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GOVERNMENT
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICE OF THE CHAIRPERSON DATE: February 29, 2000 SUBJECT: Notice of Emergency Rulemaking for Gasoline Surcharge and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Rate Increase Enclosed is a notice of emergency rulemaking to approve a fifty cents ($.50) gasoline surcharge for taxicab service. The $.50 would be added to each trip for the period of April 15, 2000 through August 13, 2000, unless changed by the Panel on Rates and Rules. The last taxicab gasoline surcharge was seventy cents ($.70) and was in effect from June 1 through September 1, 1996. Information from AAA Mid-Atlantic (enclosed) shows that during the period of February 19, 1999 through February 17, 2000, the price for self serve regular unleaded gasoline increased forty-one cents ($.41) per gallon. Recently, it was reported that gasoline prices increased another six cents ($.06) within the past several days. The $.50 gasoline surcharge is reasonable. Also enclosed is a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend the rates for taxicab service. The last rate increase for taxicab service became effective on September 1, 1996. The proposed rate increase is for twenty-five percent (25%) . If the proposed rates become effective, it will be almost four (4) years since the September 1996 increase. The proposed rate increase would also establish a night time surcharge of one dollar ($1.00) for trips between 11:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. In addition, the proposed rate increase would provide for a surcharge of ten cents ($.10) per trip from October 1, 2000 through March 31, 2001 to cover the cost of installing a safety device in each taxicab. In the past, when the rate increase became effective the gasoline surcharge was terminated. Should you have any questions or concerns, please let me know. Enclosures DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA TAXICAB COMMISSION
PANEL ON RATES AND RULES
|
| No. Zones | Current Fares |
| 1 | $4.00 |
| 2 | 5.50 |
| 3 | 6.90 |
| 4 | 8.25 |
| 5 | 9.25 |
| 6 | 10.25 |
| 7 | 11.75 |
| 8 | 12.50 |
The District of Columbia Taxicab Commission (Commission), by its Panel on Rates and Rules (Panel) pursuant to D.C. Code §§11506, 40-1707, 40-1708 and 40-1717, hereby gives notice of its proposed rulemaking action taken on March 7, 2000, to amend, in not less than thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register, Title 31 DCMR Chapter 8, the rates and charges governing taxicab service in the District of Columbia. The Panel proposes to amend Appendix 8-2 (Taxicab Zone Map and Charges).
The Panel proposes to amend Appendix 8-2 (Taxicab Zone Map and Charges) by adding a twenty-five percent (250) increase, rounded to the nearest ten cents ($.10), to each current zone fare charge. The last taxicab rate increase was effective September 1, 1996. The current taxicab zone fares and the proposed fares are set out below:
| No. Zones | Current Fares | Proposed Fares |
| 1 | $4.00 | $5.00 |
| 2 | 5.50 | 6.90 |
| 3 | 6.90 | 8.60 |
| 4 | 8.25 | 10.30 |
| 5 | 9.25 | 11.60 |
| 6 | 10.25 | 12.80 |
| 7 | 11.75 | 14.70 |
| 8 | 12.50 | 15.60 |
The Panel proposes to adopt a new night time surcharge of $1.00 for the period of 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. Therefore, the Panel proposes to amend § 802.9 as follows:
802.9 A surcharge of one dollar ($1.00) shall be added to any trip originating between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., and 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on business days. A surcharge of $1.00 shall be added to any trip originating between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. everyday. For the purposes of this section, each shared ride is a separate trip.
The Panel also proposes to add a safety surcharge of ten cents ($.10) for each trip during the period of October 1, 2000 through March 31, 2001, The safety surcharge will allow taxicab vehicle owners to pay for the cost of installing a Commission approved safety device in each taxicab.
Any person desiring to file written comments on the Panel's proposed rulemaking action must do so not later than thirty (30) days after the publication of this notice in the D.C. Register. Comments should be filed with George W. Crawford, Interim Chairperson, District of Columbia Taxicab Commission, 2041 Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20020. Copies of the proposed rulemaking may be obtained at this address. After the written comment period the Commission will take final rulemaking action.
The District of Columbia Taxicab Commission (Commission), by its Panel on Rates and Rules (Panel), pursuant to D.C. Code §§11506, 40-1707, and 401708, hereby gives notice of its proposed rulemaking action taken February 1, 2000, to amend, in not less than thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register, §601 of Chapter 6 of Title 31 DCMR, Parts and Equipment. The proposed amendment will permit the use of sport utility vehicles and minivans as taxicabs. The proposed amendment will also require that all taxicabs be equipped with a partition or video camera for driver safety.
Proposed amendment: Delete §601 in its entirety and substitute the following:
601 PARTS AND EQUIPMENT
601.1 Each taxicab licensed under §31(d) of the License Act (D.C. Code §47-2829(d) (1997 Repl. Vol.)) shall be either sedan, station wagon, sport utility, minivan, or built-for-the-purpose, and shall be equipped with at least two (2) rear doors for the entrance and exit of passengers, in addition to the door or doors which give access to the driver's seat. All passenger doors shall be so constructed that they will remain securely fastened during normal operation, but may be readily opened by a passenger in case of .emergency.
601.2 Each taxicab shall be of good substantial appearance and be so constructed and maintained as to provide for the safety of the public and for continuous and satisfactory operation, and to reduce to a minimum noise and vibration caused by that operation.
601.3 Each taxicab shall be structurally sound as to all of its parts, shall not have broken or cracked glass, or damaged fenders, doors, or parts, and shall be painted to give reasonable protection to all painted surfaces from structural deterioration. All identifying marks on taxicabs shall be clearly legible at all times.
601.4 The seats of every taxicab shall be vinyl, leather, or covered with plastic, and the rear seat(s) shall be removable.
601.5 Any floor mat added to a taxicab to protect or replace carpeting shall be nonabsorbent and washable.
601.6 No taxicab shall be equipped with shades or curtains which can be manipulated in a way as to shield the occupants or driver from observation from outside the vehicle. No taxicab shall be equipped with any after market film (tint) to darken the front and rear windshields and windows.
601.7 Each taxicab in service shall be equipped with a speedometer and odometer properly installed, maintained in good working order, and exposed to view. No taxicab shall be used in taxicab service while its speedometer or odometer is not working properly or .is disconnected.
601.8 Each taxicab shall be equipped with a light capable of illuminating the interior of each taxicab and controlled by the operation of the doors or manually controlled by the driver.
601.9 Effective October 1, 2000, each taxicab shall be equipped with a partition between the front and rear seats for driver safety. The partition shall be installed so that it:
(a) Does not obstruct the vision of the driver to the rear;
(b) Can be opened from the driver's side;
(c) Does not impede entering into and exiting from the taxicab;
(d) Is not a hazard to passengers in the rear seat in case of an accident; and
(e) Meets all standards promulgated by the Commission and the Department of Motor Vehicle Services.
601.10 In lieu of the partition required by §601.9, a taxicab may be equipped with a video camera for driver safety. The video camera shall be:
(a) Approved by the Commission;
(b) Mounted on the front dashboard or rear view mirror in such a way that it does not limit the driver's visibility;
(c) Equipped with infrared lenses so there is no need for outside light sources;
(d) Activated at all tunes that the vehicle is in operation;
(e) Capable of storing clear video images of the entire rear seat of the taxicab and its occupants; and
(f) Inspected by an authorized repair facility every six (6) months to coincide with the vehicle inspection.
601.11 Each taxicab vehicle with a video camera shall have signs, approved by the Commission, to notify passengers they are being photographed.
601.12 A taxicab may be equipped with a factory installed vinyl or cloth roof provided the color of the roof is consistent with the Commission approved color scheme.
601.13 All taxicab vehicles licensed in the District of Columbia shall be equipped with a properly working heating system during the period of October 16th through May 14th.
601.14 All taxicab vehicles licensed in the District of Columbia shall be equipped with a properly working air conditioning system during the period of May 15th to October 15th .
601.15 All taxicabs on public streets or public space shall be properly equipped with four (4) hubcaps or four (4) wheel covers.
Any person desiring to file written comments on the Panel's proposed rulemaking actions must do so not later than thirty (30) days after the publication of this notice in the D.C. Register. Comments should be filed with George W. Crawford, Interim Chairperson, District of Columbia Taxicab Commission, 2041 Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20020. Copies of the proposed rulemaking may be obtained at this address.
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