D.C. Councilwoman Mary Cheh will host a public hearing on taxi cab safety Wednesday.
Just over three months ago, the D.C. Taxicab Commission reported that it receives 150 complaints a month from passengers who feel unsafe, threatened or harassed by their drivers. Eighty percent of those complaints came from women, the commission added.
In an effort to determine how the commission handles these complaints, members of the public will be allowed to share their written and vocal testimony Wednesday.
Last month, two D.C. taxicab drivers had their licenses suspended indefinitely after they were arrested and charged with simple assault following an altercation at an area gas station.
“The behavior of these drivers is intolerable,” Commission Chairman Ron M. Linton said in a statement. “The Commission intends to use its statutory authority to suspend and possibly revoke the licenses of drivers who engage in behavior that threatens the safety of passengers in DC taxis or the public at large.”
The drivers -- Sharanjit Singh and Ephream Esheterom -- joined three others who have lost their licenses since New Year's Day.
Abdel Hakim Rhany had his license suspended May 6 after he was arrested for assaulting a Hack Inspector. Tesfai Mesghina lost his privilege after being arrested for driving on an expired license and operating a taxi without a valid picture ID. In January, a cabbie named Kefyalew Teshome had his license suspended indefinitely after he was criminally convicted of assaulting a passenger.
The meeting also comes on the heels of the murder of a cab driver. Solomon James Okoroh, 57, was fatally shot Tuesday morning in Adams Morgan. Two men are in custody in connection with his death.
During Wednesday's hearing, the implementation of new taxi cab regulations will also be discussed. Under the Taxicab Service Improvement Amendment Act of 2012, taxis will be required to "accept credit cards...install passenger and driver security devices...and adopt a uniform color scheme...," among other improvements.
The taxi safety meeting begins at 11 a.m. in room 500 of the Wilson Building.
RELATED COVERAGE ON NBCWASHINGTON.COM:
- D.C.'s New Taxi Design: Red With a Gray Stripe
- All D.C. Cabs to Start Taking Credit Cards by End of August
- DCTC Yanks Licenses From 2 More Cabbies
- Cab Driver Fatally Shot in Adams Morgan ID'd