(a) (1) The Commissioner is authorized by rule to regulate wheelchair accessible taxicab vehicles and a centralized dispatch system for wheelchair accessible taxicab vehicles.
(2) The Commissioner is authorized to negotiate and enter into agreements with outside providers to manage and operate a centralized dispatch system for wheelchair accessible taxicab vehicles; and, in connection with such agreements, to enter into and execute all such other instruments and to perform any and all acts, including the allocation and expenditure of duly appropriated funds, as shall be necessary or advisable in connection with the implementation of such agreements and any renewals thereto.
(3) The Commissioner is authorized to assess the costs of such centralized dispatch system upon those licensees with wheelchair accessible taxicabs.
(b) (1) Any single licensee that owns or controls 20 or more licenses must place into service wheelchair accessible vehicles as taxicabs on five percent of its taxicab vehicle fleet.
(2) In addition to compliance with subparagraph (b)(1) of this section, any licensee that owns or controls 10 or more taxicab licenses shall have at least 10 percent of its taxicab fleet be wheelchair accessible vehicles by January 1, 2018, subject to the Commissioner's determination that the demand for wheelchair accessible vehicles is being met. Effective January 1, 2017, if a licensee subject to this subsection (b)(2) replaces any taxicab vehicle, the replacement vehicle, until the licensee complies with the requirement of this subsection (b)(2), shall be a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
(3) Any licensee that owns or controls 5 or more taxicab licenses shall have a total of at least 25 percent of its taxicab fleet be wheelchair accessible vehicles by January 1, 2027. Effective January 1, 2025, if a licensee subject to this subsection (b)(3) replaces any taxicab vehicle, the replacement vehicle, until the licensee complies with the requirement of this subsection (b)(3), shall be a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
(4) If accessibility fund monies are available, in addition to other uses provided in this Code, they shall be used to reimburse the additional costs associated with purchasing vehicles to be used as taxicabs that are fully wheelchair accessible as provided in the definition of the term "accessibility fund".
(5) If a licensee replaces a wheelchair accessible taxicab vehicle, the replacement vehicle shall also be a wheelchair accessible taxicab vehicle.
(c) In determining the wheelchair accessible taxicab vehicles requirements above, the City will add up the total number of licenses held by a single licensee. The total number of licenses that each licensee holds will be based on the total licenses in each corporation, or legal entity, in which he holds a 25 percent or greater share of ownership interest including, but not limited to, stocks and shares.
(d) Each taxicab affiliation must have verifiable records, in a form designated by the Commissioner by regulation, regarding the response of the taxicab affiliation to each request for a wheelchair accessible vehicle. Each taxicab affiliation shall provide such records to the Commissioner upon request for same.
(e) The Department shall audit the centralized dispatch for wheelchair accessible vehicles on an annual basis. If the Department finds that the centralized dispatch is not serving the goals of the disabled community, the Department shall take such actions as are necessary to ensure that the disabled community is served in a timely manner.
(f) The Commissioner may periodically engage in conversations with wheelchair access transportation services passengers and stakeholders to assess wheelchair accessible taxicab quality of service.
(Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19118, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-28-14, p. 82771, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 12062, Art. XI, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. IX, § 22; Amend Coun. J. 5-20-20, p. 17024, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 31925, Art. VI, § 6)