800.1 This chapter shall apply to the operation of every public vehicle for hire licensed in the District of Columbia, including taxicabs and limousines.

800.2 The provisions of this chapter shall be interpreted to comply with the language and intent of the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission Establishment Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-97; D.C. Official Code §§ 50-301, et seq. (2009 Repl. & 2011 Supp.)) (Act).

800.3 Enforcement of the Act and its implementing regulations may be accomplished during traffic stops by any Hack Inspector, police officer, or other duly appointed law enforcement personnel. A traffic stop may include, but is not limited to, stops to verify compliance with license requirements; insurance and proof of insurance requirements; stops to inspect vehicles for compliance with safety standards; and stops made in response to observed conduct which may constitute safety and service violations. All traffic stops must be based on reasonable suspicion of a violation of law or regulation or public safety, and must be in accord with Commission General Orders.

800.4 Each taxicab company, independent owner, taxicab operator, payment service provider, and dispatch service shall comply with an administrative order or request for information issued by the Office that relates to the Office's administration of any provision of this chapter.

800.5 No public vehicle-for-hire may provide service in response to a dispatch other than as provided in Chapter 16 and other applicable laws.

800.6 A public vehicle-for-hire may provide service, including wheelchair accessible service, in response to a dispatch, as provided in Chapter 16, provided that:

(a) At all times while licensed and equipped as a public vehicle-for-hire, the vehicle shall be operated only in compliance with all applicable provisions of this title and other laws applicable to public vehicles-for-hire, including, without limitation, all provisions relating to the requirement that the vehicle be operated by a DCTC licensed operator, the use of a modern taximeter system, and the collection, and payment to the District, of the passenger surcharge; and

(b) A vehicle under an exclusive time contract other than as a public vehicle-for-hire shall be decommissioned as a public vehicle-for-hire.

800.7 An owner or operator that violates this subsection shall be subject to a civil fine of five hundred dollars ($500).

800.8 The provisions of this chapter shall apply to public vehicles-for-hire other than taxicabs to the extent provided in this title.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 37 DCR 3595, 3611 (June 1, 1990); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 59 DCR 9970, 9971 (August 17, 2012); as corrected by Errata Notice published at 60 DCR 12218 (August 23, 2013); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 2561 (February 27, 2015).