Section 31-9901. DEFINITIONS


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    9901.1For the purposes of this title, the following words and terms shall have the meanings ascribed:

     

    “Accessible Vehicle Identification” – an operator’s license that allows its bearer to operate a wheelchair accessible vehicle and any other type or class of public vehicle-for-hire.

     

    “Act” - the District of Columbia Taxicab Establishment Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-97; D.C. Official Code §§ 50-301 et seq. (2012 Repl. & 2013 Supp.).

     

    “Active status” – a status in which an operator or vehicle participates in providing service without a cessation of any nature or duration, or without an interruption of more than ten (10) calendar days.

     

    “ADA” – the Americans with Disabilities Act as defined in this chapter. 

     

    “Administrative Procedure Act” - The District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act, effective October 8, 1975, (D.C. Law 1-19; D.C. Official Code §§ 2-502 et seq. (2012 Repl. & 2013 Supp.)).

     

    “Affiliated” - Common ownership.

     

    “Americans with Disabilities Act” – the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (104 Stat. 328; 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq.). 

     

    “App”- an application, as defined in this chapter.

     

    “Application” – a piece of software designed to fulfill a particular purpose, which is downloadable by a user to a mobile device, such as a tablet or smartphone.  For purposes of this title, unless otherwise stated, an app’s purpose shall be assumed to be the digital dispatch of, or the digital dispatch and digital payment of, trips by vehicles-for-hire. 

     

    “Associated” - voluntarily related through employment, contract, joint venture, ownership, agency or other legal affiliation.  For the purposes of this chapter, an association not in writing shall be ineffective for compliance purposes.

     

    “Association” - a group of taxicab owners organized for the purpose of engaging in the business of taxicab transportation for common benefits regarding operation, name, logo, or insignia. For the purposes of this title, an association not in writing shall be ineffective for compliance purposes.

     

    “AVID” – an Accessible Vehicle Identification as defined in this chapter.

     

    “Black car” – a luxury class vehicle which operates exclusively through advance reservation made by a digital dispatch service, which may not solicit or accept street hails, and for which the fare is calculated by time and distance. The term “black car” in this title is synonymous with the term “sedan” as defined in the Establishment Act.

     

    “Black car service” - a public vehicle-for-hire service provided by a black car and operated in accordance with Chapter 14 of this title. 

     

    “Booked trip  a trip that has been agreed to and accepted by the customer.

     

    “CAPS-DC” - “Coordinated Alternative to Paratransit Services” as defined in this chapter.

     

    “CAPS-DC debit card” – a payment card issued by the District to MetroAccess participants who have consented to participate in CAPS-DC.

     

    “CAPS-DC MOU” – a memorandum of understanding between WMATA and the District, executed on June 23, 2014, and any amendments, modifications, or novations thereof, providing general terms, conditions, and requirements for WMATA’s and the District’s participation in the CAPS-DC Pilot Program.

     

    “CAPS-DC trip” – a one-way trip to or from a participating CAPS-DC dialysis center.

     

    “Cash payment” - a payment to the operator by the passenger inside the vehicle using cash. A cash payment is a form of in-vehicle payment.

     

    “Cashless payment” - a payment to the operator by the passenger made inside the vehicle other than by cash, which shall include a payment by payment card and may include another form of non-cash payment that a payment service provider is approved to provide under Chapter 4 (such as near-field communication and voucher). A digital payment” is not considered a cashless payment.

     

    “Clean Hands Act” - The Clean Hands Before Receiving a License or Permit Act of 1996, effective May 11, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-118; D.C. Official Code § 47-2862 (2012 Repl.)).

     

    “CNG vehicle” - an automobile powered exclusively by compressed natural gas.

     

    “Commission” - the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission established under § 5 of the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission Establishment Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-97; D.C. Official Code § 50-304 (2012 Repl.).

     

    “Commissioner”  a Commissioner of the D.C. Taxicab Commission, or his or her designated agent, except as to Chapter 9, which shall refer to a Commissioner of the Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking, or his or her designated agent.

     

    “Company” - a person, partnership, or corporation engaging in the business of owning and operating a fleet or fleets of taxicabs utilizing the same identifying name, logo, or insignia, as approved by the Office of Taxicabs.

     

    “Complainant”a member of the public who submits a complaint.

     

    “Compliance order”an order issued by the Office of Taxicabs or a District enforcement official to any person regulated by this title or other applicable law, requiring the person to implement a measure or undertake an action to comply with a provision of this title or other applicable law.

     

    “Compulsory/No Fault Motor Vehicle Insurance Act” - the Compulsory/No Fault Motor Vehicle Insurance Act of 1982, effective September 18, 1982 (D.C. Law 4-155; D.C. Official Code § 31-2406 (2012 Repl. & 2014 Supp.)).

     

    “Consumer Personal Information Security Breach Notification Act” – The Consumer Personal Information Security Breach Notification Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-237; D.C. Official Code §§ 28-3851 et seq. (2012 Repl.)).

     

    “Consumer Service Fund” – the Public Vehicle-for-Hire Consumer Service Fund as authorized by the Establishment Act, as defined in this chapter, as amended by the Vehicle-for-Hire Act, as defined in this chapter.

     

    “Contract reservation” - an advance booking for limousine service that includes the start time and the hourly rate.

     

    Co-op – the District of Columbia Taxicab Industry Co-op, as defined in this chapter.

     

    “Coordinated Alternative to Paratransit Services” – a pilot program to provide paratransit service, including wheelchair accessible service, to eligible patients.

     

    “Customer” – a person that requests public vehicle-for-hire service, including a passenger or any other person that requests service on behalf of another person.    

     

    “Day”  a calendar day unless otherwise stated. 

     

    “D.C.” – the District of Columbia.

     

    “DCRA” – the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs.

     

    DC TaxiApp – the District of Columbia Universal Taxicab App, as defined in this chapter.

     

    “DCTC” – the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission as defined in this section.

     

    “DCTC operator’s license” – a license issued by the Office allowing its bearer to operate a taxicab, limousine, or black car. 

     

    “DCTC ID card” – a DCTC operator license identification card as defined in this section.

     

    “DCTC operator license identification card”– a licensing document (a card) stating that its  bearer is licensed by the Office to operate one or more classes of public vehicle-for-hire as stated on the document. 

     

    “DCTC public vehicle-for-hire license” - a vehicle license issued pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 47-2829(h) (2012 Repl.).

     

    “Department of For-Hire Vehicles”, “Department” or “DFHV” - the Department established under § 5 of the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission Establishment Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-97; D.C. Official Code § 50-301.04 (2014 Repl. & 2015 Supp.)) and which replaced the D.C. Taxicab Commission and the Office of Taxicabs with the enactment of the Transportation Reorganization Amendment Act of 2016, effective June 22, 2016 (D.C. Law 21-0124). 

     

    “DDS” – a digital dispatch service as defined in this chapter.

     

    “Digital dispatch” – hardware and software applications and networks, including mobile phone applications, used for the provision of vehicle-for-hire services. 

     

    “Digital dispatch service” – a dispatch service that provides digital dispatch for vehicles-for-hire.  The phrase “company that uses digital dispatch for public vehicle-for-hire service”, as used in the Establishment Act, as amended by the Vehicle-for-Hire Act, shall include only a digital dispatch service, and shall not include any other person regulated by this title in connection with the provision of a public vehicle-for-hire service, such as a taxicab company.

     

    “Digital payment” - a non-cash payment processed by a digital dispatch service and not by the vehicle operator.  A “cashless payment” is not considered a digital payment.

     

    “Digital services” - digital dispatch, or both digital dispatch and digital payment, for public vehicles-for-hire.

     

    “DISB” – the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking.

    “Dispatch” – a means of booking a vehicle-for-hire through advance reservation.

     

    “Dispatch or payment solution” - any combination of technology, such as a tablet or smartphone running an app provided by a DDS, which, together, allows the DDS to provide taxicabs with digital dispatch or digital dispatch and digital payment.

     

    “Dispatch service” – an organization, including a corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship, operating in the District that provides telephone or digital dispatch, as defined in this chapter, for vehicles-for-hire. 

     

    “District” - the District of Columbia.

     

    “District enforcement official” - a vehicle inspection officer or other authorized official, employee, general counsel or assistant general counsel of the Office, or any law enforcement officer authorized to enforce a provision of this title or other applicable law.

     

    “District of Columbia Taxicab Commission” - the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission established under § 5 of the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission Establishment Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-97; D.C. Official Code § 50-304 (2012 Repl.).

     

    District of Columbia Taxicab Commission (DCTC) License  a taxicab vehicle license issued pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 47-2829(d) (2012 Repl.).

     

    District of Columbia Taxicab Industry Co-op  an industry-owned cooperative association which provides service and support for the use of the District of Columbia Universal Taxicab App, as defined in this chapter, and for other lawful purposes.

     

    District of Columbia Universal Taxicab App – a software application which allows passengers to book available DCTC-licensed taxicabs by digital dispatch.

     

    “Dome light” - an instrument or device approved by the Commission which is attached to the top of a licensed taxicab to illuminate the assigned PVIN and display the vehicle’s availability for hire.

     

    “Dome light installation business” - a business that engages, in whole or in part, in the manufacture, sale (whether of new or used equipment), installation, repair, or adjustment of dome lights for use on licensed taxicabs.

     

    “Double seal” – a lead seal installed, in addition to a seal (as defined in this chapter) by a taximeter installation business, to ensure that the taximeter cannot be removed or replaced except as allowed by regulatory requirements.

     

    “Driver”  an operator of a vehicle.

     

    “EPA”the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

     

    “Establishment Act” - the District of Columbia Taxicab Establishment Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-97; D.C. Official Code §§ 50-301 et seq. (2012 Repl. & 2014 Supp.). 

     

    “Extended vehicle” – a vehicle which is the subject of an extension under § 609.7.

     

    “False dispatch” – the solicitation or acceptance of a street hail by an operator not legally permitted to solicit or accept a street hail, under the pretense of digital dispatch.  The acceptance by the passenger of a digitally dispatched trip originating after the operator and passenger have made visual contact, after the passenger has entered the vehicle, or where the vehicle has been cruising or loitering, shall give rise to a presumption, rebuttable by the operator, that the operator engaged in false dispatch.

     

    “Fleet”  a group of twenty (20) or more taxicabs having the same name, logo, or insignia and having unified control by ownership or by association.

     

    “FOIA” – the Freedom of Information Act as defined in this chapter.

     

    “Freedom of Information Act” – The District of Columbia Freedom of Information Act, effective March 25, 1977 (D.C. Law 1-96; D.C. Official Code §§ 2-531 et seq. (2012 Repl.)).

     

    “Gratuity” - a voluntary payment by the passenger after service is rendered, in an amount determined solely by the passenger.

     

    “Group riding” - a group of two (2) or more passengers composed prior to the booking of a trip by dispatch or street hail and whose trip has a common point of origin and different or common destinations.

     

    “Hack Inspector” – a vehicle inspection officer as defined in this chapter.

     

    “Hack-up” - to outfit a vehicle as a taxicab and obtain approval from the Office for that vehicle to serve as a taxicab for the first time.

     

    “Identification card” or “Face card”  a licensing document reflecting that the bearer has been granted a DCTC operator’s license pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 47-2829(e) (2012 Repl.).

     

    “Implementation date” - the date for implementation of one or more provisions of a chapter as stated in the chapter.

     

    “Impoundment” - impoundment that occurs pursuant to the Taxicab and Passenger Vehicle for Hire Impoundment Act of 1992, effective March 16, 1993 (D.C. Law 9-199; D.C. Official Code § 50-331 (2012 Repl.)).

     

    “Independently operated taxicab” – an independent taxicab as define in this chapter.

     

    “Independent taxicab” - a taxicab operated by an individual owner who is not part of a fleet, company, or association and who does not operate under the name, logo, or insignia of any fleet, company, or association.

     

    “Individual riding” - the transportation of a single passenger for an entire trip.

     

    “Integration” - a commercial arrangement between a payment service provider and a digital dispatch service for the real-time sharing of electronic information between such businesses that complies with industry best practices and allows each of them to meet all obligations imposed by this chapter.

     

    “Integration agreement” - an agreement between a payment service provider and a digital dispatch service to allocate the rights and obligations pertaining to integration under this chapter.

     

    “Integration service fee” - a fee paid by the vehicle owner to the payment service provider for the use of the modern taximeter system when a digital payment is made.

     

    “In-vehicle payment” - a payment made to the operator by the passenger inside the vehicle, consisting only of a cash payment or a cashless payment. A digital payment is not an in-vehicle payment.

     

    “LCS service” – luxury class service as defined in this chapter.

     

    “LCS vehicle” – luxury class service vehicle as defined in this chapter.

     

    “License” - includes the whole or part of any permit, certificate, approval, registration, charter, membership, statutory exemption, or other form of permission granted by the Mayor or any agency (as defined in the Administrative Procedure Act, effective October 8, 1975 (D.C. Law 1-19; D.C. Official Code § 2-502 (2012 Repl. & 2013 Supp.)).

     

    “Licensing document”- a physical or electronic document issued to a person as evidence that such person has been issued a license pursuant to this title, such as a DCTC operator’s identification card.

     

    “Limousine” – a luxury class vehicle which operates exclusively though advance reservation by the owner or operator, which may not solicit or accept street hails, and for which the fare is calculated by time.

     

    “Limousine service” - a public vehicle-for-hire service provided by any LCS vehicle operated by an operator who possesses a DCTC operator’s license, where the trip is booked by advance reservation and the fare is calculated by time.

     

    “Livery tags” - vehicle tags issued by a motor vehicle licensing agency for a public vehicle-for-hire used to provide luxury class services, including the "L" tags issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

     

    “Loitering” - waiting around or in front of a hotel, theater, public building, or place of public gathering or in the vicinity of a taxicab or limousine stand that is occupied to full capacity; stopping in such locations, except to take on or discharge a passenger; or unnecessarily slow driving in front of a hotel, theater, public building, or place of public gathering or in the vicinity of a taxicab or limousine stand that is occupied to full capacity.

     

    “Luxury class service”– limousine or black car service.

     

    “Luxury class vehicle” – a public vehicle-for-hire that:

     

    (a) Has a manufacturer’s rated seated capacity of fewer than 10 person;

     

    (b) Is not a salvaged vehicle or a vehicle rented from an entity whose predominant business is that of renting motor vehicles on a time basis; and

     

    (c) Is no more than ten (10) model years of age at entry into service and no more than twelve (12) model years of age while in service.

     “MetroAccess Card” - an identification card issued by WMATA to passengers who participate in its MetroAccess program. 

     

    “Modern taximeter system” - a technology solution that combines taximeter equipment and payment service provider (“PSP”) service and support in the manner required by this title.

     

    “Modern taximeter system unit - the MTS equipment installed in a particular vehicle.

     

    “MSA” – the Multi-State Area, as defined in this chapter.

     

    “MTS” – a modern taximeter system as defined in this section.

     

    “MTS unit” – a modern taximeter system unit as defined in this section.

     

    “Multi-State Area” – the area comprised of the District of Columbia, the State of Maryland, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

     

    “New vehicle” – any vehicle owned by its manufacturer, or a dealer holding a valid franchise for the sale of such vehicle, or a bank or a finance company and which has never before been titled or registered in this or any other jurisdiction, except the kind of title issued only to dealers, provided however that:

     

    (a) A vehicle may also be classified as a “new” vehicle when titled for the first time in the District by any person applying for a certificate of title who produces a manufacturer’s statement of origin or other evidence of ownership in the form required by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the vehicle was purchased, and which vehicle has never before been titled or registered in any jurisdiction, and

     

    (b) The model year of the vehicle cannot be more than one (1) year earlier than the current calendar year.

     

    “Office” - the Office of Taxicabs established pursuant to § 13 of the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission Establishment Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-97; D.C. Official Code § 50-301 (2012 Repl.)).

     

    Office order- an administrative issuance by the Office to a class of persons or vehicles regulated by a provision of this title or other applicable law that: adopts a form; issues a guideline or protocol applicable to persons other than employees of the Office; provides guidance concerning a provision of this title; or takes any action that the Office deems necessary for purposes of administration, enforcement, or compliance.

     

    “Operator” - a person who operates a public vehicle-for-hire.

     

    “Owner” - A person, individual, partnership, company, association, or corporation that holds legal title to a public vehicle-for-hire which is licensed by the Office or the  registration of which is required in the District of Columbia to own and operate a taxicab or taxicabs.  For purposes of Chapters 4 and 12 of this title the term “owner” may include a mortgagor if the mortgagor of a public-vehicle-for-hire is entitled to possession.  The term may also include a lessee, a trustee, or a receiver appointed by a court, operating, controlling, managing, or renting a passenger vehicle-for-hire in the District of Columbia except as to operations licensed under D.C. Official Code § 47-2829(d) (2012 Repl.).  The term does not include common carrier which have been expressly exempted from the jurisdiction of the Commission.

     

    “Passenger surcharge” - a fee, which is currently set at twenty-five cents ($.25), required to be assessed to and collected from passengers and remitted to the District for each public vehicle-for-hire trip as required by this title and which shall not exceed fifty cents ($.50).

     

    “Payment card” - a credit or debit card, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

     

    “Payment information on file” - a payment card, direct debit, or pre-paid account that allows a person to process a payment without requiring the person authorizing the payment to present the original payment information.

     

    “Payment service provider” - a business that offers a modern taximeter service or MTS, which, if approved by the Office, may operate such MTS pursuant to this title.

     

    “Person” - shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act, effective October 8, 1975 (D.C. Law 1-19; D.C. Official Code § 2-502 (2012 Repl. & 2013 Supp.) and shall specifically include a firm, company, institution, receiver, or trustee, and, is further defined as including, any individual, company, business, association or entity regulated by this title, any individual or entity that engages in an activity regulated by this title which requires District of Columbia Taxicab Commission licensure or authorization to operate but has not obtained such appropriate license or authorization, or any individual or entity whose District of Columbia Taxicab Commission license or authorization has lapsed, been suspended, or been revoked.

     

    “Personal service”  in the context of the provision of taxicab service to a passenger, assistance or service requested by a passenger that requires the taxicab operator to leave the vicinity of the taxicab.

     

    “Pre-arranged ride” - A period of time that begins when a private sedan operator accepts a requested ride through digital dispatch (an app), continues while the operator transports the passenger in the operator’s private sedan, and ends when the passenger departs from the private sedan.

     

    “Private sedan” – a private motor vehicle that shall:

     

    (a)Have a manufacturer’s rated seating capacity of eight (8) or fewer, including the private vehicle-for-hire operator;

     

    (b)Have at least four (4) doors and meet applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards for vehicles of its size, type, and propose use; and

     

    (c)Be no more than ten (10) model years of age at entry into service and no more than twelve (12) model years of age while in service. 

     

    The term “private sedan” in this title is synonymous with the term “private vehicle-for-hire”, as defined in the Establishment Act.

     

    Private sedan business” – an organization, including a corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship, operating in the District, that uses digital dispatch to connect passengers to a network of operators of private sedans, as defined in this chapter.

     

    “Private sedan operator” – an individual who operates a personal motor vehicle to provide private sedan service, as defined in this chapter, in association with a private sedan business, as defined in this chapter.

     

    “Private sedan service” - a class of transportation service by which a network of private sedan operators, as defined in this chapter, registered with a private sedan business, as defined in this chapter, provides vehicle-for-hire service through a digital dispatch service, as defined in this chapter.

     

    “PSP” – Payment service provider as defined in this chapter.

     

    “Public vehicle-for-hire” – classes of for-hire transportation which exclusively use operators and vehicles licensed by the Office pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 47-2829.

     

    “Public vehicle-for-hire identification number” - a unique number assigned by the Office to a public vehicle-for-hire.

     

    “PVIN” – Public vehicle-for-hire identification number as defined in this chapter.

     

    “Rate of fare” - the established fare which may be charged by a licensed taxicab other than for trips booked through digital dispatch, which fare has been promulgated by the Commission and may include, but is not limited to, surcharges and waiting times.

     

    “Respondent” - a person against whom an enforcement action is taken a public complaint is made, or an order of investigation or order to show cause is directed.

     

    “Revocation”the permanent recall or annulment of a privilege or authority granted by the Office.   

     

    “rollDC” - the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s Wheelchair Accessible Taxicab program.

     

    “Seal” - a device, approved by the Commission, which may be installed on a taximeter, wire, wiring mechanism, gear or other device, so that no adjustment, repair, alteration or replacement can be made without removing or mutilating the seal or seals.

     

    “Sedan” – A black car as defined in this chapter.  Sedan and black car are synonymous throughout Title 31.

     

    “Shared riding” – a group of two (2) or more passengers arranged by a starter at a location which has been designated by the Chief of the Office in an Office Issuance issued pursuant to Chapter 7 of this title, where there are common or different destinations.

     

    “Shift”A twelve (12) hour period of time which covers at least one (1) rush-hour.

     

    “Smoking Restriction Act” - the District of Columbia Smoking Restriction Act of 1979, effective September 28, 1979 (D.C. Law 3-22; D.C. Official Code § 7-1703(5) (2012 Repl.)).

     

    “Street” - a roadway designated on the Permanent System of Highways of the District of Columbia as a public thoroughfare.

     

    “Surcharge account” - an account established and maintained with the District for the purpose of processing the passenger surcharge.

     

    “Surcharge bond”- a bond payable to the D.C. Treasurer for the purpose of securing the payment of passenger surcharges to the District.

     

    “Suspension”a temporary bar of a person from the privilege or authority conferred by the Office for a period of time after which period the privilege or authority is automatically re-instated or the person must request re-instatement.

     

    “Taxicab” – a public vehicle-for-hire which may be hired by dispatch or hailed on the street, and for which the fare complies with the provisions of § 801.

     

    “Taxicab commission information system” - the information system operated by the Office.

     

    “Taximeter fare”- the fare established by this title for use by taxicabs other than for trips booked by a digital dispatch service.

     

    “Taximeter” - an instrument or device approved by the Office by which the charge to a passenger for the hire of a licensed taxicab is automatically calculated and on which such charge is plainly indicated.

     

    “Taximeter business” - a business which engages, in whole or in part, in the manufacture, sale (whether of new or used equipment), installation, repair, adjustment, testing, sealing, or calibrating of taximeters, for use upon a licensed vehicle in the District of Columbia including any business which engages in whole or in part in the installation of taxicab dome lights.

     

    “Taximeter business owner” - an individual, partnership or corporation licensed by the Office to own and operate a taximeter business.

     

    “Taximeter test” - a method to determine compliance with distance and time tolerances, utilizing either a road test over a precisely measured road course or a simulated road test determining the distance traveled by use of a roller device, or by computation from rolling circumference and wheel-turn data, said test having been conducted in accordance with the National Institute of Standards and Technology Handbook No. 44.

     

    “TCIS” – a taxicab commission information system as define in this chapter.

     

    “Telephone dispatch” – a traditional means for dispatching a vehicle-for-hire, originating with a telephone call by the passenger.  The term “telephone dispatch” in this title is synonymous with the term “dispatch” as defined in the Establishment Act, as amended by the Vehicle-for-Hire Act.

     

    “Telephone dispatch service” - a taxicab company which provides telephone dispatch for taxicabs.

     

    “Tour of duty” - the period of time when an operator is signed into an MTS or digital payment system. 

     

    “Trade Dress” – a logo, insignia, or emblem established by a private sedan business for display on its associated vehicles while providing service.

     

    “Trip” - a trip provided by a public vehicle-for-hire licensed by the Office to one (1) or more passengers at the same time which either originated in the District or originated outside of the District, pursuant to a valid reciprocity agreement and for which a fare is or should have been collected.

     

    “Trunk tote” - a tote bag maintained by the vehicle operator to carry necessities for emergencies and essential tools as described in this title.

     

    “Vehicle-for-hire” – a public vehicle-for-hire or a private sedan, as defined in this chapter.

     

    “Vehicle-for-Hire Act” – the Vehicle-for-Hire Innovation Amendment Act of 2014, effective March 10, 2015 (D.C. Law 20-0197).

     

    “Vehicle-for-hire industry” – all persons directly involved in providing public vehicle-for-hire and private sedan services, including companies, associations, owners, operators, and any individual who, by virtue of employment or office, is directly involved in providing such services.

     

    “Vehicle inspection officer” – an Office employee trained in the laws, rules, and regulations governing vehicle-for-hire service to ensure the proper provision of service and to support safety through street enforcement efforts, including traffic stops of vehicles-for-hire, pursuant to this title, the Establishment Act, and other applicable laws.

     

    “Washington Metropolitan Area” - the area encompassed by the District; Montgomery County, Prince Georges County, and Frederick County in Maryland; Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudon County, and Prince William County and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park in Virginia.

     

    “Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority” – the regional transportation agency created by interstate compact to serve the Washington Metropolitan Area.

     

    “WAV” – A wheelchair accessible vehicle, as defined in this chapter.

     

    “Wheelchair accessible vehicle” - a vehicle compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and its implementing regulations, including 49 C.F.R. Part 38.1- 38.39, which accommodates a passenger using a wheelchair or other personal mobility device who needs a ramp or lift to enter or exit the vehicle

     

    “Wheelchair securement systema system which meets the requirements of 49 C.F.R. Part 38 § 38.23(d) to safely secure a wheelchair in a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

     

    “Wheelchair service” – service provided by a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

     

    “Wiring harness” - a wire or collection of wires, including all connections thereto, which is connected in any manner whatsoever to a taximeter or in any way affects the operation of a taximeter.

     

    “WMATA” - “Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority” as defined in this chapter.

     

     

authority

Sections 8(c) (1), (2), (3), (4), (7), (10), (11), (14), (16), (18), (19) and (20), 14, 15, and 20j of the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission Establishment Act of 1985 (“Establishment Act”), effective March 25, 1986, as amended by the Vehicle for Hire Innovation Amendment Act of 2015 (“Vehicle-for-Hire Act”), effective March 10, 2015 (D.C. Law 6-97; D.C. Official Code §§ 50-307(c)(1),(2),(3), (4) (7), (10), (11), (14), (16), (18), (19) and (20), 50-313, 50-314, and 50-329 (2012 Repl. & 2015 Supp.)).

source

Final Rulemaking published at 61 DCR 8522 (August 15, 2014); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 61 DCR 8534 (August 15, 2014); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 61 DCR 12507 (December 5, 2014); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 119 (January 2, 2015); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 134 (January 2, 2015); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 140 (January 2, 2015); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 147 (January 2, 2015); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 9484 (July 10, 2015); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 338 (January 8, 2016); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2247 (February 26, 2016); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2247 (February 26, 2016); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 3747 (March 11, 2016); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 3749 (March 11, 2016); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 10471 (August 12, 2016); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 14131 (November 18, 2016).