Frequently Asked Questions

HACKNEY DRIVER LICENSES:

How do I obtain a license to drive a taxicab in Cambridge?

An applicant must be a licensed Massachusetts Driver for at least one year and must appear with that license at the License Commission Office, 831 Massachusetts Avenue, First Floor, any weekday between 8:30 and 4:30. At that time, you will pay a ten-dollar fee and authorize the License Commission Hackney Officer to obtain both your driving record and criminal record (CORI). We will register you to attend the next available hackney driver's school, which is held once monthly, over a period of three evenings during the same week. On the first night of school, the applicant pays the school administrator the fifty-dollar tuition fee in cash or money order. After attending all three nights of class, the applicant will be registered to take the city administered hackney driver's exam. It is given at the License Commission Office. If the applicant passes both parts of the exam and the criminal and driving record are satisfactory according to our hackney rules and regulations, a one-year license will be granted. The cost of the one-year license is $28.00. The applicant must find a job in the Cambridge taxicab industry before picking up the license at our office.

Who can I speak to regarding a noise problem?

In the License Commission Office, the Chief Licensing Investigator is the person responsible for investigating noise complaints. However, there are some noise complaints over which we do not have jurisdiction. These include, but are not limited to, tenant to tenant noise within the same building; barking dogs, which are under the jurisdiction of the Animal Control Commission (617) 349-4376; automobile and house alarms which are under the jurisdiction of the Police Department (617) 349-3300 and church bells, which are exempt from the noise ordinance. Construction noise should be reported to the Inspectional Services Department at (617) 349-6100. If it is a complaint that we are able to investigate, you will be asked to fill out a License Commission complaint form. You can obtain a copy of our vending licenses.

How do I file a complaint against a taxicab driver?

You can file a complaint against a driver of a Cambridge licensed taxicab with our office. Contact our Hackney Police Officer at 617 349-6146 for a complaint form or get one on-line and mail it back to our office. It should be noted here that all Cambridge Taxicabs are required to have the Taxicab License Number (Medallion) in the following locations: inside the cab on the right rear passenger's window, on the rate cards that are attached to either the partition or the dashboard; the license number is also found on the on the rear of the outside of the cab on the Medallion plate and on both rear quarter panels. That number, in addition to the date and the time the incident occurred, is extremely important in expediting our investigation.

How do I file a complaint against a licensed establishment?

You can file a complaint at our office against any establishment licensed by this office or any establishment that should be licensed by this office but may have opened without proper licensing. Contact our front office staff at (617) 349-6140 for a complaint form or get one on-line and mail it back to our office. Once it is received by our office, it will be reviewed by our Executive Officer and assigned to an investigator. Our investigator will contact you.

How do I apply for a one-day alcohol license?

The following link will explain the process and requirements for applying for this type of license. You should contact our front office at 617 349-6140 if you have any additional questions.

How do I apply for a one-day entertainment license?

The following link will explain the process and requirements for applying for this license. You should contact our front office at 617 349-6140 if you have any additional questions.

What is the procedure for filing an application with the Pole and Conduit Commission?

Procedures for Pole and Conduit applications can be found at: http://www.ci.cambridge.ma.us/~License/permitsandlicenses/pole.html . Questions on filing deadlines, paperwork, etc., should be addressed to Nancy Oates at 617 349-6141.

I want to review a file. What are your viewing hours and how much do you charge for copies of documents?

License Commission file viewing hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. We charge twenty cents per document copied.

HOW DO I RENEW MY LICENSE TO DRIVE A TAXICAB IN CAMBRIDGE? WHAT IS THE FEE?

The licensed Hackney driver must report to the License Commission with current Hackney and Massachusetts Driver's License and file a request for both criminal and driving records. At this time, the licensee pays the $10.00 fee. This request takes approximately three to five weeks to process. If the criminal and driving record checks are deemed satisfactory, a one year ($28.00) or three year ($66.00) license can be issued.

IS THERE A RENEWAL GRACE PERIOD FOR HACKNEY DRIVER'S LICENSES?

Yes. A Hackney Driver has up to three months from the date of expiration to renew their license. However, if the driver fails to renew the hackney license on time, the licensee cannot operate a taxicab until the license is renewed. If the license is not renewed within the three month period, the licensee must retake and pass the hackney driver's test before the license can be renewed. In cases where it has been more than a year, the applicant has to attend Hackney school.

HOW DO I FILE A TAXI/HACKNEY COMPLAINT?

Two ways:

  1. Fill out and mail in the on-line complaint form (PDF).
  2. Call 617.349.6146, leave your name and address, and request that a compliant form be sent to you.

TAXI FARES:

RATE INFORMATION (not including hotel rates)

METER RATE UNDER 10 MILES $1.95 for the initial drop and $.40 cents for each 1/8 mile or = $4.75 for 1st mile & $3.20 each additional mile. The meter shall be used on all fares under 10 miles and for all neighborhoods in Boston.
WAITING TIME Upon arrival at the appointed time and place, the meter may be activated after a five (5) minute wait. Drivers arriving early on a time call must wait until time +5 minutes before activating meter.
10 MILES OR MORE Refer to City of Cambridge Flat Rate Book. If passenger returns, the fare is one half (1/2) the outbound amount plus any waiting time. Enter odometer readings before and after on the waybill.
HOURLY RATE $28.00 per hour. This includes waiting time when the meter is not used. Pro rate cost for less than 1 hour by 15 minute increments ($7.00)
COUPONS One coupon for fare up to $6.50. Two coupons for fare over $6.50. Maximum two (2) coupons per trip. Coupon = $2.25 each.
REQUEST FOR A STATION WAGON "By agreement prior to departure". An additional $6.00 when a fare specifically requests a station wagon to transport luggage or other personal property which would not ordinarily fit into the trunk of a sedan. There shall be no surcharge to transport a passenger's wheelchair.
LUGGAGE A minimum of $.50 for each piece of luggage placed into the vehicle trunk by the driver.
TOLL COST The driver shall be reimbursed for all TUNNEL, BRIDGE and TURNPIKE TOLLS for both directions if they are used outbound, EXCEPT CAMBRIDGE HOTELS TO AIRPORT RUNS. See Hotel Rates.

HOTEL RATES:

HOTEL TO AIRPORT FLAT RATES
Tolls $4.50 and a 15% gratuity included. Price per party, not per person
HOTEL NAME NON RUSH See below RUSH
ROYAL SONESTA $ 24.25 $ 27.75
HOTEL MARLOWE    24.50    27.75
MARRIOTT/RESIDENCE INN    25.50    29.25
KENDALL HOTEL    25.50    29.25
HAMPTON INN    25.50    29.25
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS    25.50    29.25
RADISSON    30.50    33.25
HYATT REGENCY    30.50    33.25
UNIVERSITY PARK HOTEL    30.50    33.25
INN AT HARVARD    37.25    40.50
SHERATON COMMANDER    37.25    40.50
THE CHARLES HOTEL    37.25    40.50
HARVARD SQ. HOTEL    37.25    40.50
BEST WESTERN    46.25    50.25
GATEWAY INN    46.25    52.50
There is a $2.00 charge for each terminal (A,B,C,D,E) after the first stop. Rush Hours are 7 - 9 am and 3:30 - 6:30 pm, week days only.
ADDITIONAL $6.00 CHARGE FOR STATION WAGON, WHEN REQUESTED. ADDITIONAL $.50 CHARGE PER PIECE OF LUGGAGE, WHEN HANDLED BY DRIVER.
RATES REFER TO A COMPLETE PARTY AND ARE NOT TO BE CHARGED PER PERSON. IF ANY QUESTIONS, CALL CAMBRIDGE HACKNEY 617-349-6140.


POLE AND CONDUIT:

ANSWERS TO THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED POLE AND CONDUIT QUESTIONS

  • Meetings are held every third Thursday of each month and last from one to three hours
  • The cost of an application and permit is $110. per street for residential;$180. for commercial
  • The Pole and Conduit Commissioners are:
    • Benjamin Barnes, License Chairman
    • George Fernandes, City Electrician
    • William Dwyer, Supt. of Streets
    • If a pole or conduit is to be instaolled, changed, leased or moved for telephone, electric or cable, the following companies can help:
      • Bell Atlantic
      • AT&T
      • ComElectric
    • The deadline for the filing fee is two weeks prior to the hearing date, by noon
    • Once heard and approved, the permits last six months
    • The agency applying for the permits must be the agency who is going to own/maintain the conduit. They must be DigSafe approved if there is going to be digging

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