Transitional regional dispatch agency or regional dispatch agency license required
Seattle Mun. Code § 6.311.340
in effect6.311.340 - Transitional regional dispatch agency or regional dispatch agency license required
A. It is unlawful for a person to operate as a regional dispatch agency without a valid regional dispatch agency license. A regional dispatch agency license is valid for one year and is not transferable. To be licensed as a regional dispatch agency, all regional dispatch agencies shall meet the criteria necessary for obtaining a regional dispatch agency license from King County and shall apply for a regional dispatch agency license from King County concurrently with applying for a regional dispatch agency license from The City of Seattle, and shall:
1. Apply for a license on a form approved by the Director;
2. Have an identified representative authorized to make business decisions on behalf of the agency or company;
3. Adopt a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol and drug use while operating a taxicab or for-hire vehicle licensed under this Chapter 6.311;
4. Adopt a policy that prohibits the agency or company, including their affiliated drivers, from discriminating against passengers or potential passengers on the basis of race; color; national origin; religious belief or affiliation; sex; disability; age; use of a service animal; sexual orientation; gender identity; or geographic beginning or endpoints of the ride, unless the trip covers more than 100 or includes traveling over a mountain pass or on a ferry;
5. Have a process for receiving, tracking, and resolving passenger complaints;
6. Have and maintain a secure process for passengers to retrieve items left behind in an affiliated vehicle as soon as possible but no longer than two calendar days following the date of the trip. Such policy shall be in writing and readily accessible to passengers;
7. Have a system that enables each passenger to receive an electronic or paper receipt upon payment of the fare. A receipt shall include at least the following information:
a. The date and time the trip began and ended;
b. The medallion number for a taxicab or for-hire vehicle trip;
c. The driver's regional for-hire driver's license number or unique driver identification number;
d. The fare charged and any tip paid;
e. The transitional regional dispatch agency or regional dispatch agency with which the vehicle is affiliated; and
f. A phone number, email address, or website to submit passenger feedback and inquiries to the transitional regional dispatch agency or regional dispatch agency;
8. Have an approved smart taximeter system that includes the following functions:
a. Is capable of metering a trip using an onboard diagnostic connection to the vehicle or the use of location tracking technology, or some combination of the two, to measure time and distance traveled;
b. Has an integrated payment and receipting system that accepts credit cards and other electronic payments such as electronic taxi scrip, promotional codes, and alternative payment channels;
c. Has an integrated dispatch system that:
1) Supports two-way communication between the dispatcher and the driver;
2) Is equipped with monitored vehicle tracking technology and be able to track vehicle location in real time;
3) Does not exclusively dispatch calls by phone or radio; and
4) Provides a duress alarm for the driver.
d. Supports pricing based on static and dynamic market conditions;
e. Has the ability to calculate an upfront fare to present to a passenger before the passenger accepts the ride;
f. Is capable of notifying a passenger if a convenience fee for electronic payment, or other known fees, will be added to the fare;
g. Includes driver authentication and system security features;
h. Automates data collection and reporting;
i. Provides geographic location information;
j. Incorporates a Director-approved mobility data standard for on-demand for-hire vehicles to support external integration;
k. Can be used and configured for one or more regional dispatch agencies and can dispatch vehicles from one or more registered trade names;
l. If required by the Director by rule, is connected to a Director-approved external dispatch system for the purpose of dispatching wheelchair accessible vehicles; and
m. Meets any other requirement prescribed by the Director by rule; and
9. Have a driver training program, for for-hire drivers, approved by the Director.
B. Prior to obtaining a regional dispatch agency license, transitional regional dispatch agencies shall comply with regional dispatch agency licensing and operating requirements in this Section 6.311.340, except that:
1. A transitional regional dispatch agency shall not be required to have a smart taximeter system; and
2. A transitional regional dispatch agency that is affiliated with taxicabs at the time of being issued a transitional regional dispatch agency license that does not have a smart taximeter system approved by the Director, shall provide a dispatch system integrated with the vehicle's taximeter for all affiliated vehicles.
(Ord. 126977, § 1, 2023.)
Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT6BURE_SUBTITLE_IVNELICO_CH6.311FRETRAXFREVEDR_6.311.340TRREDIAGREDIAGLIREFetched: 11/1/2026