CHAPTER 354
FORMERLY
SENATE BILL NO. 236
AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 21, TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TAXICABS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Two-thirds of all members elected to each House thereof concurring therein):
Section 1. Amend Chapter 21, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by striking in its entirety Subchapter VI and by inserting in lieu thereof a new Subchapter VI to read as follows:
"SUBCHAPTER VI - TAXICABS §2171. Operation of Unregistered Taxicab; Exception
No person shall drive or move, nor shall any person, being the owner of a taxicab, knowingly permit to be driven or moved upon any highway, any taxicab which is not registered as a taxicab and for which a certificate of title has not been issued or applied for, or for which current taxicab registration plates have not been issued, as provided in this title, or for which the appropriate fees have not been paid when and as required by this Chapter, except that when application accompanied by the proper fee has been made for taxicab registration and certificate of title for a vehicle, it may be operated temporarily pending complete registration upon displaying a duplicate application duly verified or other evidence of such application; or otherwise under rules and regulations promulgated by the Department.
§2172. Number and Registration Plates
(a) The Department shall furnish for each vehicle registered as a taxicab one number plate as hereinafter provided. Upon the termination of the lawful use of any such plates, they shall be returned to the Department.
(b) The number plate shall have displayed thereon the taxicab registration number assigned to the vehicle and the name of this State, which may be abbreviated. Each number plate shall bear a distinctive word, letter or marking which shall be designated by the Department for the purpose of identifying taxicabs.
§2173. Marking of Taxicabs
Every motor vehicle which is at any time used as a taxicab or which is intended to be used as a taxicab on any highway shall have painted thereupon in distinctive color and shall at all times bear the word 'TAXI', in letters having height of at least four inches and a width of at least one inch. The word 'TAXP shall appear on the front and rear of the body of the taxicab, and shall be so located that it shall be plainly visible from a height of four feet.
§2174. Penalties
(a) Whoever violates this Subchapter shall for the first offense be fined not less than $25 nor more than $100 or imprisoned not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days or both. For each subsequent like offense he shall be fined not less then $100 nor more than $200 or imprisoned not less than 90 days nor more than 6 months or both."
Approved July 10, 1980.