801.1 Passenger rates and charges for metered taxicab service provided within the District of Columbia shall be in accordance with the charges established in this chapter. No person shall knowingly or intentionally charge an amount in excess of the rates and charges established in this chapter.

801.2 The word "passenger" shall not include one child five (5) years of age or younger accompanied by an older person.

801.3 The regular metered fare rates for all trips within the District of Columbia and the Washington Metropolitan Area are as follows:

(a) Three dollars ($3) upon entry (drop rate) and first one eighth (1/8) of a mile;

(b) Twenty-seven cents ($0.27) for each one eighth (1/8) of a mile after the first one eighth (1/8) of a mile; and

(c) The wait rate is twenty-five dollars ($25) per hour.

801.4 Wait time begins five (5) minutes after time of arrival at the place the taxicab was called. No time shall be charged for premature response to a call. Waiting time shall be charged for time consumed while the taxicab is stopped or slowed to a speed of less than ten miles per hour for longer than sixty (60) seconds and for time consumed for delays or stopovers en route at the direction of the passenger. Wait time shall be calculated in sixty (60) second increments. Wait time does not include time that is lost due to taxicab or driver inefficiency.

801.5 REPEALED.

801.6 Extra charges or surcharges shall be as follows:

(a) Telephone dispatch service in response to a telephone call for taxicab service shall be two dollars ($2.00);

(b) REPEALED;

(c) Luggage fee – A fee of fifty cents ($0.50) per piece of luggage is authorized for each piece of luggage the operator places in his or her trunk. Briefcases, purses, bags of groceries, and parcels of similar size shall not be considered luggage;

(d) REPEALED;

(e) REPEALED;

(f) Delivery service (messenger service and parcel pick-up and

delivery) shall be at the same rate as for a single passenger unless the vehicle is hired by the hour;

1. (g) Small dogs or other small animals – when securely enclosed in a carrier designed for that purpose, small dogs or other small animals may accompany a passenger without charge. Other animals not so enclosed may be carried at the discretion of the driver. Additionally:
2. (1) A driver may refuse to transport any passenger traveling with a small dog or other small animal if the driver presents to the passenger an Exemption Certificate from the Commission that certifies that he or she suffers from a diagnosed medical condition, such as allergies, which prevents him or her from traveling with such small dogs or other animals;
3. (2) No driver shall have a personal pet or animal of any kind in a public vehicle for hire (taxi or limousine) while holding the vehicle out for hire or transporting passengers; and
4. (3) A driver may request an Exemption Certificate from the Commission that certifies that he or she suffers from a documented diagnosed medical condition, such as allergies, which prevents him or her from traveling with such small dogs or other small animals securely enclosed in a carrier designed for that purpose. Without such Certificate a driver may NOT refuse to transport any passenger traveling with a small dog or other small animal, securely enclosed in such carrier. The certificate shall be on the form prescribed by the Commission and notarized by an appropriately licensed medical professional (for example, general practitioner or allergist). The Certificate must be renewed at each license renewal.
5. (h) A service animal accompanying a passenger with a disability shall be carried without charge. The term 'service animal' means a guide dog, a signal dog, or other animal trained to assist or perform tasks for the benefit of a passenger with a disability;
6. (i) Devices for the aid of a disabled person, such as a folding wheelchair, when accompanying the passenger with a disability shall be carried without charge. No driver shall impose a personal service charge for loading or unloading such devices in or from a taxicab;
7. (j) Where an airport surcharge is paid by the taxicab driver, that

surcharge may be added to the fare of the trip;

(k) A taxicab employed on an hourly basis shall be $25.00 for the first hour or fraction thereof and $6.25 for each additional fifteen minutes or fraction thereof; and

(l) Additional passenger fee for vans – A one dollar ($1) per passenger fee may be charged for the second, third, and fourth passenger (for a maximum additional passenger fee of three dollars ($3) per trip) in a van.

801.7 In cases where more than one (1) passenger enters a taxicab at the same time on a pre-arranged basis (Group Riding or Shared Riding) bound for common or different destinations, in addition to any applicable charges set out in this section, the fare shall be charged as follows: As each passenger arrives to his or her destination, the fare then due shall be paid by the passenger(s) leaving the taxicab. There shall be a new flag drop and the passenger(s) remaining in the group shall pay in the same manner until the last passenger(s) arrives at his or her destination and the final taxicab fare is then paid. There shall be a new flag drop for each leg (or separate destination) of the trip.

801.8 REPEALED.

801.9 REPEALED.

801.10 As provided in § 808, Shared Riding is only allowed from Union Station, Verizon Center, and Nationals Park at the direction of a Starter at designated taxi stands. The fare for Shared Riding shall be calculated in accordance with § 801.7. Shared Riding may be authorized by the Chairman for other venues from time to time in order to address crowd control issues.

801.11 Where the taxicab operator accepts a credit card for Payment:

(a) There shall be no additional charge added to the fare for the use of a credit card;

(b) No minimum charge may be imposed for the use of a credit card to pay a fare;

(c) No service may be refused to any person desiring to use a credit card on the grounds that a trip will not exceed a minimum length or generate a minimum fare; and

(d) Any operator who accepts credit cards in payment of fares must have posted on a sign in a location that is conspicuous to all passengers the type of credit cards accepted for payment.

801.12 A sign approved by the Office of Taxicabs displaying passenger rates

and charges shall be affixed to each taxicab on either the rear door window, rear vent window, or wrap around window and maintained in good conditions.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 37 DCR 3595, 3611 (June 1, 1990); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 854 (February 10, 2006); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 55 DCR 3831 (April 11, 2008); and as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 55 DCR 9738 (September 12, 2008); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 57 DCR 9734 (October 15, 2010); as amended by Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 58 DCR 9046 (October 21, 2011); as amended by Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 59 DCR 3154 (April 20, 2012); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 59 DCR 9970, 9972 (August 17, 2012).