Operation of Cabs

Universal Citation: 815 RI Code of Rules 50 10 2.8

Current through September 18, 2024

A. No person shall operate a cab unless he or she first acquires a hackney operator's license issued by the Division, under R.I. Gen Laws § 39-14-20(b).

B. A certificate holder shall not employ as a driver or lease a vehicle pursuant to section J to any person whose license is suspended or revoked. A certificate holder shall not allow anyone to transport passengers in a cab who does not possess a State Hackney Operators' License from the Division pursuant to §§ 2.8(C) and (D) of this Part.

C. Each driver will place, in a Division approved receptacle and location, a State of Rhode Island Hackney Operator's License. The Hackney Operator's License will be issued by the Division and must be obtained before the driver may operate a cab.

D. No person will operate a cab without first having applied for and received approval from the Division. Individuals who request to operate a cab must supply to the Division the following information:

1. Name;

2. Date of Birth (applicant must be 21 years old, as required by R.I. Gen Laws § 31-10-5);

3. Residence;

4. Phone Number;

5. Driver's License Number (including type and class);

6. Employer;

7. Copies of the applicants' driving record obtained, within the previous thirty (30) days, from the Division of Motor Vehicles - Operator Control and record of all criminal convictions obtained from the Bureau of Criminal Identification of the Department of the Attorney General;

8. Social Security Number (Disclosure is voluntary, see Appendix B "Social Security Number Privacy Disclosure Statement" § 2.17 of his Part); and,

9. Resident Status.

E. The Division shall approve or disapprove all requests for authority to operate a cab as soon as practicable within ten (10) business days after receiving the aforementioned information. This time period may be extended for not more than thirty (30) days, for just cause, by the Division, with notice of the extension to the applicant. The Division's review of the application will be to determine if operation of a cab by said individual could constitute a danger to the public. If approved, the applicant will receive a Hackney Operator's License from the Division, which shall be carried at all times while operating a cab. If rejected, the applicant may request a full hearing before the Division by sending correspondence addressed to the Associate Administrator for Motor Carriers. At said hearing, the applicant will be given notice and an opportunity to be heard and has the right to be represented by counsel at his or her own expense.

F. The Hackney Operator's License may be suspended or revoked by the Division upon a finding of violation of these rules, any provision of Title 39 of the Rhode Island General Laws, any order of the Division or any other action which constitutes a danger to the public, after the licensee is given notice and an opportunity to be heard.

G. No person shall drive or be in physical control of any cab, for the purpose of carrying passengers, for a period in excess of 12 hours in any 24-hour period, unless the driving time is broken by a period of eight full hours of rest. No certificate holder or his or her agent shall knowingly permit any cab to be driven in violation of this paragraph.

H. No cab shall be driven when it is so loaded or when there is in the front seat such number of persons as to obstruct the view of the driver to the front or sides, or to interfere with his control over the cab. No cab shall carry more adult passengers than the manufacturer's designed capacity of the vehicle.

I. Nothing shall be transported in any cab that will cause the interior of such cab to become soiled or offensive to passengers because of odor or appearance.

J. All cabs are required to have matching hubcaps or wheel covers on all four wheels.

K. Any individual who drives a cab, including the certificate holder, must report any criminal conviction or adjudicated traffic violation to the Division within five (5) business days of the conviction or adjudication. If the Division investigation reveals that the criminal conviction or adjudicated traffic violation is of such a nature that continued operation of a cab by said individual could constitute a danger to the public, the Division will conduct a hearing, after notice and allowing a full opportunity to be heard, to determine whether the individual's Hackney Operator's License should be revoked, suspended or otherwise limited. Failure to follow this rule will be sufficient grounds for revoking the certificate holder's certificate or the driver's operating permit.

L. Smoking by drivers or passengers shall not be allowed in a cab at any time.

M. Cab drivers shall not refuse a fare unless the driver fears for his or her personal safety. All passengers shall utilize safety restraints and provide and use child restraints when required by law. A cab driver must refuse a fare or terminate service if a passenger refuses to utilize safety restraints or to provide and use child restraints when required by law.

N. All cab drivers shall be dressed in a neat, clean and professional manner. Examples of clothing that may not be considered professional include sweat pants, collarless shirts with logos and cut-off jean shorts.

O. Solicitation and acceptance of a passenger must occur within the location named in the certificate; provided, that the vehicle's driver may, if and when solicited on the public highway at any location at which he or she is discharging a passenger, which location is not shown in the certificate, provide transportation from the location only to a place named in the certificate. This rule shall not prohibit a pre-arranged round trip requested by the passenger so long as all the following conditions are satisfied:

1. The round trip must begin in the certificate holder's authorized territory;

2. The round trip must be completed within a 24-hour period;

3. When a passenger requests a round trip, the driver shall make a notation on his log sheet next to the record of that initial trip, indicating the passenger's name and the time at which the driver is to return to retrieve the passenger for the prearranged return leg of the round trip;

4. The driver must give a passenger requesting a round trip a receipt, to be called a "round trip confirmation receipt," at the completion of the first leg of the round trip that clearly contains the following information:
a. the date, time and location of initial drop off,

b. the cab number,

c. the passenger's name,

d. the name and telephone number of the certificated cab company,

e. the driver's name, and

f. the time the cab is scheduled to return to complete the round trip service. The driver must retain a copy of this receipt;

5. The driver may only retrieve the passenger for such prearranged round trip at the location at which the passenger was originally discharged;

6. In the event that the original driver in such a pre-arranged round trip is unavailable to retrieve the passenger as arranged, the certificate holder may dispatch a different driver/cab, but the subsequent driver/cab must carry, attached to the driver log, a copy of the "round trip confirmation receipt" described in subparagraph § 2.7(N)(4) of this Part Certificate holders are not mandated to provide round trip services to their customers/passengers. However, if a certificate holder and/or driver agrees to provide a round trip cab service, as evidenced by the issuance of a "round trip confirmation receipt," that certificate holder shall be required to complete the round trip service, unless unable to complete the service for good cause.

P. No cab will have an after market tint affixed to the windows.

Q. An "On Duty" "Off Duty" card will be displayed in every taxicab to allow potential passengers to determine whether the taxicab is available for hire.

R. All cabs must be air-conditioned.

S. All cabs must have the following statement of Passengers' Rights posted in an easily viewable position in the passenger compartment of the cab:

1. As a cab rider, you have the right to:
a. Direct the destination and route used;

b. A courteous driver, who is dressed in a neat, clean and professional manner;

c. A driver who knows the major highways, routes, and streets in Rhode Island, and obeys all traffic laws;

d. Air conditioning;

e. Smoke-free and incense-free air;

f. A clean passenger seat and trunk area;

2. For more information, or to file a complaint, contact the R.I. Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, 89 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick, RI 02888.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Rhode Island may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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