D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 31, r. 31-822
No person shall be issued or allowed to renew a license for a public vehicle for hire vehicle identification (DCTC) card or operator identification (Face) card under D.C. Official Code §§ 47 -2829(d) and (e) (2005 Repl.; 2011 Supp.)) unless that person has paid, together with the cost of the license; any outstanding assessment ordered by the Commission pursuant to D.C. Official Code §50-320 (2009 Repl.; 2011 Supp.); all fines imposed for notices of infractions issued for violations of Commission rules or District traffic or parking regulations involving the operation of a public vehicle for hire; and all other outstanding taxes, fines, fees, penalties, or interest owed to the District in excess of one hundred dollars ($100) pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 47-2862 (2005 Repl.; 2011 Supp.). If the applicant has properly and timely filed an appeal of the assessment, taxes, fine, fees, penalties or interest and the appeal is still pending, the applicant shall be given temporary operating authority (a temporary license) pending disposition of the appeal.
Face cards.
No person shall drive or be in physical control of a taxicab unless they have in their possession a valid identification card issued to them under D.C. Official Code § 47-2829(e) (2001) and a valid District of Columbia motor vehicle operator's permit or, for non-District residents or persons exempt from obtaining a District motor vehicle operator's permit, a valid motor vehicle operator's permit issued by a state that is a party to the Driver License Compact Act, D.C. Official Code § 50-1001et seq. (2001).
It shall be the duty of the owner of a taxicab and their agent or lessee to prevent any person from driving a taxicab unless the person has in their possession a valid identification card issued to him or her and a valid District of Columbia motor vehicle operator's permit or, for non-District residents or persons exempt from obtaining a District motor vehicle operator's permit, a valid motor vehicle operator's permit issued by a state that is a party to the Driver License Compact Act.
The fact that any unlicensed person is driving a taxicab shall be prima facie evidence that they are doing so with the permission of the owner, agent or lessee.
In the event an operator's identification card is suspended or revoked subsequent to receiving authority from the owner, agent or lessee to operate a taxicab, the owner, agent or lessee shall be held to have knowledge of the fact if notice of the revocation or suspension shall have been published or given to him or her, by the Commission or another agency of government.
The Office of Taxicabs shall, by registered mail and within five (5) business days of a final decision of suspension, revocation, or non-renewal of a taxicab operator identification card, notify the association, corporation, organization, or person that maintains a taxicab lease or taxicab association or company membership agreement with the operator that the operator's privilege to operate a taxicab in the District of Columbia has been suspended, revoked, or not renewed.
The association, corporation, organization or person that maintains a lease with the operator shall, upon receipt of the notice required by § 822.6, terminate any lease agreement, written or otherwise, with the operator, and shall take reasonable steps to assure the return to the owner of any vehicle leased to the operator.
Duty to update DCTC with current information.
The operation of taxicabs shall be conducted in accordance with the laws of the District and with due regard for the safety, comfort and convenience of passengers, for the safe and careful transportation of property, and for the safety of the general public. All reasonable efforts shall be made to promote safety at all times and under all conditions.
No person shall drive a taxicab for hire when the operator does any of the following:
No person shall drive or be in physical control of any taxicab for the purpose of carrying passengers or parcels for a period in excess of twelve (12) hours in any twenty-four (24) hour period, unless the driving time is broken by a period of eight (8) continuous hours of rest. No taxicab shall be operated during a twenty-four (24) hour period for more than sixteen (16) hours.
No person shall drive a taxicab for any period of time which, when added to the period of time they have driven any vehicle other than a taxicab, totals more than twelve (12) hours in any twenty-four (24) hour period, unless the driving time is broken by a period of eight (8) continuous hours of rest.
No owner of a taxicab or their agent shall knowingly permit any taxicab owned by him or her to be driven in violation of §§ 822.11 or 822.12.
No taxicab shall be driven when it is so loaded or when there is in the front seat such number of persons as to obstruct the view of the driver to the front or sides or to interfere with his or her control over the taxicab. No taxicab shall carry more adult passengers than the designed capacity of the vehicle, and no more children than can be seated comfortably on the seats.
Taxicab operators shall travel the most direct and reasonable route between the origin and destination of each trip, as reasonably determined by the operator. To the extent feasible, taxicab operators shall utilize a global positioning system ("GPS") device or a smart phone containing a GPS function to determine the most direct and reasonable route. The operator, if at all possible or in instances where the operator is unsure of the route, shall accept direction from the passenger to travel a certain route to the destination.
No taxicab operator shall stop to load or unload passengers on the traffic side of the street, while occupying any intersection or crosswalk, or in such a manner as to unduly interfere with the orderly flow of traffic. All taxicab drivers shall pull as close to the curb or edge of the roadway as possible to take on or discharge passengers.
No taxicab operator shall stop or park a taxicab adjacent to any curb except as follows:
Each taxicab in service shall be kept clean both inside and out, including the trunk. The inside shall be kept in a sanitary condition and shall be swept and dusted thoroughly. The exterior shall be thoroughly cleaned.
Each operator of a taxicab shall, upon concluding taxicab operations for the day, make a diligent search of all parts of the taxicab for property left therein. The operator shall promptly turn in all property of any value to any police precinct station.
At the request of the passenger, a taxicab operator shall turn off or turn down the sound on a radio, other than the radio used for communications with a dispatcher.
Nothing shall be transported in any taxicab that will cause the interior of the vehicle to become soiled or offensive to passengers because of odor or appearance.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 31, r. 31-822