D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 31, r. 31-605

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

Rule 31-605 - DOME LIGHTS AND TAXI NUMBERING SYSTEM

605.1

Each taxicab in service on September 13, 2016, and each vehicle introduced as a replacement vehicle under § 609, may continue to be equipped with an existing legacy dome light or may be equipped with a cruising light, at the option of the owner, subject to the requirements of this section. Each legacy dome light shall continue to be subject to the legacy dome light regulations to the extent such regulations do not conflict with this section, provided however, that each legacy dome light shall interact with a DTS and otherwise operate as required by this chapter and any applicable administrative issuance if a DTS is installed in the vehicle.

605.2

Beginning November 13, 2016, or such later date established by an administrative issuance, each vehicle placed into service other than as a replacement vehicle under § 609, shall be equipped only with a cruising light approved by the Department pursuant to this section, which interacts with the MTS or DTS and otherwise operates as required by this title and any applicable administrative issuance.

605.3

Each approved DTS provider shall be responsible for ensuring the interconnectivity and proper functioning of a DTS unit and the legacy dome light or cruising light.

605.4

The Department may approve as a cruising light any light which-

(a) Shall be constructed in a manner that meets or exceeds industry best practices;

(b) Shall display the vehicle's PVIN;

(c) Shall indicate whether the vehicle is available for booking by street hail;

(d) Shall interact with the vehicle's legacy taximeter or DTS as required by this chapter;

(e) May incorporate features to indicate that the taxicab is an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle; and

(f) May incorporate features to indicate that the operator is engaged in delivering goods or performing services.

605.5

The Department may issue an administrative issuance which:

(a) Approves one or more products meeting the requirements for a cruising light under this section;

(b) Provides guidance to DTS providers for installing cruising lights and ensuring their proper operation with DTS units;

(c) Provides guidance to affected stakeholders about the transition from the legacy dome light to the cruising light;

(d) Provides guidance to owners about the transfer of legacy dome lights from vehicles already in service to replacement vehicles, and about the decommissioning of legacy dome lights, where required by this section; and

(e) Establishes additional criteria for the appearance, functionality, connectivity, and installation of the cruising light, for safety, consumer protection, and other reasonable purposes within the jurisdiction of the Department.

605.6

A legacy dome light shall not be used on a vehicle placed into service unless the vehicle is replacing one already in service. An owner may electto transfer a legacy dome light to a replacement vehicle at the owner's expense.

605.7

At the time a vehicle equipped with a legacy dome light is retired from service, if the light is not transferred to a replacement vehicle, it shall be decommissioned by the deadline and in the manner required by an administrative issuance; an owner that fails to comply with such administrative issuance shall be subject to the suspension of the owner's vehicle license and/or other civil penalties for the violation of such administrative issuance; provided that the DTS provider or owner shall have the opportunity to challenge the legality or wisdom of any or all provisions of the relevant administrative issuance or issuances in an administrative hearing.

605.8

No taxicab shall be operated without a properly functioning legacy dome light or cruising light. The operation of a taxicab without a properly functioning legacy dome light or cruising light, as required or permitted by this title, shall give rise to a rebuttable presumption that the operator knew the condition of the light and operated the taxicab with such knowledge.

D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 31, r. 31-605

Final Rulemaking published at 37 DCR 3595, 3605 (June 1, 1990); as amended by § 3 of the Taxicab Commercial Advertising Amendment Act of 1992, D.C. Law 9-218, 40 DCR 556, 557 (January 22, 1993); by Final Rulemaking published at 45 DCR 8866, 8867 (December 11, 1998); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 59 DCR 8564, 8570 (July 20, 2012); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 1173 (February 1, 2013); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 61 DCR 6439 (June 27, 2014); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 64 DCR 1870 (2/23/2018)

Authority: Sections 8(c)(2) (3), (4), (5), (7), (11), (18), (19), 14, 20 and 20 a of the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission Establishment Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-97; D.C. Official Code §§ 50 -307(c)(2), (3), (4), (5), (7), (11), (18), (19), 50-313, 50-319 and 50-320 (2009 Repl. & 2012 Fall Supp.)); D.C. Official Code § 47-2829(b), (d), (e), (e-1), and (i) (2005 Repl. & 2012 Supp.).