Model Pro-Innovation, Pro-Consumer Legislation from Washington, DC
The Public Vehicle-for-Hire Innovation Amendment Act of 2012
Model Pro-Innovation, Pro-Consumer Legislation from Washington, DC
The bill passed by the DC Council is a legislative framework that is pro-innovation, pro-consumer, and pro-driver. It will improve transportation in the District and serve as an innovative regulatory model for city transportation across the country. Some of the highlights include:
Transparency in consumer pricing:
- Receipts required (electronic or paper)
- Receipts provide trip info including pickup and drop off, breakdown of fare
- Ability to get fare estimate before booking vehicles and access to rate structure
Regulatory process must be transparent and in best interest of the public:
- Regulations can only be issued if they are attributed to improving customer or driver safety
- No limit on number of cars unless approved by both Taxi Commission and DC Council
- Digital dispatch services must work with licensed for-hire providers of transportation
- Digital dispatchers are not transportation companies: they must be licensed by the city like all businesses (and require no license from transportation regulators)
Increases the supply of vehicles-for-hire:
- Single operator licence for all for-hire vehicles (taxi, sedan, limo)
- Ability to convert a vehicle from limousine or taxi to sedan
- Sedans operate exclusively through digital dispatch, and are not allowed to accept street hails
- Sedans are only able to charge on basis of time and distance (except well-travelled routes that can have a flat rate)
- Strong incentive for Taxi Commission to begin issuing new operator licenses after four-year hiatus
Protections to increase access and prevent discrimination:
- Dispatchers to gauge interest in handicap vehicles and look at providing service once supply exists
- Large sedan companies are required to have wheelchair accessible cars in their fleets
- Digital dispatch companies must agree to service entire city
- Digital dispatch companies must provide the ability to report discrimination
- Uber adds anti-discrimination clause to agreement with drivers
- Commission can request census-level data from sedan companies to identify underserved areas
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