ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA. County Board Agenda Item Meeting of April 16, 2016

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ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA County Board Agenda Item Meeting of April 16, 2016 DATE: April 8, 2016 SUBJECT: Request to Advertise a Public Hearing by the County Board on Proposed Changes to the Taxicab

RECOMMENDATION: Authorize advertisement of a public hearing by the County Board on May 14, 2016, on proposed changes to the Taxicab Ordinance, section 25.

1 ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA County Board Agenda Item Meeting of April 16, 2016 DATE: April 8, 2016 SUBJECT: Request to Advertise a Public Hearing by the County Board on Proposed Changes to the Taxicab Ordinance regarding maximum age and mileage of taxicab vehicles and upholstery material requirements. C. M. RECOMMENDATION: Authorize advertisement of a public hearing by the County Board on May 14, 2016, on proposed changes to the Taxicab Ordinance, section 25.1 of the County Code, relating to changes to the maximum age and mileage of vehicles (section of the code ) and the requirement regarding upholstery covering on taxicab seats (section (d)). See attachment A. ISSUES: The Taxicab Industry has requested changes to the County s existing ordinance in the section regarding vehicles and contents along with the age of vehicle to reflect new technology and materials available to the industry. SUMMARY: The current Taxicab Ordinance was adopted in Significant changes have occurred during this last seven years in the automobile and transportation industry. The Taxicab industry is requesting changes to the County s Taxicab Ordinance regarding the maximum age and mileage of used vehicles they may enter service and also the maximum age and mileage of when vehicles can remain in service. A change is also requested regarding the current requirement for synthetic or nonabsorbent interior lining in taxicab vehicles. BACKGROUND: Arlington County has a total of 847 vehicles authorized through eight certificate holders. The current Taxicab ordinance adopted in Since then, there has been significant changes in the manufacturing of vehicles, including the widespread use of hybrid vehicles. Out of the 847 vehicles, 97 are authorized to be wheelchair accessible. About 65 percent of the 750 non-wheelchair accessible vehicles are hybrids, which are significantly different than the old Crown Victoria cars that were commonly used before County Manager: ##### County Attorney: ** 40. Staff: Angie de la Barrera, DES, Transportation Planning Bureau

2 DISCUSSION: The County s current ordinance specifies that any used vehicle to be placed into service be less than two years old with less than 80,000 miles. Once any used or new vehicles are placed into service, they cannot exceed seven model years of age or 350,000 miles in order to continue to operate. For wheelchair accessible taxicabs, the ordinance specifies that vehicles have a model year age of less than four with less than 125,000 miles. Once in service, these vehicles have to be retired once they exceed seven model years of age or 350,000 miles. The Hack office, located in the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD), inspects taxicab vehicles annually. On occasions, they have had to deny used vehicles that are greater than two years old, and with low mileage, even though they are in excellent condition. With proper maintenance and inspections performed by the manufacturing standards, newer vehicles, including hybrids, can reach beyond the current ordinance miles and years of service requirements. The proposed amendment would change the existing requirement to allow vehicles into service that are less than 10 years old with a proof that a Virginia safety inspection from a licensed mechanic has been performed within 60 days prior to placing the vehicle into service. In addition, each vehicle used as a taxicab should have records of all service maintenance and repairs performed, including the Virginia safety and emissions tests. All records must be kept and maintained for at least three years and available for review by the hack office or police officers at any time. Vehicle safety inspections will continued to be conducted annually by the hack office. The hack officer will be able to reject vehicles if he or she believes the vehicles not to be safe and/or clean to operate in compliance with the requirements of the Taxicab Ordinance. Section (d) of the County s ordinance requires that the upholstery covering the interior lining of taxicabs, be made of nonabsorbent, washable material. Nowadays, most, if not all, materials are washable but may or may not be nonabsorbent. In order to make a vehicle compliant with the County code, the taxicab owner has an additional expense of about $1,500 to cover the seats with nonabsorbent plastic material. This plastic material has a short life and needs to be replaced every few years. The industry feels that the nonabsorbent cover is not necessary given that modern vehicles upholstery is made of washable materials. The proposed amendment would remove the requirement that the upholstery covering the interior lining of the cab be nonabsorbent but would maintain the requirement that the material be washable. The taxicab ordinance dictates that each vehicle utilized by a taxi company has to be maintained in clean and safe operating condition fit for public use. The vehicle interior can be kept clean, sanitary and in good repair even without nonabsorbent plastic coverings. The Transportation Commission heard the item at the March 31, 2016 meeting. There were four speakers in favor of the request to advertise including representatives from Red Top Cab Company, envirocab Company, and two taxicab drivers. The commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the request to advertise

3 FISCAL IMPACT: There are no fiscal impacts for Arlington County government

4 Attachment A AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 25 OF THE ARLINGTON COUNTY CODE REGARDING MAXIMUM AGE AND MILEAGE OF TAXICAB VEHICLES AND UPOHSTRY MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. BE IT ORDAINED by the County Board of Arlington County, Virginia that Chapter 25, and of the Arlington County Code is amended, reenacted and recodified, effective May14, 2016, to read in pertinent part as follows: Chapter 25.1 TAXICABS Vehicles and Contents. d. The upholstery covering the interior lining of every Taxicab shall be of a synthetic or any other nonabsorbent, washable material, with the exception of a "kick" strip not exceeding a reasonable height at the bottom of the doors. The rear cushion shall be removable. No floor mat shall be permitted in any Taxicab, unless it is made of nonabsorbent, washable material and easily removable, except when such floor-covering material is cemented in place on the floor of a Taxicab and the entire area of the floor is covered Age of Vehicles. A. It shall be unlawful for any Certificate-holder to place, or permit to be placed, into Taxicab Service in Arlington County any motor vehicle which has been previously used for any purpose, with a model-year age greater than two (2) years, or with greater than eighty thousand (80,000) recorded miles of use, and such vehicle shall be approved by the County Manager, or his designee, after being satisfied as to the condition of the Taxicab. Notwithstanding the above, a Wheelchair-accessible motor vehicle, which has been used previously for any purpose, having a model-year age of less than four (4) years and not greater than one hundred and twenty-five thousand (125,000) recorded miles, may be approved by the County Manager, or his designee, after being satisfied as to the condition of the Taxicab. B.A. It shall be unlawful for any Certificate-holder to operate, or permit to operate, a motor vehicle for Taxicab Service any vehicle having a model-year age greater than seven (7) ten (10) years or with greater than three hundred and fifty thousand (350,000) recorded miles of use. Any Certificate-holder shall have each taxicab vehicle inspected by a certified Virginia - 4 -

5 state safety inspection facility within sixty (60) days prior to placing the vehicle into Taxicab Service in Arlington, County and shall present proof of satisfactory inspection. B. Certificate-holders authorized to operate in Arlington County shall maintain a legibly, written or electronic (including digital) record of all service maintenance and repairs performed on each vehicle being used as a Taxicab and shall be made available for inspection by the Hack officer or any other law enforcement for a period of at least three years. 1. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that all provisions of Chapter 25 of the Code shall remain as previously enacted

ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA

ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA County Board Agenda Item Meeting of July 19, 2008 DATE: July 10, 2008 SUBJECT: Enactment of an Ordinance to amend, reenact and recodify Section 25-14 (Rates of Fare) of Chapter