CHAPTER 244a
TAXICABS

      Sec. 13b-96. (Formerly Sec. 16-319). Operation under jurisdiction of Department of Transportation. (a) Each person, association, limited liability company or corporation owning or operating a taxicab is declared a common carrier and subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation. The Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to prescribe adequate service and reasonable rates and charges. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54 for the purpose of establishing fares, service, operation and equipment as it deems necessary for the convenience, protection and safety of passengers and the public.

      (b) The rates and charges established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to any person, association, or corporation (1) operating a taxicab engaged in the transportation of passengers for hire pursuant to a contract with, or a lower tier contract for, any federal, state or municipal agency, (2) certified pursuant to section 13b-97 prior to May 22, 1998, and (3) registered pursuant to section 13b-99 prior to May 22, 1998.

      (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section or any regulation adopted pursuant to said subsection (a) concerning wheelchair accessibility requirements for motor vehicles, any motor vehicle in compliance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act 42 USC 12101 and the registration requirements of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles may be used to provide taxicab service for persons requiring such wheelchair accessibility.

      (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section or any regulation adopted pursuant to said subsection (a) concerning wheel base requirements, any sedan or station wagon type vehicle powered by a clean alternative fuel and having a wheel base of not less than one hundred two inches may be used to provide taxicab service.

      (1949 Rev., S. 5717; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 162, 610; P.A. 79-610, S. 19; P.A. 97-304, S. 22, 31; P.A. 98-91, S. 6, 9; P.A. 02-123, S. 6; P.A. 09-186, S. 10.)

      History: P.A. 75-486 substituted "public utilities control authority" for "commission" i.e. public utilities commission, and "authority" for "commission" thereafter, effective December 1, 1975; P.A. 77-614 replaced "public utilities control authority" with "division of public utility control within the department of business regulation", effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-610 substituted "department of transportation" for foregoing designation and "department" for "division"; in 1981 Sec. 16-319 transferred to Sec. 13b-96; P.A. 97-304 extended provisions to limited liability companies, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-91 amended Subsec. (a) to provide authority for the commissioner to adopt regulations and added Subsec. (b) prohibiting the rates and charges established pursuant to Subsec. (a) to apply to certified and registered persons operating a taxicab engaged in the transportation of passengers for hire pursuant to a governmental contract, effective May 22, 1998; P.A. 02-123 amended Subsec. (a) to allow any sedan or station wagon type vehicle powered by a clean alternative fuel with a wheel base of at least 102 inches to be used to provide taxicab service, effective June 7, 2002; P.A. 09-186 redesignated provision in Subsec. (a) authorizing vehicles powered by alternative fuel and having wheel base not less than 102" to provide taxicab service as Subsec. (d) and added Subsec. (c) authorizing use of any motor vehicle in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act and state motor vehicle registration requirements to provide taxicab service for persons requiring wheelchair accessibility.

      Sec. 13b-99. (Formerly Sec. 16-322). Registration. Lighting. Licensing. Inspection. Regulations. (a) Upon the granting of a certificate of public convenience and necessity as provided in section 13b-97, the holder thereof may apply to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles for the registration of any taxicab of which he is the owner or lessee and which is to be used as specified in such certificate, and the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall have jurisdiction over the registration of any taxicab and its exterior lighting equipment and over the licensing of its operator.

      (b) Each such taxicab shall be inspected, biennially, at the time of renewal of registration of such taxicab, by a repairer or limited repairer licensed and authorized by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to perform such inspections. The commissioner shall set a fee for such an inspection.

      (c) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to carry out the purposes of this section.

      (1949 Rev., S. 5720; P.A. 90-105; P.A. 97-304, S. 24, 31; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 35; P.A. 09-187, S. 26.)

      History: In 1981 Sec. 16-322 transferred to Sec. 13b-99; P.A. 90-105 added a new Subsec. (b) requiring taxicabs to be inspected annually, a new Subsec. (c) requiring the commissioner to publish a list of persons holding a class B license which has been suspended and a new Subsec. (d) requiring the commissioner to adopt regulations; P.A. 97-304 amended Subsec. (c) to require list to be mailed to each limited liability company operating a taxicab, effective July 1, 1997; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 amended Subsec. (b) to change inspection of taxicab from semiannually to biennially at time of registration renewal, effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 09-187 deleted former Subsec. (c) re publication and mailing of list of persons holding a class B license that has been suspended and redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (c), effective July 8, 2009.