D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 31, r. 31-1605

Current through Register Vol. 71, No. 49, December 6, 2024

Rule 31-1605 - DIGITAL DISPATCH SERVICES - REGISTRATION

1605.1

No digital dispatch service shall operate in the District unless it is registered with the Office as provided in this section.

1605.2

Each digital dispatch service operating in the District on the effective date of the Vehicle-for-Hire Act shall register with the Office within five (5) business days of the effective date of this chapter, and all other digital dispatch services shall register with the Office prior to commencing operations in the District.

1605.3

Where a digital dispatch service provides digital dispatch for an associated or affiliated private sedan business, the digital dispatch service and its associated or affiliated private sedan business shall contemporaneously apply for registration under this chapter and Chapter 19, respectively.

1605.4

Each digital dispatch service shall register by completing an application form made available by the Office, which shall include information and documentation:

(a) Demonstrating that the digital dispatch service is licensed to do business in the District;

(b) Demonstrating that the digital dispatch service maintains a registered agent in the District;

(c) Demonstrating that the digital dispatch service maintains a website that complies with§ 1604.3;

(d) Describing in writing the digital dispatch service's app, with accompanying screenshots, to allow District enforcement officers to understand the functionality of the app, and to verify during a traffic stop:

(1) If the vehicle is a public vehicle-for-hire: that the operator and the vehicle are associated with the digital dispatch service;

(2) If the vehicle is a private sedan: that the operator and the vehicle are registered with the digital dispatch service's associated or affiliated private sedan business and not under suspension; and

(3) The time and location of the most recent request for service.

(e) A certification that the digital dispatch service is in compliance with the operating requirements of§ 1604.

1605.5

Each registration application form filed under § 1605.3 shall be:

(a) Executed under oath by an individual with authority to complete the filing;

(b) Accompanied by a filing fee of five hundred dollars ($500) regardless of the number of vehicle-for-hire services dispatched by the digital dispatch service; and

(c) Accompanied by one (1) or more bond(s) naming the District of Columbia as obligee for the purpose of securing the amount(s) owed to the District pursuant to § 1604.7. Such bond(s) shall:

(1) Be in effect throughout the digital dispatch service's registration period and for one (1) year thereafter; and

(2) Be in the amount of:

(A) For taxicabs: one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000); and

(B) For each public or private vehicle- for-hire service other than taxicabs:

(i) Two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000); or

(ii) Pursuant to an administrative issuance, one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000), inclusive, if the digital dispatch service voluntarily maintains with the Department current information relevant to establishing a risk profile for the non-payment of amount(s) owed to the District pursuant to the § 1604.7, such as the number of the digital dispatch service's associated vehicles.

(d) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph (c) of this subsection, a bond shall not be required during the first six (6) months that any business digitally dispatches rides pursuant to a donation agreement with the Department or a live field testing program approved by the Department pursuant to §§ 1612.6et seq.

1605.6

Not later than thirty (30) days after the effective date of these regulations, each digital dispatch service registered with the Department shall provide such bond(s) to the Department as are required by § 1605.5.

1605.7

The Office shall complete its review of a registration application form within fifteen (15) business days of filing. Each applicant shall cooperate with the Office to supplement or correct any information needed to complete the review. The Office may deny registration where it appears the private sedan business will not be operating in compliance with this title and other applicable laws.

1605.8

Each registration under this section shall be effective for twenty four (24) months.

1605.9

Each registered digital dispatch service shall renew its registration at least fourteen (14) days prior to its expiration as provided in § 1605.6.

1605.10

Each registered digital dispatch service shall promptly inform the Office of any of the following occurrences in connection with its most recent registration:

(a) A change in the operation of its app which affects how a District enforcement official uses the app during a traffic stop to determine that the operator and vehicle are in compliance with this title and other applicable laws;

(b) A change in contact information; and

(c) A materially incorrect, incomplete, or misleading statement.

1605.11

A claim may be made by the Department against any bond provided by a digital dispatch service pursuant to § 1605.5 for any amount owed to the District of Columbia by the digital dispatch service under § 1604.7 which remains unpaid for more than thirty (30) days. The Department shall give written notice to the digital dispatch service of its intent to make a claim against a bond not less than ten (10) days prior to taking the action.

D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 31, r. 31-1605

Final Rulemaking published at 61 DCR 4430 (May 2, 2014); as Amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 147 (January 2, 2015); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 338 (1/8/2016); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 64 DCR 7895 (8/11/2017)

Authority: Sections 8(c)(2), (3), (4), (5), (7), (19) and (20), 14, 20 and 20 a of the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission Establishment Act of 1985 ("Establishment" Act), effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-97; D.C. Official Code §§50-307(c)(2), (3), (4), (5), (7), (19) and (20) (2012 Repl. & 2013 Supp.); D.C. Official Code §50-313 (2012 Repl. & 2013 Supp.); D.C. Official Code §50-319 (2012 Repl. & 2013 Supp.); and D.C. Official Code §50-320 (2012 Repl. & 2013 Supp.)); D.C. Official Code § 47 -2829 (b), (d), (e), (e-1), and (i) (2012 Repl. & 2013 Supp.).