Taxi rates may soon be standardized

A proposed ordinance by the Chapel Hill Police Department would improve safety regulations and standardize rates for all taxi companies operating in Chapel Hill.

The proposal was made at Chapel Hill Town Council meeting Monday night and comes in response to former Student Body President Mary Cooper’s petition to implement a flat-rate taxi service.

Student Body President Will Leimenstoll is continuing Cooper’s work in hopes of getting the ordinance passed.

“Currently there is no standard fare rate in Chapel Hill,” said Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue.

“We’re proposing a fare system that standardizes the drop charge and the mileage or zone fee.”

The proposed rates include an initial fee of $2.50 and a mileage fee of $2.50 for taxis with meters.

Taxis operating without a meter would charge $1.25 for each zone they enter. Zones are one-half mile long.

A flat-rate fee of $5 would apply to trips that do not go outside downtown Chapel Hill or UNC’s campus.

The current proposal does not include flat rates for other areas, but the council is discussing ways to provide reliable taxi services to students who live off campus.

“The way we designed the zone map, we could accommodate partnering with Carrboro,” Blue said.

Council member Lee Storrow said he would like to see more consistency in the proposed ordinance for students confused by mileage and zone fees.

“(For students) who have never taken a taxi before and have been out on a Friday or Saturday night, it can be a difficult experience,” he said.

“There are slightly different rules if it’s metered or if it’s a fare system.”

An education campaign in partnership with UNC would inform students about the proposed taxi fares, Blue said.

If the ordinance is passed, rates will be all-inclusive, and restrict taxi companies from charging additional fees. Taxi companies will be required to accept at least two major credit cards at no extra cost.

“If you don’t have cash on you, you still have the access to a taxi if you need it,” Leimenstoll said.

New rules could require semi-annual inspections by the police department to ensure the safety and sanitation of taxi services.

Proposed safety regulations for taxi services include drug testing drivers and additional criteria for driver’s permits. Driver’s permits will be valid for two years, as opposed to the current four.

If passed, the ordinance will also require taxi companies to maintain at least two vehicles. This ensures that there will always be a vehicle ready for service. Vehicles must also be equipped with air conditioning.

Five companies that currently offer only one vehicle and pose no safety issues could be punished under the proposed ordinance.

Chapel Hill Best Taxi is a single vehicle company that does not plan on purchasing an additional vehicle if the ordinance is passed.

Carol Lowndes, owner of Chapel Hill Best Taxi, said she is concerned with female students’ safety.

“They are not safe with the system we have,” she said.

The Town Council will consider the proposed ordinance at a public hearing on Sept. 12.

Contact the University Editor at university@dailytarheel.com.