Photo by andertho.

The D.C. Cab Commission has fined four drivers for violations related to acceptance of credit card payments, the first of 72 passenger complaints filed since October 1 to be resolved.

A release states that the drivers acknowledge the violations and are responsible for repairing malfunctioning meters, if that was the issue:

Passenger complaints included not accepting cashless payments, claims of non-working equipment and refusal to transport rather than accept a cashless payment. The specific violations under Title 31 would be charging an improper fare; operating with a non-functioning meter; or refusal to haul. Penalties range from $150 to $1,000 for each infraction.

The Commission also announced today the adoption of two emergency rules regarding removing older vehicles from service and “prompt payment” to drivers from Payment Service Providers (PSPs).

The Vehicle Removal Schedule has been clarified due to a delay with implementation caused by the adoption of the uniform color scheme. Thus, no later than January 1, 2014, or prior to the next regularly scheduled DMV vehicle inspection, all vehicles manufactured in model years 1997 and earlier must be removed from service.

The new PSP rules increase the fine for failure to pay a cab owner within 24 hours or one business day to $1,000 and creates a new rule with a “$1,000 fine requiring taxicab companies that contract with PSPs to pay their taxicab operators” within the same time period.

A sweeping set of modernization efforts began to take effect this fall, beginning with an October installation deadline for credit card readers connected to one of six PSPs. Since then, drivers held rallies condemning the implementation of the regulations, an association with the Teamsters was formed and DCTC Chairman Ron Linton was compared to Hitler.