4964962 Taxicab Commission, DC - Notice of Final Rulemaking - Amends various compliance standards for Payment Service Providers (PSPs)
-
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), (7), 14, 20, and 20g of the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission Establishment Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-97; D.C. Official Code §§ 50-307(c)(3), (7), 50-313, 50-319, 50-329, (2012 Repl. & 2013 Supp.)), hereby announces its adoption of final rules amending Chapter 4 (Taxicab Payment Services) of Title 31 (Taxicabs and Public Vehicles for Hire) of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR).
These rules address various compliance standards for Payment Service Providers (PSPs), including: (1) fees for untimely renewal applications, (2) suspensions and revocations of approvals to operate as a PSP in the District, (3) cooperation with the Office of Taxicabs (“Office”), (4) reporting to the Office, and (5) maintenance of separate vehicle and operator inventories. PSP compliance with the requirements of this title, and this chapter, is important to ensure the ongoing modernization of the District’s taxicab industry.
A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was adopted on March 12, 2014 and published in the D.C. Register on May 2, 2014 at 61 DCR 4442. No comments were received on the proposed rulemaking. No substantial changes have been made. The Commission voted to adopt these rules as final on June 11, 2014, and they will become effective upon publication in the D.C. Register.
Chapter 4, TAXICAB PAYMENT SERVICES, of Title 31, TAXICABS AND PUBLIC VEHICLES FOR HIRE, of the DCMR, is amended as follows:
Section 406, RENEWAL APPLICATIONS, is amended as follows:
Subsection 406.1 is amended to read as follows:
406.1 Each approved MTS shall be submitted for renewal of its approval at least sixty (60) days before the expiration of the approval, unless the Office grants a waiver in writing for good cause shown. A renewal application submitted less than sixty (60) days before the expiration of the approval shall be accompanied by a late fee of one thousand dollars ($1,000). The procedures applicable to new applications shall apply to renewal applications, except as otherwise required by this title or other applicable law.
Section 407, SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF APPROVAL, is amended to read as follows:
407 SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF APPROVAL
407.1 Order of immediate suspension. The Office may immediately suspend an MTS’s approval issued under § 405 when:
(a) The Office has reasonable grounds to believe the PSP that operates the MTS has committed or is committing a willful or repeated violation of § 408.9 (failure to cooperate with or report to the Office), § 408.13 (failure to timely pay owners), § 603.9 (failure to provide MTS service and support), or § 408.14 (failure to maintain operator and vehicle inventories);
(b) The Office has reasonable grounds to believe there exists an imminent or significant risk that the MTS may be or has been used by one or more individuals, or by an entity other than the PSP, to violate or enable the violation of one or more provisions of this title or other applicable law;
(c) The Office has reasonable grounds to believe the MTS or the PSP’s operations or conduct pose an imminent or significant threat to the safety and welfare of passengers, operators, or the public; or
(d) The Office has reasonable grounds to believe the MTS or the PSP’s operations or conduct pose an imminent or significant threat to consumer protection or passenger privacy.
407.2 As provided in § 407.4, a PSP’s failure to timely and fully comply with the terms and conditions of an order of immediate suspension, or to further violate this title or other applicable law during the pendency of an order, shall be a sufficient basis for revocation of the PSP’s approval.
407.3 Notice of proposed suspension. The Office may issue a notice of proposed suspension of a PSP’s approval issued under § 405 when:
(a) The Office has reasonable grounds to believe the PSP has:
(1) Committed fraud, made a fraudulent or material misrepresentation to any person in connection with the conduct of its MTS business, or has concealed material information from the Office, or
(2) Induced any other person to commit an act enumerated in (a)(1).
(b) The Office has reasonable grounds to believe the PSP no longer meets the requirements for approval under this chapter;
(c) An order of immediate suspension has been issued against the PSP;
(d) The Office has reasonable grounds to believe one or more grounds exist for immediate suspension of the PSP under § 407.1;
(e) The PSP or an employee, agent, or independent contractor associated with it has been convicted of a criminal offense involving fraudulent conduct in connection with the conduct of an activity within the jurisdiction of the Commission; or
(f) The Office has reasonable grounds to believe the PSP has failed to comply with any provision of this title or other applicable law.
407.4 Notice of proposed revocation. The Office may issue a notice of proposed revocation of a PSP’s approval issued under § 405 when:
(a) The PSP’s approval has been previously suspended at any time on any grounds;
(b) The Office has reasonable grounds to believe the PSP has committed substantial or repeated acts which would constitute grounds for an order of immediate or proposed suspension under § 407.1 or § 407.3; or
(c) The Office has reasonable grounds to believe the PSP failed to timely and fully comply with the terms and conditions of an order of suspension, or further violated this title or other applicable law during the pendency of an order of suspension.
407.5 Content of order or notice. Each order of immediate suspension and notice of proposed suspension or revocation shall:
(a) Be in writing;
(b) State the grounds for the order or notice;
(c) State the terms and conditions required for compliance with the order or notice (if any) including any deadlines;
(d) State that the PSP is entitled to a review of the order by OAH:
(1) Within three (3) business days, if it is an order of immediate suspension;
(2) Within thirty (30) calendar days, if it is a notice of proposed suspension or revocation;
(e) Include full contact information for OAH;
(f) Include a reference to OAH regulations, or to Section 10 of the DCAPA (D.C. Official Code § 2-509), that detail the hearing procedures to be used during OAH’s review of the Order; and
(g) Include a statement that a party or witness may apply for the appointment of a qualified interpreter if he or she is deaf or cannot readily understand or communicate the spoken English language.
407.6 Method of service and filing. Each order of immediate suspension and notice of immediate suspension or revocation shall:
(a) Be served promptly on the PSP by hand delivery to the address on file with the Office for the PSP or its agent, leaving the document with a person over the age of sixteen (16) residing or employed at that address.
(b) Be filed promptly with OAH, and, if it is an order of immediate suspension, not later than the next business day after service.
407.7 The Office may, but shall not be required to, invite a PSP to participate in mediation in advance of any suspension or revocation action authorized by this section.
Section 408, OPERATING REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO PSPs AND DDSs, is amended as follows:
Subsection 408.9 is amended to read as follows.
408.9 Cooperation and reporting. Each PSP shall:
(a) Timely and fully cooperate with the Office and all District enforcement officials in the enforcement of and compliance with all applicable provisions of this title and other applicable laws;
(b) Timely provide full and complete reports as required by Chapter 6;
(c) Timely provide full and complete trip data as directed by the Office pursuant to § 603; and
(d) Appear at the administrative offices of the Office with any records demanded, when directed to do so by the Office pursuant to this title, except for good cause shown.
Subsection 408.14 is amended to read as follows.
408.14 Inventory requirements.
(a) Each PSP shall maintain with the Office accurate and current inventories of all vehicles and all operators on active status with which it associates for its MTS. Only active vehicles and active operators shall appear on inventories.
(b) Each PSP shall ensure that:
(1) Its vehicle and operator inventories are maintained and updated in the manner and frequency determined by the Office;
(2) When a vehicle or operator is no longer associated with the PSP as a result of a threat to passenger or public safety, the inventories shall be updated promptly; and
(3) Separate inventories are maintained for vehicles and operators.
(c) Each vehicle inventory shall include, as to each vehicle:
(1) The name, address, work telephone number, and cellular telephone number, for the owner(s);
(2) The name, address, telephone number, and cellular telephone number for the taxicab company, association or fleet with which the owner is associated, if any;
(3) The vehicle's PVIN, make, model, and year of manufacture;
(4) A certification that the vehicle is in compliance with the insurance requirements of Chapter 9 of this title; and
(5) A statement of whether the vehicle is wheelchair accessible.
(d) Each operator inventory shall include, as to each operator:
(1) The name, address, work telephone number and cellular telephone number, for the operator; and
(2) The operator’s DCTC commercial operator license number and the name, address, telephone number and cellular telephone number for any taxicab company, association, or with which the operator is associated.
