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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TAXICAB COMMISSION
NOTICE OF EMERGENCY RULEMAKING
The Chairperson of the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission (Commission), pursuant to the authority set forth in section 6(a) and (d) of the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission Establishment Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-97; D.C. Official Code § 50-305(a) and (d)) (2009 Repl.); section 105 of the 2005 District of Columbia Omnibus Authorization Act, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2023; D.C. Official Code § 50-381(a) (2010 Supp.)); Mayor’s Order 2007-231, dated October 17, 2007; Mayor’s Order 2009-104, dated June 15, 2009, and Mayor’s Order 2011-64, dated March 25, 2011, hereby gives notice of emergency action taken on March 25, 2011, to amend Chapter 8 (Operation of Taxicabs) of title 31 (Taxicabs and Public Vehicles for Hire) of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR). The amendment will impose a fuel surcharge of one dollar ($1.00) per taxicab trip in the District of Columbia for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days, unless terminated earlier by the Chairperson.
This emergency rulemaking action is necessary to offset the impact of the steady rise in fuel prices in the metropolitan area on taxicab operators. Without the fuel surcharge taxicab operators may not be able to continue to meet their public service obligations to provide vital transportation service to the public. The increased costs of fuel may cause many taxicab operators to curtail or discontinue taxicab service in the District because of an inability to earn a fair return on their investment in daily fuel costs. Also, taxicab operators may not be able to meet basic health and welfare needs for themselves or their families. The potential curtailing or discontinuance of taxicab services may affect senior citizens and persons with disabilities who rely on taxicab service for medical care, extended health service, physical therapy, social and other supportive services. Further, the potential curtailing or discontinuance of taxicab services may negatively impact the District of Columbia’s tourists who rely on taxicab services; thus, impacting the District of Columbia’s economic base.
This emergency action was taken on March 29, 2011, and became effective at 12:01 a.m. on March 30, 2011. The emergency rule will expire one hundred twenty (120) days after they were adopted (July 26 2011), or upon earlier repeal by the Chairperson, whichever occurs first.
Chapter 8, OPERATION OF TAXICABS, of title 31, TAXICABS AND PUBLIC VEHICLES FOR HIRE, of the DCMR is amended as follows:
Section 801 (Passenger Rates and Charges), subsection 801.6 is amended by adding a new paragraph (m) to read as follows:
(m) Emergency Fuel Surcharge: A one dollar ($1.00) emergency fuel surcharge shall apply to each taxicab fare beginning at 12:01 a.m. on March 30, 2011, and which will end at 11:59 p.m. on July 26, 2011, unless terminated earlier by the Chairperson, after publication.
Copies of the rulemaking can be obtained at www.dcregs.dc.gov or by contacting Dena C. Reed, General Counsel and Secretary to the Commission, District of Columbia Taxicab Commission, at 2041 Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue, S.E., Suite 204, Washington, D.C. 20020.
