Section 31-505. INDEPENDENT TAXICABS

 

505.1The Office shall not issue any new independent taxicab numbers.  Each taxicab vehicle in operation in the District shall be identified by the PVIN assigned to it pursuant to this title.

 

505.2Effective December 31, 2015, each independent taxicab owner (“applicant”) shall apply annually for a certificate of operating authority using a form provided by and in a manner established by the Office, for which the Office shall charge a fee of fifty dollars ($50), which shall include the following information and documentation:

 

(a)  The applicant’s name, residence and business addresses;

 

(b) The applicant’s home and mobile telephone numbers and either a fax number or an email address;

 

(c) The name of the taxicab company fleet or taxicab association with which the applicant is associated, if any;

 

(d) The make, model, year of manufacture, body type, and vehicle identification number of the applicant’s vehicle;

 

(e) The PVIN of the applicant’s vehicle;

(f) The odometer reading of the applicant’s vehicle;

 

(g) Whether the applicant’s vehicle is wheelchair accessible or other specially equipped;

(h) The type of fuel used by the applicant’s vehicle;

 

(i)Certification of tax compliance from the Internal Revenue Service for the prior tax year;

 

(j)A copy of Certificate of Occupancy for the applicant’s administrative office, if applicable;

 

(k)A statement by the applicant that the applicant will not discriminate against customers and will provide service throughout the District of Columbia;

 

(l)Clean Hands certification that the applicant has complied with the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue registration and filing requirements, including but not limited to filing the FR-500 Combined Business Tax Registration Application Form and the FR-500T, Taxicab and Limousine Supplemental Information Form;

 

(m)Verification that the applicant has applied for and is pre-approved for insurance that complies with District of Columbia insurance requirements and the requirements of Chapter 9 of this title; and

 

(n) The trade name and any design, insignia, logo, term, symbol, lettering, or other exterior object, pursuant to § 503 of this chapter.

 

505.3Each independent taxicab owner shall report to the Office any change in the information required by § 502.5 within three (3) business days. 

 

505.4Each independent taxicab shall be in compliance with the uniform color scheme requirements of §§ 503.1 and 503.3.  

 

505.5An independent taxicab number shall not be displayed on a vehicle that is not painted in the uniform color scheme, except where consistent with § 503.3 (d).

 

505.6Each independent taxicab shall have displayed on the exterior of each rear door the following markings, in the following order, centered, from top to bottom, which shall comply with § 505.12:

 

(a)The name of the taxicab owner, or the owner’s trade name or insignia;

 

(b)The word “taxicab” unless the word “cab” or “taxicab” is  part of the trade name or insignia;

 

(c)The vehicle’s independent taxicab number centered within a rectangular box, so as to be clearly visible from the rear; and

 

(d)A bona fide 24-hour customer service telephone number which is either a toll free number or a local number with a “202” area code. 

 

505.7Except as provided otherwise in this title, all information required by § 1010.14 shall be updated within three (3) business days. 

 

505.8All letters and numbers on independently operated taxicabs shall be Gothic in style, three (3) inches high, three-eighths (3/8) of an inch wide, with three-eighths (3/8) of an inch between each digit and the inside edge.  The letters and numbers shall be painted as follows on taxicabs not yet required by this title to be painted in the uniform color scheme:

 

(a)On taxicabs with the body painted black, the numbers, letters, and  boxes required by this section shall be white; and

 

(b)On taxicabs with the body painted white, the numbers, letters, and  boxes required by this section shall be black.

 

505.9No independent taxicab number issued for a taxicab vehicle may be transferred to another taxicab vehicle. 

 

505.10If an independent taxicab number assigned by the Office is surrendered by the owner or revoked by the Commission, the number shall be null and void and may not be reclaimed, reassigned, reissued, renewed, or redistributed by the Office.

 

505.11Each independent taxicab owner shall maintain a computerized data system capable of electronically submitting to the Office all information required by this Title and other applicable law.

 

505.12Each independent taxicab owner shall provide one or more safety devices for all its owned and associated vehicles which conforms to the equipment standards of § 603.8(n)(3), as specified in an administrative issuance, including a device which also provides for driver’s safety.

 

505.13Each independent taxicab owner shall maintain a website containing only current and accurate information about the company or association.

 

authority

Sections 8(b)(1)(D), (G), 14, and 20a of the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission Establishment Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-97; D.C. Official Code §§ 50-307(b)(1)(D), (G), 50-313 and 50-320(a) (2009 Repl. & 2012 Supp.)) (“Act”); and Section 12 of An Act making appropriations to provide for the expenses of the government of the District of Columbia for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1920, and for other purposes, approved July 11, 1919 (41 Stat. 104; D.C. Official Code § 50-371 (2009 Repl.)).

source

Final Rulemaking published at 37 DCR 3595, 3599 (June 1, 1990); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 40 DCR 4047, 4048 (June 25, 1993); and by Final Rulemaking published 45 DCR 8866, 8867 (December 11, 1998); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 52 DCR 6678 (July 15, 2005); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 853 (February 10, 2006); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 59 DCR 8549, 8554 (July 20, 2012); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 12387 (August 30, 2013); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 067 (January 1, 2016); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 14131 (November 18, 2016).