Cab drivers walk to the Wilson Building. Photo by Sarah Anne Hughes

Of the over 8,500 cab drivers* in D.C., more than 1,800 have joined the Teamster-Taxi association, according to a release from the group.

Members of said Taxi Operators Association will hold a rally outside One Judiciary Square tomorrow morning before the monthly D.C. Taxicab Commission meeting, presumably, to discuss their issues with the modernization requirements. A delegation of taxi drivers from the Association will attend the meeting to “speak during the public comment period.”

At the same time tomorrow, a hearing on the temporary restraining order requested by the Association against the DCTC will be held at the D.C. Superior Court. The restraining order is part of a legal strategy by the Teamster-affiliated group to halt fines and towing of cabs not in compliance with modernization requirements, including credit card machines and dome lights. Update: According to Neville Waters, DCTC spokesperson, the hearing was vacated as the case was moved to federal court.

The Washington Post reported today on how the regulations are impacting the DCTC’s vehicle enforcement inspectors.

It’s been five days since the inspectors began cracking down on drivers who haven’t installed the new digital dome lights. At least 25 cabs have been impounded for not complying. The drivers say they need more time to install the lights, which cost as much as $450. But the commission, which already extended the deadline once, is standing firm. So part of [Andraea] Benson’s mission this particular day is to look for violations of that rule.

Sounds like everyone is having an equally miserable time!

*Correction: This sentence originally stated that there are 6,000 drivers in D.C. There are 6,000 cabs.