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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 31-8. OPERATING RULES FOR PUBLIC VEHICLES-FOR-HIRE |
Section 31-828. RECIPROCITY WITH SURROUNDING JURISDICTIONS
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828.1Public vehicle for hire operators and vehicles properly licensed in jurisdictions outside of the District of Columbia, including but not limited to Arlington County, Fairfax County, or the City of Alexandria in Virginia or Montgomery County and Prince George’s County in Maryland may pick up passengers in the District for transport directly to their respective jurisdiction of licensure only under the following circumstances:
(a)Public vehicles for hire licensed outside of the District of Columbia will be permitted to enter the District of Columbia to pick up passengers on a prearranged basis. Public vehicles for hire shall pick up passengers on a prearranged basis only. Street hails and the use of taxicab stands is strictly prohibited;
(b)Public vehicles for hire licensed outside of the District of Columbia and entering the District of Columbia for the purpose of discharging passengers may, at the destination of the discharged passenger(s), pick up and directly transport passengers to the jurisdiction where such taxicabs are licensed. Street hails and the use of taxicab stands is strictly prohibited;
(c)Public vehicles for hire licensed outside of the District of Columbia and entering the District of Columbia for the purpose of discharging passengers are not permitted to transport passengers within the District of Columbia;
(d)Public vehicles for hire licensed outside of the District of Columbia and entering the District of Columbia for the discharge of passengers shall return immediately and directly to their respective jurisdiction of licensure without cruising, parking, loitering, or soliciting passengers in the District; and
(e)Dispatchers (including electronic, internet and other computer-based applications and services) shall only dispatch an operator of a public vehicle for hire licensed outside of the District of Columbia to pick up in the District of Columbia while the driver is in his or her licensing jurisdiction. The dispatching of a public vehicle for hire unlicensed in the District, while in the District to another District location is strictly prohibited.
828.2A public vehicle for hire vehicle owner and operator shall ensure that a manifest entry of each trip authorized by § 828.1 is entered prior to the start of the trip in a log carried in the vehicle. The manifest entry of each trip shall be written legibly in ink, or maintained in an electronic device which can print out a copy when requested, and include the following information:
(a)The passenger’s name and address of pick-up;
(b)The time of scheduled pick-up of passenger;
(c)The destination of the passenger;
(d)The time of completion of the trip; and
(e)The amount of the fare.
828.3For prearranged and dispatched trips the information required by §§ 828.2(a) through (c) shall be recorded in the manifest prior to the public vehicle for hire entering the District.
828.4The manifest required by § 828.2 shall be kept in the vehicle during trips and shall be subject to inspection by any Hack Inspector, law enforcement official, or other person authorized by the Commission. Failure to present such a manifest maintained in the manner prescribed by § 828.2 when requested by a Hack Inspector, law enforcement official, or other person authorized by the Commission shall be presumptive evidence of unlicensed operation in violation of the Commission's rules, including failure to obey, unlicensed operator (non-resident), and unlicensed vehicle (non-resident).
828.5The manifest required by § 828.2 shall be maintained and available for a period of two (2) years. The manifest shall be provided to the Commission upon request and to any Hack Inspector, law enforcement official, or other person authorized by the Commission.
828.6A public vehicle for hire owner is responsible for each driver who operates his or her vehicle as his or her agent and acknowledges that his or her driver may accept service of notices of infractions or summonses from a Hack Inspector, law enforcement official, or other person authorized by the Commission. Such acceptance shall accomplish service of process to the vehicle owner.
828.7A public vehicle for hire not properly licensed to operate in the District or operated in noncompliance with this section may be booted, impounded, and towed.
828.8An individual who has been issued a public vehicle-for-hire license by a jurisdiction within the Washington Metropolitan Area other than the District ("non-District operator"), or any unlicensed individual, who violates a provision of this section is subject to fine and penalty for unlicensed operator (non-resident) and unlicensed vehicle (non-resident) and is subject to the fine and penalty set forth in Chapter 20, impoundment of the vehicle or, upon conviction, imprisonment for not more than ninety (90) days pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 47-2846. A non-District operator whose privilege to operate in the District within the limited authority provided by this section has been suspended or revoked under § 710 shall be considered an unlicensed operator who is operating an unlicensed vehicle.
828.9For the purposes of this section, the term:
(a)“Prearranged” means the passenger has requested the public vehicle for hire operator for transport or has asked an on-duty employee of a District-licensed hotel operator to make such a request.
(b)“Soliciting” means an effort made to obtain a passenger or passengers in a manner that is in violation of §§ 819.1 and 819.2.
(c)“Loitering” also includes the failure of a driver, while in service, to proceed directly to the prearranged destination to service a trip permitted by this section or return directly to his or her licensing jurisdiction.