Department:

City of Seattle

Department of Finance and Administrative Services Rule No:

FOR-HIRE TRANSPORTATION-14-2024

Supersedes:

Clerk File 310176 (R-6.310.320.P)

Publication:

7/26/2024

Effective:

9/20/2024

Subject:

Vehicle Size and Fuel

Code and Section Reference(s):

SMC 6.311.260.C.2 and .290.A

SMC 6.311.470 (rulemaking authority)

Approved:

Division Director

Business Unit Officer

Kiersten Grove, Acting Director

Date

Date

Date

King County / Department of Executive Services

Document Code No.: FHT-9-2024-PR

Repeals: New

Title: Vehicle Size and Fuel

Effective Date: September 20, 2024

Authorities: KCC 6.65.260.C.2, KCC 6.65.290.A, and KCC 6.65.470 (rulemaking authority)

Keywords: Vehicle Requirements, Seating, Fuel

Sponsoring Agency: Records and Licensing Services Division (RALS)

Director signature: ___________________________________________________________________

Date signed: ________________________________________________________________________

City of Seattle and King County For-Hire Transportation Rules

________________________________________

City of Seattle Director's Rule FOR-HIRE TRANSPORTATION-14-2024 and King County Public Rule FHT-9-2024-PR Vehicle Size and Fuel

Pursuant to an interlocal agreement, the City of Seattle and King County work cooperatively to regulate for-hire passenger transportation. The Rule supersedes City of Seattle Clerk File 310176 and King County adopts this Rule as new.

I. Purpose. To establish requirements concerning vehicle size and fuel for vehicles used as taxicabs and for-hire vehicles.

II. Definitions. For purposes of this Rule, the following definitions apply:

A. "Director" means the director of King County's Department of Executive Services and/or the City of Seattle's Director of Finance and Administrative Services, or their designees.

B. "For-hire vehicle" means any motor vehicle used for the transportation of passengers for hire, and not operated exclusively over a fixed and definite route, except:

1. Taxicabs;

2. School buses operating exclusively under a contract to a school district;

3. Ride-sharing vehicles under chapter 46.74 RCW;

4. Limousine carriers licensed under chapter 46.72A RCW;

5. Vehicles used by nonprofit transportation providers solely for elderly or handicapped persons and their attendants under chapter 81.66 RCW;

6. Vehicles used by auto transportation companies licensed under chapter 81.68 15 RCW;

7. Vehicles used to provide courtesy transportation at no charge to and from parking lots, hotels, and rental offices;

8. Vehicles licensed under, and used to provide "charter party carrier" and "excursion service carrier" services as defined in, and required by, chapter 81.70 RCW; and

9. Transportation network company endorsed vehicles as defined in Chapter 6.310 and transportation network company vehicles as defined in chapter 46.72B RCW.

C. "Taxicab" means every motor vehicle required to have a taxicab medallion to be used for the transportation of passengers for a fare, where the route traveled or destination is controlled by the passenger, and the fare is based on an amount recorded and indicated on a taximeter, smart taximeter, or on an application dispatch system.

D. "Wheelchair accessible vehicle" means a taxicab or for-hire vehicle that has been designed or modified to transport passengers in wheelchairs or other mobility devices, conforms to the accessibility requirements of the regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 17 1990, as amended, and has been inspected and approved by the Director. "Wheelchair accessible vehicle" includes both voluntarily converted wheelchair accessible vehicles and wheelchair accessible taxicabs.

III. Requirements. A vehicle used as a taxicab or for-hire vehicle must be a passenger car as defined in Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 46.04.382 and conform to the following standards:

1. Must have seating capacity for at least four (4) passengers.

2. Is not permitted to be a dual rear axle van or a dual rear wheel van if used as a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV).

3. Must have a minimum of four (4) doors.

4. May use any fuel used by a vehicle licensed to operate on Washington state highways including, but not limited to, gasoline, diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), hydrogen, propane (liquefied petroleum gas), biofuels (e.g., biodiesel or ethanol blended gasoline), and electricity.

IV. Implementation. Unless specified otherwise in this Rule, these requirements take effect immediately after the Director files this Rule with the Seattle City Clerk and with the King County Archives, Records Management, and Mail Services Section (ARMMS).

V. Rule Maintenance. The Director will periodically consult with industry stakeholders, including vehicle owners, on the availability and cost of different vehicles to determine whether this Rule needs revision.

VI. Rule Enforcement. The Director may review written documentation and consider community feedback to ensure compliance with the requirements outlined herein.