Department:

City of Seattle

Department of Finance and Administrative Services Rule No:

FOR-HIRE TRANSPORTATION-02-2021

Supersedes:

Clerk File 321763

Publication:

4/9/2021

Effective:

5/7/2021

Subject:

Reduce the Taxicab and For-Hire Vehicle Annual Medallion and Related Fees Code and Section Reference(s):

SMC 6.310.150.A and .C

SMC 6.310.140 (rulemaking authority)

Approved:

Division Director

Business Unit Officer

Calvin W. Goings, Department Director

Date

Date

Date

City of Seattle Taxicab, Transportation Network Company Vehicle and For-Hire Vehicle Rules

________________________________________

Rule FOR-HIRE TRANSPORTATION-02-2021

Reduce the Taxicab and For-Hire Vehicle Annual Medallion and Related Fees

(SMC 6.310.150.A and .C)

The Seattle Municipal Code authorizes the Director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) or his or her designee (the Department Director) to adjust any of the fees applicable to taxi associations, taxicabs, for-hire vehicles, transportation network companies and for-hire drivers after considering the following nonexclusive factors:

The projected costs and annual budget allotted for enforcement and regulatory costs across the for-hire transportation industry,

The need for increased street inspection in order to reduce illegal activity,

The total number of trips originating in Seattle across the for-hire transportation industry, and

The administrative burden of issuing additional taxicab licenses, TNC licenses, for-hire driver's licenses and TNC vehicle endorsements.

The purpose of any adjustment is to ensure that the fees cover the Department Director's enforcement and regulatory costs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the for-hire industry. Fewer trips have caused more than 300 taxicab and for-hire vehicle medallion owners to temporarily stop operating since the first quarter of 2020. As a result, FAS projects reduced enforcement and regulatory costs through the end of 2022.

In response, the Department Director will provide financial relief to taxicab and for-hire vehicle medallion owners and to for-hire drivers. Effective for the 2021 and 2022 licensing years only, the Department Director will:

Reduce the annual medallion (license) fee from $500 to $300,

Reduce the late fee (medallion (license) renewal) from $60 to $30,

Reduce the change of vehicle medallion owner (licensee) July December fee from $500 to $300, and

Reduce the change of vehicle medallion owner (licensee) January June (half year) fee from $250 to $150.

Effective for the 2022 licensing year only, the Department Director will:

Reduce the taxicab association annual fee from $1,000 to $100 and

Reduce the for-hire driver's annual license fee from $50 to $25.

The table below shows the fee reductions. All other fee amounts remain unchanged.

For any outstanding medallion (license) fee due to the City, the fee amount in effect during that licensing year is still applicable. For example, if a medallion owner (licensee) needs to pay the medallion (license) fee for 2017 in the 2021 licensing year, the fee due is $500, not $300.

1. Taxicab Association fees:

a. Annual fee $1,000

$100 (applies to 2022 licensing year only)

b. Late renewal fee $100

2. Taxicab or for-hire vehicle fees:

a. Annual medallion (license) fee $500

$300 (applies to 2021 and 2022 licensing years only)

b. Wheelchair accessible taxicab annual medallion (license) fee Waived

c. Late fee (medallion (license) renewal) $60

$30 (applies to 2021 and 2022 licensing years only)

d. Change of vehicle medallion owner (licensee):

i. July December $500

$300 (applies to 2021 and 2022 licensing years only)

ii. January June (half year) $250

$150 (applies to 2021 and 2022 licensing years only)

iii. May 16 June 30*

e. Replace taxicab plate $25

f. Special inspection fee** $100 per hour

( hour minimum)

g. Inspection rescheduling fee (non-City licensed vehicles only) $25

h. Taxicab change of association affiliation $100

i. Change of licensee corporation, limited liability company, or partnership members $100

j. Taximeter test (when not part of annual inspection) $50

* No change of taxicab licensee or for-hire vehicle medallion owner (licensee) fee is due if the transfer occurs between May 16 and June 30. During this period, the change of taxicab or for-hire vehicle licensee and the annual license renewal are accomplished together and only one fee will be assessed.

** For testing of taxicab meter or taxicab inspections provided to other municipalities.

3. For-hire driver's license fees:

a. Annual fee $50

$25 (applies to 2022 licensing year only)

b. Late Fee $15

c. Replacement license card $5

d. Other training and licensing fees (fingerprinting, ID photo, background check and similar) Charge as determined by Department Director to cover costs