Contact: Neville Waters (202) 645-6020
The DC Taxicab Commission (DCTC) moved through a full agenda of items today. DCTC approved the publication of proposed and final rulemaking; formally accepted a report on commercial ridesharing services prepared by the Panel on Industry; and accepted a petition to consider a fare increase.
Regulations adopted as final include rulemaking to authorize and update administrative fees to be charged by DCTC; increase fines for not properly maintaining vehicle or operator inventories; and increase fines for failure to properly login to Modern Taximeter System (MTS) and submit trip data to DCTC’s Information System.
Among other action taken included the approval to publish proposed rulemaking to address the following matters: require digital dispatch services to ensure consumer protection; clarify the licensing fee structure; enforcement of prompt payment by Payment Service Providers (PSP) to taxicab operators; require the double sealing of taximeters and establish fines for improper seals; and clarify the process for submitting complaints against taxicab operators.
The Panel’s ridesharing report expressed skepticism to allow untrained, non-commercial individuals to use their personal vehicles for public vehicle for hire transportation purposes. However, recommendations were offered to develop proposed rulemaking. Among the items for consideration: drivers would be limited to part time status; require Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) approval to ensure compliance with insurance regulations; mandate driver and vehicle inventory audits; institute technical demonstrations; and require driver and vehicle licensing. DCTC also accepted a petition submitted by the Washington, DC Metro Taxi Operators Association to consider an increase in passenger fares and other fees.
Today’s meeting was the first General Commission meeting of calendar year 2014 as previous meetings had to be postponed; in January, due to the lack of a quorum and in February because the room was needed for other purposes.