-
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TAXICAB COMMISSION
NOTICE OF FINAL RULEMAKING
The District of Columbia Taxicab Commission (Commission), pursuant to the authority set forth in Sections 8(c)(3),(5) and (19); 14, and 20 of the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission Establishment Act of 1985 (“Establishment Act”), effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-97; D.C. Official Code §§ 50-307(c) (3), (5) and (19); 50-313, and 50-319, (2012 Repl. & 2013 Supp.)) hereby gives notice of its intent to amend Chapter 6 (Taxicab Parts and Equipment) of Title 31 (Taxicabs and Public Vehicles for Hire) of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR).
The proposed rules for Chapter 6 were approved by the Commission for publication on December 11, 2013 and were published in the D.C. Register on December 20, 2013 at 60 DCR 17095. No comments were received during the comment period which ended on January 19, 2014. No substantive changes have been made. Minor changes have been made to correct grammar and typographical errors, to provide clarity, or to lessen the burdens established by the proposed rules.
The proposed rules for Chapter 6 published in the D.C. Register on December 20, 2013 proposed that the vehicles affected by the removal dates of January 1, 2015, January 1, 2016, and January 1, 2017, be removed not later than such dates; these amendments lessen the burdens of the proposed removal dates by allowing vehicles to be removed on the removal date, or by the next regularly scheduled Department of Motor Vehicles vehicle inspection required by D.C. Official Code § 50-1101(a), whichever is later.
These amendments do not establish an earlier removal date for vehicles placed into service during calendar year 2014 in compliance with § 609.1. These amendments: (1) clarify the remaining removal schedule for taxicab vehicles for the period of January 1, 2014 through January 1, 2017; (2) permanently extend the removal requirement for 1997 and older vehicles which appeared in rulemaking adopted as final on May 23, 2012, and which became effective upon publication in the D.C. Register on June 1, 2012 at 59 DCR 6317; and (3) correct an associated cross-reference within the chapter.
The Commission voted to adopt this rule as final on November 12, 2014, and they will become effective upon publication it the D.C. Register.
Chapter 6, TAXICAB PARTS AND EQUIPMENT, of Title 31, TAXICABS AND PUBLIC VEHICLES FOR HIRE, of the DCMR, is amended to read as follows:
Section 609, AGE OF TAXICAB, is amended as follows:
Subsection 609.2 is amended to read as follows:
609.2 The Commission establishes the following schedule to implement the vehicle age policy in § 609.4. The purpose of the schedule is to gradually remove older vehicles from service in order to prevent a significant loss of service that would result if the age policy were immediately implemented in full. The schedule applies to all public vehicles for hire serving as taxicabs in the District, whether owned, rented, or leased. For purposes of the schedule, mileage of the vehicle is not a factor.
(a) Not later than January 1, 2014, or the next regularly scheduled DMV vehicle inspection required by D.C. Official Code § 50-1101(a), whichever is later, all vehicles manufactured in model years 1997 and earlier must be removed from service.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2015, or the next regularly scheduled DMV vehicle inspection required by D.C. Official Code § 50-1101(a), whichever is later, all vehicles manufactured in model years 2004 and earlier must be removed from service.
(c) Not later than January 1, 2016, or the next regularly scheduled DMV vehicle inspection required by D.C. Official Code § 50-1101(a), whichever is later, all vehicles manufactured in model years 2007 and earlier must be removed from service.
(d) Not later than January 1, 2017, or the next regularly scheduled DMV vehicle inspection required by D.C. Official Code § 50-1101(a), whichever is later, all vehicles manufactured in model years 2010 and earlier must be removed from service.
Subsection 609.3 is amended as follows:
The lead-in language to § 609.3 now reads as follows:
609.3 A Waiver Petition may be filed with the Commission to request a one (1) time extension of time or waiver from the removal schedule at § 609.2 only. The following provisions apply to a request for a waiver:
Subsection 609.4 is amended to read as follows:
609.4 Beginning in 2018, and thereafter, no vehicle may remain in service as a taxicab in the District as of January 1st or the next regularly scheduled DMV vehicle inspection required by D.C. Official Code § 50-1101(a), whichever is later if it:
(a) Is more than seven (7) model years old on January 1st; or
(b) Has accumulated mileage in excess of four hundred thousand miles (400,000 mi.), whether owned, rented, or leased.
Subsections 609.6 through 609.10 are REPEALED.
