801

PASSENGER RATES AND CHARGES

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 For trips within the District of Columbia, the regular metered rate of fare is as follows:

(a) Three dollars ($3.00) upon entry and first 1/6 of a mile;

(b) Twenty-five cents ($0.25) for each one sixth of a mile after the first 1/6; and

(c) The wait rate is fifteen dollars ($15.00) 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 Except for declared snow emergency fares provided for in §804, the regular metered fare listed in §801.3, not including extra charges and surcharges listed in §801.6, shall not exceed nineteen dollars ($19) for any one (1) way trip originating and ending in the District of Columbia. Upon arrival to the stated destination, the meter shall be stopped and the fare shall be paid. If the passenger then requests transport to another destination, the new destination shall be recorded and the meter shall be started anew to calculate a new trip.

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) Dismissal of a taxicab without use, after response to a telephone call, shall be one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) in addition to the one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) charge for responding;

(c) Luggage including large bags of groceries or articles of similar size, there shall be no charge for one piece per passenger. For

additional pieces, there is a charge of fifty cents ($.50) for each piece handled by the driver. Briefcases and parcels of comparable size shall not be considered luggage;

1. (d) Trunks or similar-sized large articles shall be charged at the rate of two dollars per piece (\$2.00). A trunk is a piece of baggage having a minimum dimension or cubic content in excess of 32 inches by 18 inches by 9 inches, or three (3) cubic feet, respectively;
2. (e) Personal service shall be charged at the rate of two dollars (\$2.00). 'Personal service' is any service requested by a passenger which requires the taxicab driver to leave the vicinity of the taxicab. No such charge shall be made for persons who are blind, handicapped or disabled;
3. (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;
4. (g) Small dogs or other small animals, when securely enclosed in a box or basket designed for that purpose, may accompany a passenger without charge. Other animals not so enclosed may be carried at the discretion of the driver:
5. (1) If the driver agrees to carry a small dog or small animal which is not enclosed, there shall be a charge of one dollar (\$1.00);
6. (2) A driver may refuse to transport any passenger traveling with a small dog or other small animal if the driver notifies the passenger that he/she suffers from a diagnosed medical condition such as allergies and cannot travel with the small dog or other small animal in the vehicle; and
7. (3) No driver shall have a personal pet or animal of any kind in a vehicle for hire while holding the vehicle out for hire or transporting passengers, except as provided in subsection (h) (service animal).
8. (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;
9. (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;

(j) Where an airport surcharge is paid by the taxicab driver, that surcharge may be added to the fare of the trip; and

(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.

(l) Additional passenger charge for groups of two or more passengers is one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) per passenger;

801.7 In cases where more than one passenger enters a taxicab at the same time on a pre arranged basis (group riding) bound for different destinations, in addition to the applicable charges set out in this section, the fare shall be charged as follows: Whenever a passenger gets out, the fare shall be paid, the meter shall be reset, and the last passenger shall pay the remaining fee.

801.8 For trips beyond the limits of the District of Columbia, the provisions in Subsection 801.5 will not apply.

801.9 Any continuous trip where the point of origin and the destination are both within the limits of the District of Columbia shall not be considered a trip beyond the limits of the District though the shortest and most direct route requires traveling outside of the District's boundaries into a contiguous jurisdiction. For such a trip the meter shall be kept in the recording position throughout.

801.10 As provided in § 808, shared riding is only allowed from Union Station at the discretion of a starter. Rates for shared riding shall be calculated in accordance with § 801.7.

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).