§ 50–301.13. Regulation of public vehicles-for-hire.

(a) The DFHV may issue any reasonable rule relating to the supervision of public vehicles-for-hire it considers necessary for the protection of the public.

(b) The DFHV may establish standards, criteria, and requirements for the licensing of the different classes of public vehicles-for-hire and the owner and operators thereof, and may establish appropriate classes of license fees for the ownership and operation of public vehicles-for-hire subject to the requirements of this section, provided that no license requirement for operating authority shall be mandated by the DFHV which is duplicative of the jurisdiction of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission.

(c) No person, corporation, partnership, or association shall operate a public vehicle-for-hire in the District without first having procured all applicable licenses and meeting all requirements as mandated by the DFHV. Any violation of this subsection shall subject a violator to a civil fine not to exceed $500.

(c-1) Repealed.

(d) The DFHV may establish reasonable civil fines and penalties for violation of any rule issued pursuant to the authority of this section.

(e) All rules and regulations applicable to public vehicles-for-hire in effect before October 22, 2012, that are consistent with this subchapter shall remain effective until amended or repealed by the DFHV.

(Mar. 25, 1986, D.C. Law 6-97, § 14, 33 DCR 703; Nov. 25, 2008, D.C. Law 17-280, § 2(a), 55 DCR 11066; Mar. 3, 2010, D.C. Law 18-111, § 6053, 57 DCR 181; Oct. 22, 2012, D.C. Law 19-184, § 2(n), 59 DCR 9431; June 22, 2016, D.C. Law 21-124, § 401(o), 63 DCR 7076; Mar. 22, 2023, D.C. Law 24-333, § 7, 70 DCR 1524.)

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 40-1713.

2001 Ed., § 50-313.

Effect of Amendments

D.C. Law 17-280 added subsec. (c-1).

D.C. Law 18-111 repealed subsec. (c-1).

The 2012 amendment by D.C. Law 19-184 substituted “Commission” for “Mayor” and substituted “public vehicles-for-hire” for “passenger vehicles for hire” throughout the section; substituted “fines and penalties” for “fines” in (d); rewrote (e); and made stylistic changes.

Applicability

Section 7286 of D.C. Law 25-217 amended section 9 of D.C. Law 24-333 making the amendment of this section by section 7 of D.C. Law 24-333 applicable as of October 1, 2025.

Applicability of D.C. Law 24-333: § 9 of D.C. Law 24-333 provided that the change made to this section by § 7 of D.C. Law 24-333 is subject to the inclusion of the law’s fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan. Therefore that amendment has not been implemented.

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 day) amendment, see § 2(a) of Taxicab Company, Association, and Fleet and Limousine License Moratorium Emergency Amendment Act of 2008 (D.C. Act 17-490, August 4, 2008, 55 DCR 9162).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(a) of Taxicab Company, Association, and Fleet and Limousine License Moratorium Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2008 (D.C. Act 17-548, October 24, 2008, 55 DCR 11979).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 6053 of Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Support Second Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-207, October 15, 2009, 56 DCR 8234).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 6053 of Fiscal Year Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-260, January 4, 2010, 57 DCR 345).

For addition (90 days) addition of D.C. Law 6-97, § 14a, concerning interim requirements for ride-sharing services, see § 3(b) of the Livery Class Regulation and Ride-Sharing Emergency Amendment Act of 2013 (D.C. Act 20-169, September 27, 2013, 60 DCR 14736).

For temporary (90 days) repeal of D.C. Law 19-184, § 7, see § 7007 of the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2013 (D.C. Act 20-130, July 30, 2013, 60 DCR 11384, 20 DCSTAT 1827).

For temporary (90 days) repeal of D.C. Law 19-184, § 7, see § 7007 of the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2013 (D.C. Act 20-204, October 17, 2013, 60 DCR 15341, 20 DCSTAT 2311).

Short Title

Section 7001 of D.C. Law 20-61 provided that Subtitle A of Title VII of the act may be cited as the “Subject to Appropriations Repealers Amendment Act of 2013”.

Editor's Notes

Section 7 of D.C. Law 19-184 provided that the act shall apply upon the inclusion of its fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan, as certified by the Chief Financial Officer to the Budget Director of the Council in a certification published by the Council in the District of Columbia Register.

Section 7007 of D.C. Law 20-61 repealed D.C. Law 19-184, § 7.