Photo by Chris Reif

As October 1 quickly approaches, so does the deadline for all D.C. taxicabs to have credit card readers installed. But things aren’t looking great on that front.

D.C. Taxicab Commission leader Ron Linton told former DCist editor Ben Freed at Washingtonian that “at least 2,000 taxis without credit card readers on September 30.” DCTC spokesperson Neville Waters later told City Desk that is a “worst-case scenario.”

Linton has previously said that any cab caught without a credit card reader after the extended October 1 deadline would be impounded. But how exactly is the DCTC planning to enforce this?

Waters told DCist that there is no plan “to form a special task force” to find cabs without readers, “but Hack Inspectors will be diligently looking for violators.”

He also said customers can direct complaints about violators to (855)484-4966. Customers should have the company name, vehicle number and, ideally, the driver’s Face ID.

A joint task force between the DCTC and the Metropolitan Police Department conducted a strike earlier this month that resulted in 14 cabs being impounded and 65 being ticketed.