Students might have to shell out a little more cash for cabs soon because of a new D.C. ruling.
The D.C. Taxicab Commission will scrap its $19 fare cap after proposing a slew of minor changes to taxi operations, including rules for giving out receipts and a potential snow emergency flat rate.
Instead of maxing out fares at $19, cab meters will run for the duration of taxi rides, charging the current $3 flat rate for the first sixth of a mile and 25 cents for each sixth of a mile after that.
Cabs traveling into Virginia and Maryland never had a fare cap. The D.C. cap did not include surcharges for extensive baggage or the $1 gas surcharge.
Dena Reed, general counsel for the commission, said taxi laws were “due for a major overhaul to update the regulations, expectations for the consumer and professional responsibility of all drivers.”
When asked when the changes will take effect, she said the commission voted to hold the proposals at its last meeting but declined to say when the vote would again be taken up.
Reed said that commenting on potential effects of the fare cap removal for drivers and customers would be speculation.
Jitender Dhindsa, a driver for the Presidential Cab company, said very few riders reach the $19 cap.
Taxi driver Amrik Khasharya said the changes are “a good thing.”
“Everybody’s trying to make a living,” he said.