Photo by Shaun Barrows.

This post has been updated

After the D.C. Taxicab Commission engaged in a sting on high-end livery company Uber a few weeks back, there were howls of complaints from riders who liked the service over normal cabs and cabbies who asked that the commission additionally focus its resources on the estimated 2,000 illegal cabs in the District.

The Examiner reports today that the commission may be doing just that:

Commission Chairman Ron Linton will issue a cease and desist order to Anacostia Cab Association, forcing its cabbies to black out the logos on the company’s 25 cars and no longer operate as taxis, lest the vehicles be impounded.

A man who answered a phone number corresponding to the company Tuesday morning denied the commission’s accusations, saying that the company was being unfairly targeted, but the person refused to give his name.

The move comes amidst a broader plan by the commission to raise fares and by the D.C. Council to modernize the city’s fleet of 8,600 cabs.

UPDATE, 1:50 p.m.: The Taxicab Commission has released the following statement on the action:

The DC Taxicab Commission today ordered the Anacostia Cab Association to stop operating and remove its 26 vehicles from city streets. The action was taken as a result of numerous violations of Taxicab rules and regulations including providing a false address.

The Commission found that the Company could not prove payment of taxes, whether it had appropriately registered with Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, that it had a legal place of business or that it was a legal business entity. Further the Commission found the company had falsified its records.

Any of the company’s vehicles found on the streets without its name and number blacked out will be impounded.

Additionally the Commission found numerous violations by Anacostia Cab Association drivers over the past year including two instances where drivers ran from Hack Inspectors endangering their passengers. In at least ten instances, drivers were found operating without proper licenses, no proof of insurance and with expired inspection stickers.

“The performance of this company and its drivers is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Ron M. Linton, Commission Chairman said today. “We intend over the months ahead to audit all 116 taxi companies operating with DC licenses to ensure they are complying with DC law, regulations and are safe for passengers.”