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D.C. Municipal Regulations (Last Updated: September 13, 2017) |
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Title 31. TAXICABS AND PUBLIC VEHICLES FOR HIRE |
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Chapter 31-20. FINES AND CIVIL PENALTIES |
Section 31-2000. FINES AND CIVIL PENALTIES
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2000.1The schedules of fines established in this section shall apply to all violations of Title 31. For violations of any provision of Title 31 for which a civil fine is not specified, the fine shall be $25 for operators and $100 for entities.
2000.2All fines enumerated in § 2000.8 shall be doubled for the second violation, and tripled for the third and any subsequent violation within any twenty four (24) month period. All fines in § 2000.8 are maximum amounts to be assessed based upon the circumstances.
2000.3A District enforcement official shall have discretion to issue a warning in lieu of a fine for any first violation in Schedule 4.
2000.4The Office shall have discretion to offer an operator the operator’s choice of a notice of proposed suspension of the operator’s license in lieu of a scheduled fine for any infraction enumerated in Schedule 4, as follows:
(a)Where the fine exceeds two hundred fifty dollars ($250): a proposed suspension of the operator’s license for seven (7) days; and
(b)Where the fine is two hundred fifty dollars ($250) or less: a proposed suspension of the operator’s license for two (2) days.
2000.5 The Office may through an administrative issuance establish procedures regarding offers of proposed suspensions under § 2000.4, including, but not limited to, the time within which an operator must respond to an offer of a proposed suspension in lieu of a fine.
2000.6An operator shall not waive any appeal rights under this title or under the APA by accepting an offer of a proposed suspension in lieu of a fine under § 2000.4.
2000.7 Manifest violations under § 823 including: failure to have in an approved form; failure to have possession of a manifest; failure to properly complete and maintain a manifest; and failure to provide a manifest to District enforcement official, are subject to a letter of reprimand for the first infraction in a twenty-four (24)-month period.
2000.8The schedules of fines for civil infractions under Title 31 are established as follows:
Schedule 1
Fines For Entities
Maximum Fines Based On Circumstances
Digital Dispatch Services
- Failure to transmit one percent (1%) of gross receipts to OCFO
(§ 1604.7)
- Failure to provide required certification (§ 1605.4(e))
$25,000 per day
Taximeter Businesses
- Fraud by taximeter business (§ 1313)
- Bribery by taximeter business (§ 1317.1)
- Acceptance of bribe by taximeter business (§ 1317.3)
$25,000
Dome Light Installation Businesses
- Fraud (§ 1513)
- Unlawful Activities (§ 1514)
- Bribery of Commission (§ 1517.1)
- Acceptance of bribe (§ 1517.3)
$25,000 and business license revocation
Dome Light Installation Businesses
- Threats, harassment, and abuse (§ 1518)
$10,000 and business license revocation
Dome Light Installation Businesses
- Failure to report (§ 1517.2)
- Failure to notify Commission (§ 1517.4)
$10,000
Dome Light Installation Businesses
- Failure to notify Commission (§ 1507.1)
- Unauthorized work (§ 1525)
$5,000
Private Sedan Businesses
- Failure to maintain adequate insurance coverage (§ 1905)
$25,000 per day
Taximeter Businesses
- Failure to report to Commission acceptance of unauthorized gratuity or bribe (§ 1317.2)
$10,000
Taximeter Businesses
- Allowing the registration of an operator where the private sedan business knew or should have known the operator was ineligible for registration (§ 1903.16)
- Failure to conduct background check (§ 1903.16)
$7,500
Taximeter Businesses
- Failure by taximeter business to notify Commission of change in ownership (§ 1307.1)
$5,000
Private Sedan Businesses
Failure of a private sedan business to:
- Maintain a required zero tolerance policy (§§ 1903.9, 1903.11)
- Investigate an alleged violation of these rules by a passenger (§ 1903.10)
- Suspend an operator when required to do so under applicable law or
regulation (§ 1903.10)
- Maintain adequate business records (§ 1903.15)
- Maintain a current and accurate registration of operators and vehicles associated with the business (§ 1903.15)
- Prevent a private sedan operator from logging into the app of the private sedan business’s associate or affiliated digital dispatch service while the operator is suspended or after s/he has been terminated (§ 1906.4)
- Notify the Office upon suspension or termination of an operator (§ 1903.20)
- Providing service while under the influence of intoxicants (§ 1906.5)
- Maintain 24/7/365 communication for enforcement and compliance purposes (§ 1903.21)
- Conduct an appropriate motor vehicle safety inspection or failure to verify that such an inspection has been completed (§ 1903.4)
$3,000
Schedule 2
Fines For Entities And Owners
Maximum Fines Based On Circumstances
Fraudulent Actions
Company allowing or inducing an individual to deface, alter, or remove a document posted pursuant to (§ 714.3)
$2,500
Payment Service Providers (Chapter 4)
Failure to do any of the following:
- Submit electronic trip data to the TCIS every twenty-four (24) hours;
- Verify operator credentials through a required login process;
- Submit updated vehicle and operator inventories to the TCIS every twenty-four (24) hours;
- Pay each taxicab company or independent owner with which it is associated the portion of such PSP's revenue to which the taxicab company or independent owner is entitled within twenty-four (24) hours or one (1) business day of when such revenue is received by the PSP;
- Ensure that the passenger surcharge is collected and paid to the District for each trip;
- Maintain integration
$1,000
Per occurrence;
Per day for failure to maintain integration
Taximeter Business Violations
- Unauthorized work (§ 1322)
$5,000
Taximeter Business Violations
- Failure to notify Commission of conviction or license suspension/revocation (§§ 1315, 1316)
- Failure to notify Commission of occurrences specified in §§ 1322, 1324
- Defective certification/inspection/repair work (§§ 1322, 1324)
- Inspection without certification or inspection (§ 1324)
$1,000
Digital Dispatch Services
- Failure to ensure private sedan operator who is suspended or terminated is unable to log into app (§ 1604.8)
- Failure to provide required certification (§ 1605.4)
$2,500 per day
Dome Light Installation Businesses
- Failure to notify (§§ 1515, 1516, 1522)
- Installation without inspection (§ 1524)
- Defective certification/inspection (§ 1526)
- Requiring repair work (§ 1527)
$1,000
Any violation of Chapter 16 not specifically enumerated
$1,000
Dome Light Installation Businesses
- Change in fee schedule without notification (§ 1509)
- Installation, adjustment, correction or repair of dome light outside of premises of licensed dome light installation business (§ 1510.3)
- Failure to cooperate with Commission (§ 1519)
- Work by Non-Certified Technician (§ 1520)
- Sale of unapproved dome light for installation on a taxicab licensed by DCTC (§ 1529)
$500
Dome Light Installation Businesses
- Failure to pay biannual license fee
$500 and suspension after 30 days overdue
False Dispatch (§ 1404.2)
$500
Unauthorized or unlicensed provision of L-class service (Chapter 12)
$500
Violations not otherwise specified by LCS Organizations (Chapter 12)
$500
Schedule 3
Fines For Entities, Owners, and Operators
Maximum Fines Based On Circumstances
Fraudulent actions
- Falsifying or tampering with manifest (§ 823)
- Displaying, possessing, or presenting a fraudulent copy or altered
government issued operator identification (Face) card or vehicle inspection (DCTC) card (§ 814.7)
- Tampering with meter or meter seals (§ 1323)
- Knowingly operating with non-functioning meter or operating without a meter
- Improperly sealed meter (§ 1321)
$500
License, Registration, and Insurance
- Unlicensed District resident or non-resident operator (§ 828)
- Operating without a valid Face card or permitting operation without possession of a valid Face card (§ 814)
- Logging into a private vehicle for hire app if known that the app is not lawfully in operation (§ 1906.4)
- Operating without insurance (§ 1905)
- Fail to timely renew license (LCS vehicle owner) (§ 1202.9)
- Providing black car service without license (§1401.2)
$500
Operating without a special event vehicle for hire permit (§ 1016)
$500
Taximeter Business (Chapter 13)
- Installation, adjustment, correction, calibration, or repair of taximeter outside of premises of licensed taximeter business
- Change in fee schedule without notification
- Failure to pay biannual license fee
- Unlicensed business activity
- Failure to cooperate with Commission
- Work by non-certified technician
$500
Failure to comply with compliance order (§ 702)
$500
Violations of Chapter 18 by entities or owners (wheelchair accessible paratransit taxicab service)
$500
Failure to timely renew vehicle license (§ 501)
$500
Failure to report an accident to insurance company within a timely manner or to the Office of Taxicabs within 3 business days (§ 906)
$500
- Use, threaten, or attempt physical force (§§ 817.1 and 1906.2)
- Threatening, harassing, or engaging in abusive conduct toward a District enforcement official (§ 817)
- to haul/discrimination (§§ 818, 819.4)
- Private vehicle-for-hire operator using taxicab stand (§ 1906.6)
- Accepting a street hail (§ 1906.7)
$500
Operating with off size wheels or tires (Chapter 6)
$500
Operating without meter or with nonfunctional meter (§ 602)
$500
Transport DC violations by companies not otherwise specified (§ 1808.2)
$500
Failure to decommission public vehicle-for-hire when operating under exclusive time contract (§ 800)
$500
Digital Dispatch Service Violations not specified by Chapter 16 (§ 1607)
$500
- Unlawful discrimination by black car operator (§ 1404)
- Conduct preventing surcharge from being collected (§ 1404)
$500
Exclusion by a keeper or proprietor of a licensed hotel of District-license taxicab operator from picking a passenger at a taxicab stand or other location where taxicabs are regularly allowed; exclusion of DCTC licensed taxicab by proprietor, owner, or agent (§ 821)
$300
Dome Light Installation Businesses
- Unlicensed business activity (§ 1501)
- Failure to comply with signage requirements (§ 1512)
- Overcharge (§ 1528)
$250
Black Car Violations (§ 1402)
- Failure to cooperate with Commission
- Failure to comply with documentation requirements
- Unlawful gratuity
$100
Schedule 4
Fines for Owners and Operators
Maximum Fines Based On Circumstances
Violations of Chapter 18 by operators (wheelchair accessible paratransit taxicab service)
$250
Smoking while transporting passengers (§ 807.1)
$250
Failure to render service to a Transport DC passenger (§ 1806.18)
$250
Failure by a private sedan operator to:
- Display trade address while providing service (§ 610.1)
- Maintain proof of insurance (§ 1904.1)
- Notify the Office within 3 business days where there has been an accident accompanied by the loss of human life or by serious personal injury (§ 1904.1)
- Charge an unlawful fare or require an unlawful gratuity (§ 1604.4)
$250
Violations of Chapter 6 (Taxicab Parts and Equipment)
$250
Taximeter business violations (Chapter 13)
- Failure to comply with signage requirements
- Overcharge
- Failure to keep appropriate records
$250 for first two violations; $100 for recordkeeping violations
Defective speedometer/odometer or operating without a meter (§§ 601.7 & 608)
$250
Operating with an expired inspection sticker (Chapter 6)
$150
Cruising Lights (Chapter 8)
- Failure to have
- Broken
- Failure to use properly
$150 for failure to have
$50 for failure to use properly or broken
Improperly operating heating or A/C system (§ 601)
$125
Transport D.C. (CAPS-DC)
Any violation of Chapter 18
$100
Service Animal violations (§ 801.10)
$100
Failure to:
- Display current inspection sticker or operate with valid sticker (Chapter 6)
- Display face card (§ 814)
- Report and deliver property left in vehicle to the Office of Taxicabs (§ 602)
- Operate safe vehicle (§ 608)
- Pick up or drop off at designated taxi or discharge stand (shared riding) (§§ 808.2 and 803.3)
- Maintain correct/current information (§ 822.1)
- Report accident to insurance carrier within specified time (§ 906)
- Provide proof of insurance (§ 900.12)
$100
Improper Use of “On Call” or “Off Duty” Signs (§ 820)
$100
Asking for destination (§ 819.9)
$100
- Failure to report for inspection (Chapter 8)
- Failure to replace lost/mutilated sticker
- Failure to display current sticker
$75
Failure to Obey Compliance Order (§ 702)
$50
Illegal Shared Ride (§ 808)
$50
Loitering/Limousine parked on hack stand (§ 821)
$50