Section 94 in The Bihar Motor Vehicles Rules, 1992
94. Constructional requirement of meters.
(1)Method of indicating fare etc. - Every meter shall be so constructed (i) indicate in suitable slots upon the dial the amount of fare calculated by time and/or in kilometers and (ii) to have a flag, the position of the flag showing whether or not the meter is in action (i.e. 'Hired' or 'For hire') or stopped.(2)Information to be given in slots.The nature of the information given in each slot, i.e. fare, position of flag and extra charges shall be indicated by suitable wording immediately above or below the slot. The words or signs denoting rupees and paise shall be placed immediately above, below or beside the appropriate disc or drum positions.(3)Letters and wording. - (i) The letters and figures shown in the slots shall be of a size which the State Transport Commissioner considers to be reasonable and shall be so placed as to be easily readable by the hirer.(ii)All letters and figures required to be shown on the meter and gearboxes shall be of such size, form and colour as would render them clearly legible.(4)Flag. - The flag of the meter shall be suitable strength and shall bear the words 'For Hire' in the white letters of plain book type at least 50 millimetres in height and a proportionate thickness on a red coloured ground so that they may be easily read from a distance. The arm or lever which carries the flag shall be of such length that when it is kept vertical the lower edge of the flag is above the highest part of the meter.(5)Mechanism and operation. - The mechanism of the meter shall be so designed that:-(a)(i)the words 'For Hire' are indicated in the appropriate slot when the flag arm is vertical,(ii)the word 'Hired' is indicated when the arm has been rotated through 130 degrees and the time and distance gearing are in engagement,(iii)the word 'stopped' is indicated when the arm is arrested in horizontal position at 270 degrees.(b)the flag arm cannot normally remain in any position other than the three positions mentioned in clause (a),(c)The fare calculated by time ceases to be recorded when the flag is in the 'stopped' position,(d)the fare calculated by distance is recorded on the meter if the motor cab is driven with the flag in the 'stopped' position,(e)the fare recorded is not obscured when the flag is in the 'Hired' or 'stopped' position,(f)it is not possible (i) to move the flag back from the "Hired1 position to 'From Hire' position or (ii) to return the flag from 'stopped' position to 'Hired, position,(g)when the flag arm is raised to a vertical position (i.e. the 'For Hire' position), the previous record of fare is cleared and the various mechanisms are brought to their initial positions,(h)before the flag can again be rotated, the full vertical position shall be reached, and a positive stop made thereto ensure that the mechanism comes to rest and that the fare indication is obscured by a shutter,(i)the mechanism for recording time and distance cannot be engaged disengaged except by the normal sequence of operation of the flag arm referred to in clauses (a) and (f), and(j)the operation of the shutter for obscuring the fare synchronises with the engaging and disengaging of the time and distance mechanism of the meter.(6)Audible warning. - Every meter shall be so constructed that it gives audible warning by means of a suitable bell or going whenever the driver moves the lever which operates the recording mechanism.(7)Sealing. - (a) Every meter shall be so made as to be capable of being sealed by inset lead scale after the meter has been tested and approved. The holes or recesses for the scale shall be 3 millimetres deep and shall taper gradually in diameter from at least 18 millimetres at the bottom to 16 millimetres at the top.(b)When the gear which operates the distance recording apparatus is not contained in the main part of the machine, the case of cover enclosing it shall be so made that it may be sealed either by the inset or wired on type of seal.(c)All meter cable connections shall be so made as to be capable of being sealed by means of inset or wired on lead seals, to prevent improper removal.(8)Driving mechanism. - The mechanism driving the distance recording gearing of meters shall be fitted not to the driving wheels of a motor cab, but to the non-driving wheels of the chassis gear-box attached to the cab.(9)Plates. - (a) A plate of suitable size and pattern shall be attached to the meter or its gear-box in such a manner that it cannot be removed without either removing the seals affixed by the testing institute of opening the meter or the gearbox. The plate shall bear raised or sunken words, or figure denoting the measurement of the effective circumstances of the wheel by which the meter will be driven and by which its action and accuracy may be tested.(b)The measurements shown on the plate shall be in accordance with the circumstances of the wheels of minimum size approved for the cab and normally attached thereto.Explanation. - The effective circumstance of the cab wheel to which the meter transmission gearing is attached and by which the meter is driven is the distance which the cab moves forward for one complete revolution of the wheel and may be measured by making a mark on the tyre of the wheel where it touches the ground and punishing the motor cab in a straight line until this mark is again in contact with the ground, the motor cab being in its normal working condition and carrying two passengers.
