D.C. ride companies would disclose fares and meet accessibility standards

Companies could not use personal data gathered by tracking or monitoring to set ride fares. Exceptions would cover discounts publicly offered on equal terms, discounts based on voluntarily shared group status, and public need-based discounts. Discount terms would need clear disclosure, and only permitted personal information could be used.

Companies would let riders request wheelchair-accessible vehicles and dispatch those vehicles. The performance standards would apply to wheelchair-accessible trips beginning in D.C. The draft proposes average waits no more than 10% longer than comparable trips, but that figure is tentative. The rate of unfilled requests could not exceed that for other trips; cancellations by riders or drivers would count. D.C. could impose penalties, including loss of a license for serious violations. The act would take effect after mayoral approval or a veto override, 30 days of congressional review, and publication in D.C.’s official register.

D.C. would collect a mileage-based fee of at least 50 cents per motor-vehicle trip. Booking and meter companies would also owe 10 cents per completed trip that is not a wheelchair-accessible trip. Taxis without wheelchair access would carry a registration fee of at least $20 monthly, which D.C. could adjust. The mileage rate would be set later and could vary for cleaner vehicles. Accessibility money could help pay for vehicles, assistance to drivers, and ride subsidies.

D.C. would require at least $2 million in liability coverage for covered motor vehicles used for ride services. Covered trips would include driverless and promotional rides that start, end, or pass through D.C. Coverage would apply while providing service, including travel to a passenger, or available for booked or street-hailed rides. Motor-vehicle coverage would also include at least $1 million for uninsured or underinsured drivers. Pedicabs, motorized bicycles, and vehicles unable to exceed 20 mph on level ground would be exempt from these insurance requirements.

After investigating, D.C. could order suspected harmful violations to stop before a hearing. Officials could impound vehicles for missing required approvals or failing insurance or inspection requirements. Operating without a required license or endorsement would count as public harm. An impounded vehicle’s registration, the driver’s license to provide rides, or both would be withheld pending a hearing. People could request a hearing within 15 days of receiving a stop order; a timely request would require a hearing.