4883870 Taxicab Commission, DC - Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Amending Chapter 12 to conform with new requirements for private sedan service
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TAXICAB COMMISSION
NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING
The District of Columbia Taxicab Commission (“Commission”), pursuant to the authority set forth in Sections 8(c)(2), (3), (4), (5), (7), (19), 14, 20, and 20a 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)(2) (3), (4), (5), (7), (19) (2012 Repl. & 2013 Supp.), 50-313 (2012 Repl. & 2013 Supp.), 50-319 (2012 Repl. & 2013 Supp.), and 50-320 (2012 Repl. & 2013 Supp.)), and D.C. Official Code § 47-2829 (b), (d), (e), (e-1), and (i) (2012 Repl. & 2013 Supp.), hereby gives notice of its intent to adopt amendments to Chapter 12 (Luxury Services – Owners, Operators and Vehicles) of Title 31 (Taxicabs and Public Vehicles for Hire) of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR).
The proposed amendments to Chapter 12 would, in combination with other proposed amendments to Chapters 2, 8, 14, 16, and 17 of Title 31, create a regulatory framework for the licensing and regulation of a new class of public vehicle-for-hire service to be called “private sedan service”, to address the unique issues raised by private sedan service, including rules to require adequate insurance, to ensure the safety of passengers, drivers, and the general public, to protect consumers, and to require payment to the District of a passenger surcharge, and for other lawful purposes within the authority of the Commission. The proposed amendments in Chapter 12 would change the name of “sedan” to “black car”, to keep Title 31 consistent with the common terminology used throughout the public vehicle-for-hire industry, and to distinguish this class of service from the proposed class of service to be called “private sedan service”. No substantive change is intended by this update to the terminology. All definitions applicable to this chapter would appear in a new Chapter 2 that contains definitions for the entire title.
The rulemaking was adopted by the Commission on April 9, 2014. Directions for submitting comments may be found at the end of this notice. The Commission also hereby gives notice of the intent to take final rulemaking action to adopt these proposed rules in not less than thirty (30) days after the publication of this notice of proposed rulemaking in the D.C. Register.
Chapter 12, LUXURY SERVICES – OWNERS, OPERATORS AND VEHICLES, of Title 31, TAXICABS AND PUBLIC VEHICLES FOR HIRE is amended as follows:
Section 1200, APPLICATION AND SCOPE, is amended as follows:
Subsection 1200.1 is amended by striking the word “sedan” and inserting the words “black car” in its place, to read as follows:
1200.1 This chapter shall be applicable to and govern all limousine and black car organizations, operators, and vehicles doing business in the District of Columbia (District).
Subsection 1200.3 is amended by striking the word “sedan” and inserting the words “black car” in its place, to read as follows:
1200.3 This chapter establishes licensing and operating requirements for luxury class service, comprised of black car service and limousine service. Additional and more specific operating requirements applicable only to black car service, beginning on November 1, 2013, are contained in Chapter 14 of this title.
Section 1201, GENERAL REQUIREMENTS, is amended as follows:
Subsection 1201.1 is amended by striking the words “sedan” and “sedans” and inserting the words “black car” and “black cars” in its place, to read as follows:
1201.1 Operators may be licensed by the Office of Taxicabs (Office) pursuant to § 1209 to provide limousine service, black car service, or both, and luxury class service (LCS) vehicles may be licensed by the Office pursuant to § 1204 for use as limousines, as black cars, or both. All LCS vehicles may be used as limousines, but only LCS vehicles meeting the definition of “black car” in § 1299.1 may be operated as black cars.
Subsection 1201.2 is amended by striking the word “sedan” and inserting the words “black car” in its place, to read as follows:
1201.2 The Office may issue Office orders approving certain vehicles as meeting the definition of “black car” under § 1299.1.
Subsection 1201.4 is amended by striking the word “sedan” and inserting the words “black car” in its place, to read as follows:
1201.4 Vehicle requirements. A vehicle shall be authorized to provide luxury class services if it:
(a) Has been approved and licensed by the Office pursuant to § 1204 for use as a black car, a limousine, or both;
(b) Is registered and displays valid and current livery tags (also called “L-tags”) from DMV;
(c) Has a valid and current inspection from DMV pursuant to § 1215 and applicable DMV regulations, including inspection for current compliance with the definition of a black car under § 1299.1, where applicable;
(d) Is operated in compliance with § 1201.5; and
(e) Is in compliance with Chapter 9 (Insurance Requirements) of this title.
Subsection 1201.5 is amended by striking the words “sedan” and “sedans” and inserting the words “black car” and “black cars” in its place, to read as follows:
1201.5 Operating requirements. Luxury class service shall not be provided unless, from the time each trip is booked, through the conclusion of the trip, all of the following requirements are met:
(a) The operator is in compliance with § 1201.3;
(b) The vehicle is in compliance with § 1201.4;
(c) The owner is in compliance with § 1202.1;
(d) The operator is maintaining at the Office current contact information, including his or her full legal name, residence address, cellular telephone number, and, if associated with an LCS organization, contact information for such organization or for the owner for which he or she drives, and informs the Office of any change in the foregoing information within five (5) business days through U.S. Mail with delivery confirmation, by hand delivery, or in such other manner as the Office may establish in an Office order;
(e) The operator is maintaining in the vehicle a manifest that:
(1) Is either:
(A) In writing, compiled by the operator not later than the end of each shift using documents stored safely and securely in the vehicle; or
(B) Electronic, compiled automatically and in real time throughout each shift;
(2) Is in a reasonable, legible, and reliable format that safely and securely maintains the information;
(3) Reflects all trips made by the vehicle during the current shift;
(4) Includes the date, the time of pick up, the address or location of the pickup, the final destination, and the time of discharge;
(5) Does not include terms such as “as directed” in lieu of any information required by this paragraph; and
(6) Is kept in the vehicle readily available for immediate inspection by a District enforcement official (including a public vehicle enforcement inspector (hack inspector)).
(f) Where limousine service is provided, the trip is booked by contract reservation based on an hourly rate;
(g) Beginning November 1, 2013, where black car service is provided, the trip is conducted in accordance with the operating requirements of Chapter 14 of this title;
(h) The trip is not booked in response to a street hail solicited or accepted by the operator or by any other person acting on the operator’s behalf; and
(i) There is no individual present in the vehicle who is not the operator or a passenger for whom a trip is booked or payment is made.
Section 1203, REQUIREMENT OF BASE OWNER, is amended as follows:
Subsection 1203.1 is amended by striking the word “sedan” and inserting the words “black car” in its place, to read as follows:
1203.1 Each limousine or black car base owner may maintain an office in the District with an operable telephone number listed in the name of the organization.
Section 1204, LICENSING OF LCS VEHICLES, is amended as follows:
Subsection 1204.2 is amended by striking the word “sedan” and inserting the words “black car” in its place, to read as follows:
1204.2 Each applicant shall file an application for each vehicle license using a form approved by the Office, accompanied by the applicable fee. Each application shall set forth the applicant’s lawful name, business address(es), business and mobile telephone numbers, tax identification number, and an indication of whether the applicant intends to operate the vehicle as a limousine, as a black car, or as both.
Subsection 1204.4 is amended by striking the word “sedan” and inserting the words “black car” in its place, to read as follows:
1204.4 The Office shall inspect the vehicle to determine whether it meets the definitions of “black car”, “limousine”, or both, as set forth in § 1299.1, consistent with the applicant’s stated intentions for the use of vehicle.
Section 1205, LICENSING OF LCS VEHICLE OPERATORS – ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, is amended as follows:
Subsection 1205.12 is amended by striking the word “sedan” and inserting the words “black car” in its place, to read as follows:
1205.12 Notwithstanding the provisions of § 1205.11, if the parole or the probation arose out of a conviction other than those listed in § 1205.13, the parolee’s or probationer’s application may be considered for approval if a letter from the appropriate parole or probation officer is submitted with the application stating that there is no objection to the issuance of a limousine or black car operator's license.
Section 1206, LICENSING OF LCS VEHICLE OPERATORS – APPLICATION PROCESS, is amended as follows:
Subsection 1206.1 is amended by striking the word “sedan” and inserting the words “black car” in its place, to read as follows:
1206.1 Each application for an operator’s license shall use a form provided by the Office, shall indicate the applicant’s choice of whether such applicant proposes to be licensed to provide limousine service, black car service, or both, and shall be accompanied by the applicable fee.
Section 1213, WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR LCS ORGANIZATION PROVIDING SEDAN SERVICE, is amended as follows:
The title is amended to read as follows:
1213 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR LCS ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING BLACK CAR SERVICE
Subsection 1213.1 is amended by striking the word “sedan” and inserting the words “black car” in its place, to read as follows:
1213.1 Each LCS organization with twenty (20) or more black car class vehicles in its fleet that does not have wheelchair-accessible vehicles in its fleet shall provide contact information for LCS organizations that do have such vehicles, when requested by a customer.
Subsection 1213.2 is amended by striking the words “sedan” and “sedans” and inserting the words “black car” and “black cars” in its place, to read as follows:
1213.2 Each LCS organization with twenty (20) or more vehicles licensed under this Chapter to be operated as black cars on or after the effective date of this rulemaking, shall dedicate a portion of such vehicles as follows:
(a) At least six percent (6%) of such vehicles shall be wheelchair-accessible by December 31, 2014;
(b) At least twelve percent (12%) of such vehicles shall be wheelchair-accessible by December 31, 2016; and
(c) At least twenty percent (20%) of such vehicles shall be wheelchair-accessible by December 31, 2018.
Section 1220, PROHIBITIONS, is amended as follows:
Subsection 1220.3 is amended by striking the words “sedan” and “sedans” and inserting the words “black car” and “black cars” in its place.
1220.3 Beginning November 1, 2013, no operator shall provide black car service except as provided in this chapter and in Chapter 14 of this title.
Copies of this proposed rulemaking can be obtained at www.dcregs.dc.gov or by contacting Jacques P. Lerner, General Counsel, District of Columbia Taxicab Office, 2041 Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue, S.E., Suite 204, Washington, D.C. 20020. All persons desiring to file comments on this proposed rulemaking should submit written comments via e-mail to dctc@dc.gov or by mail to the D.C. Taxicab Office, 2041 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave., S.E., Suite 204, Washington, D.C. 20020, Attn: Jacques P. Lerner, General Counsel, no later than thirty (30) days after the publication of this notice in the D.C Register.
