609.1 Effective January 1, 2013, no vehicle that is more than five (5) model years old (or has accumulated mileage in excess of three hundred thousand miles (300,000 mi.)) may begin service as a taxicab in the District of Columbia, whether owned, rented, or leased.

609.2 The Commission establishes a gradual removal schedule for the purposes of beginning the process of removing the current older vehicles from service and minimizing the impact, on both drivers and consumers, of the loss of a large number of taxicabs from service:

(a) Effective January 1, 2013, the following five (5) year schedule of vehicle removal from service will apply to all public vehicles for hire currently in service as a taxicab in the District of Columbia, whether owned, rented, or leased.

5 YEAR REMOVAL SCHEDULE

Disposal Year**	Age Policy***	Model Year
2013	15 years and older	1997 and older
2014	12 - 14 years	2000 - 1998
2015	10 - 11 years	2002 - 2001
2016	8 - 9 years	2004 - 2003
2017	7 years or older	2005 - below

Vehicles must go out of service on Jan 1st of the year listed.

1. Mileage is not a factor in this removal schedule.

(b) Pursuant to this chapter, no vehicle may begin service as a taxicab in the District of Columbia that is more than five (5) model years old, in accord with § 609.1, and at the end of the five (5) year removal schedule in, § 609.2 (a), no vehicle remaining in service as a taxicab in the District of Columbia may be more than seven (7) model years old, in accord with § 609.4.

609.3 A Waiver Petition may be filed with the Commission to request a one (1) time extension of time or waiver from the removal schedule at § 609.2 (a) only. The following provisions apply to a request for a waiver:

(a) Standards for a waiver include, but are not limited to

(1) Vehicle must have passed its last two (2) required inspections;

(2) Vehicle may not have any body damage; and

(3) Vehicle must have current insurance;

(b) A non-refundable waiver application fee, established by the commission, must be paid at the time of application;

(c) Owner may apply for a waiver ninety (90) days before his or her disposal year but no later than thirty (30) days before his or her disposal year;

(d) Applicant must file a Carfax report with application;

(e) A panel of three (3) persons, which may include Department of Motor Vehicles representative, Hack Inspector, and Commission staff person or General Counsel, will review all requests for waiver;

(f) A waiver granted may be granted for a maximum of three (3) years or any lesser period;

(g) A denial of waiver may not be appealed; and

(h) No extension of time or waiver may be granted for salvaged (including rebuilt salvaged) vehicles.

609.4 Effective January 1, 2018, no vehicle that is more than seven (7) model years old (or that has accumulated mileage in excess of four hundred thousand miles (400,000 mi.)) may remain in service as a taxicab in the District of Columbia, whether owned, rented, or leased.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 45 DCR 2556 (April 24, 1998); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 52 DCR 11289 (December 30, 2005); as amended by Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 59 DCR 6317 (June 1, 2012).