1201 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

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.

1201.2 The Office may issue Office issuances, instructions, and guidances approving certain vehicles as meeting the definition of “black car” in Chapter 99.

1201.3 Operator requirements. An individual shall be authorized to provide luxury class service if he or she:

(a) Has a valid and current driver’s license issued by a jurisdiction within the MSA;

(b) Has a valid and current DCTC operator’s license authorizing the person to provide luxury class service under § 1209; and

(c) Is in compliance with Chapter 9 (Insurance Requirements).

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 (“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).

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 with 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 the operator drives;

(e) The operator informs the Office of any change in the information required by subsection (d) 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 issuance;

(f) 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) In electronic format, 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:

(A) The date, the time of pickup;

(B) The address or location of the pickup;

(C) The final destination, which may be phrased “as directed” for electronic manifest maintained in accordance with Chapter 16; and

(D) The time of discharge; and

1. (5) For manifest maintained in a non-electronic format, does not include terms such as “as directed” in lieu of any information required by this paragraph in accordance with § 1201.8; and
2. (6) Is kept in the vehicle readily available for immediate inspection by a District enforcement official (including a public vehicle enforcement inspector (hack inspector)).
3. (g) Where limousine service is provided, the trip is booked by contract reservation based on an hourly rate;
4. (h) Where black car service is provided, the trip is conducted in accordance with the operating requirements of Chapter 14 of this title;
5. (i) 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
6. (j) 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.1201.6 The penalty for a violation of § 1201.4(i) by an operator providing LCS shall be a civil fine as set forth in Chapter 20.1201.7 Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, an LCS vehicle, for which valid and current livery tags have been issued by both DMV and by the motor vehicle licensing agency of another jurisdiction, may operate in the District during such times when:- (a) It displays valid and current tags from such other jurisdiction;
7. (b) It displays on its windshield a valid and current vehicle registration sticker from DMV; and
8. (c) The luxury tags issued by DMV are maintained in the vehicle available for inspection upon demand by a District enforcement official and such vehicle is otherwise in full compliance with this chapter.1201.8 A trip manifest maintained in an electronic format by an operator who connects with a passenger through digital dispatch may include a phrase “as directed” or similar phrase in lieu of including a passenger’s trip destination; provided that the destination is added to the manifest immediately upon the completion of the trip.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 41 DCR 2812 (May 20, 1994); as amended by Final Rulemaking Taxicabs and Public Vehicles for Hire

published at 53 DCR 855 (February 10, 2006); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 5605 (June 8, 2007); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 6069 (June 22, 2007); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 12394 (August 30, 2013); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 134 (January 2, 2015); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 338 (January 8, 2016); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 7668 (May 20, 2016).