1605 DIGITAL DISPATCH SERVICES - REGISTRATION

1605.1 No digital dispatch service shall operate in the District unless it is registered with the Office as provided in this section.1605.2 Each digital dispatch service operating in the District on the effective date of the Vehicle-for-Hire Act shall register with the Office within five (5) business days of the effective date of this chapter, and all other digital dispatch services shall register with the Office prior to commencing operations in the District.1605.3 Where a digital dispatch service provides digital dispatch for an associated or affiliated private sedan business, the digital dispatch service and its associated or affiliated private sedan business shall contemporaneously apply for registration under this chapter and Chapter 19, respectively.1605.4 Each digital dispatch service shall register by completing an application form made available by the Office, which shall include information and documentation:- (a) Demonstrating that the digital dispatch service is licensed to do business in the District;

- (b) Demonstrating that the digital dispatch service maintains a registered agent in the District;

- (c) Demonstrating that the digital dispatch service maintains a website that complies with § 1604.3;

- (d) Describing in writing the digital dispatch service's app, with accompanying screenshots, to allow District enforcement officers to understand the functionality of the app, and to verify during a traffic stop:

- (1) If the vehicle is a public vehicle-for-hire: that the operator and the vehicle are associated with the digital dispatch service;

- (2) If the vehicle is a private sedan: that the operator and the vehicle are registered with the digital dispatch service's associated or affiliated private sedan business and not under suspension; and

- (3) The time and location of the most recent request for service.

- (e) A certification that the digital dispatch service is in compliance with the operating requirements of § 1604.1605.5 Each registration application form filed under § 1605.3 shall be executed under

oath by an individual with authority to complete the filing and shall be accompanied by a filing fee of five hundred dollars ($500).

1605.6 The Office shall complete its review of a registration application form within fifteen (15) business days of filing. Each applicant shall cooperate with the Office to supplement or correct any information needed to complete the review. The Office may deny registration where it appears the private sedan business will not be operating in compliance with this title and other applicable laws.

1605.7 Each registration under this section shall be effective for twenty four (24) months.

1605.8 Each registered digital dispatch service shall renew its registration at least fourteen (14) days prior to its expiration as provided in § 1605.6.

1605.9 Each registered digital dispatch service shall promptly inform the Office of any of the following occurrences in connection with its most recent registration:

(a) A change in the operation of its app which affects how a District enforcement official uses the app during a traffic stop to determine that the operator and vehicle are in compliance with this title and other applicable laws;

(b) A change in contact information; and

(c) A materially incorrect, incomplete, or misleading statement.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 61 DCR 4430 (May 2, 2014); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 147 (January 2, 2015); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 338 (January 8, 2016).