Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 46.72 · 19 active provisions
The legislature finds and declares that privately operated for hire transportation service is a vital part of the transportation system within the state. Consequently, the safety, reliability, and stability of privately operated for hire transportation services are matters of statewide importance. The regulation of pri…
When used in this chapter:(1) The term "for hire vehicle" includes all vehicles used for the transportation of passengers for compensation, except auto stages, school buses operating exclusively under a contract to a school district, ride-sharing vehicles under chapter 46.74 RCW, limousine carriers licensed under chapt…
No for hire operator shall cause operation of a for hire vehicle upon any highway of this state without first obtaining a permit from the director of licensing, except for those for hire operators regulated by cities or counties in accordance with chapter 81.72 RCW. Application for a permit shall be made on forms provi…
Application for a permit shall be forwarded to the director with a fee. Upon receipt of such application and fee, the director shall, if such application be in proper form, issue a permit authorizing the applicant to operate for hire vehicles upon the highways of this state until such owner ceases to do business as suc…
RCW 46.72.040 and 46.72.050 do not apply to personal vehicles under chapter 48.177 RCW.
Before a permit is issued every for hire operator shall be required to deposit and thereafter keep on file with the director a surety bond running to the state of Washington covering each and every for hire vehicle as may be owned or leased by him or her and used in the conduct of his or her business as a for hire oper…
In lieu of the surety bond as provided in this chapter, there may be deposited and kept on file and in force with the director a public liability insurance policy covering each and every motor vehicle operated or intended to be so operated, executed by an insurance company licensed and authorized to write such insuranc…
Every person having a cause of action for damages against any person, firm, or corporation receiving a permit under the provisions of this chapter, for injury, damages, or wrongful death caused by any careless, negligent, or unlawful act of any such person, firm, or corporation or his or her or its agents or employees…
The director shall approve and file all bonds and policies of insurance. The director shall, upon receipt of fees and after approving the bond or policy, furnish the owner with an appropriate certificate which must be carried in a conspicuous place in the vehicle at all times during for hire operation. A for hire opera…
In the event the owner substitutes a policy or bond after a for hire certificate has been issued, a new certificate shall be issued to the owner. The owner shall submit the substituted bond or policy to the director for approval, together with a fee. If the director approves the substituted policy or bond, a new certif…
(1) In addition to the unprofessional conduct specified in RCW 18.235.130, the director may take disciplinary action if he or she has good reason to believe that one of the following is true of the operator or the applicant for a permit or certificate: (a) He or she is guilty of committing two or more offenses for whic…
All fees received by the director under the provisions of this chapter must be transmitted by him or her, together with a proper identifying report, to the state treasurer to be deposited by the state treasurer in the highway safety fund. Appropriations from the highway safety fund will support expenses incurred in car…
The director is empowered to make and enforce such rules and regulations, including the setting of fees, as may be consistent with and necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
No operator of a taxicab licensed or possessing a permit in another state to transport passengers for hire, and principally engaged as a for hire operator in another state, shall cause the operation of a taxicab upon any highway of this state without first obtaining an annual permit from the director upon an applicatio…
All law enforcement officers shall refuse every taxicab entry into this state which does not have a certificate from the director on the vehicle.
RCW 46.72.130 and 46.72.140 shall be inoperative to operators of taxicabs residing and licensed in any state which allows Washington operators of taxicabs to use such state's highways free from such regulations.
Cities, counties, and port districts may license, control, and regulate all for hire vehicles operating within their respective jurisdictions. The power to regulate includes:(1) Regulating entry into the business of providing for hire vehicle transportation services;(2) Requiring a license to be purchased as a conditio…
The department, a city, county, or port district may enter into cooperative agreements with any other city, town, county, or port district for the joint regulation of for hire vehicles. Cooperative agreements may provide for, but are not limited to, the granting, revocation, and suspension of joint for hire vehicle lic…
The uniform regulation of business and professions act, chapter 18.235 RCW, governs unlicensed practice, the issuance and denial of licenses, and the discipline of licensees under this chapter.