When used in this part:
(1) The term “motor vehicle” means all vehicles propelled by internal-combustion engines, electricity, or steam. The term “motor vehicle” shall not include traction engines, road rollers, vehicles propelled only upon rails or tracks, personal mobility devices, as defined by paragraph (15) of this section, or a battery-operated wheelchair when operated by a person with a disability.
(2) The term “Court” means the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
(3) Repealed.
(4) The term “Mayor” means the Mayor of the District of Columbia or his designated agent.
(4A) The term “mini-van” means any 7 passenger vehicle which is not a sedan, station wagon, pick-up, or jeep-type vehicle, having a wheel base over 114 inches.
(5) The term “person” means individual, partnership, corporation, or association.
(6) The term “park” means to leave any motor vehicle standing on a public highway, whether or not attended.
(7) The term “public highway” means any street, road, or public thoroughfare.
(8) The term “this part” includes all lawful regulations issued thereunder by the Council of the District of Columbia and all lawful rules issued thereunder by the Mayor of the District of Columbia or his designated agent.
(9) The term “vehicle” shall apply to any appliance moved over a highway on wheels or traction tread, including street cars, draft animals, and beasts of burden.
(10) The term “traffic” shall be deemed to include not only motor vehicles but also all vehicles, pedestrians, and animals, of every description.
(11) The term “chemical test” means a test which measures or relates to the properties or actions of chemicals.
(12) The term “Personal Mobility Device” or “PMD” means a motorized propulsion device designed to transport one person or a self-balancing, two non-tandem wheeled device, designed to transport only one person with an electric propulsion system, but excluding a battery-operated wheelchair.
(13) The term “all-terrain vehicle” or “ATV” means any motor vehicle with not less than 3 low pressure tires, but not more than six low pressure tires, designed primarily for off-road use and which has a seat or saddle designed to be straddled by the operator. The terms “all-terrain vehicle” and “ATV” shall not include golf carts, riding lawnmowers, or tractors.
(14) The term “dirt bike” means any motorcycle designed primarily for off-road use.
(15) The term “work zone” means the area of a highway or roadway that is affected by construction, maintenance, or utility work activities, including the area delineated by and within all traffic control devices erected or installed to guide vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic.
(16) “Vehicle conveyance fee” shall have the same meaning as provided in § 50-2301.02(9).
CREDIT(S)
(Mar. 3, 1925, 43 Stat. 1119, ch. 443, § 2; July 3, 1926, 44 Stat. 812, ch. 739, § 1; Feb. 27, 1931, 46 Stat. 1424, ch. 317, § 1; Apr. 1, 1942, 56 Stat. 190, ch. 207, § 1; July 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 570, Pub. L. 91-358, title I, § 155(a); Apr. 26, 1977, D.C. Law 1-133, title II, § 201(a), 23 DCR 9697; Nov. 15, 1983, D.C. Law 5-42, § 2(a), 30 DCR 4999; Mar. 15, 1985, D.C. Law 5-176, § 12(a), 32 DCR 748; May 5, 1992, D.C. Law 9-96, § 4(a), 38 DCR 7274; Apr. 27, 2001, D.C. Law 13-289, § 401(a), 48 DCR 2057; Mar. 25, 2003, D.C. Law 14-235, § 10(a), 49 DCR 9788; Mar. 13, 2004, D.C. Law 15-105, §§ 90(c), 94 to 97, 51 DCR 881; Apr. 5, 2005, D.C. Law 15-289, § 2(a), 52 DCR 1446; Mar. 6, 2007, D.C. Law 16-224, § 101(a), 53 DCR 10225; Jan. 23, 2008, D.C. Law 17-67, § 2(a), 54 DCR 11646; Mar. 20, 2009, D.C. Law 17-303, § 3(a), 55 DCR 12803.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 40-702.
1973 Ed., § 40-602.
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 13-289 added the definition for the term mini-van.
D.C. Law 14-235 rewrote par. (1) and added par. (12). Par. (1) had read as follows:
“(1) The term ‘motor vehicle’ means all vehicles propelled by internal-combustion engines, electricity, or steam. The term ‘motor vehicle’ shall not include traction engines, road rollers, vehicles propelled only upon rails or tracks, and battery-operated wheelchairs when operated by a handicapped person at speeds not exceeding 10 miles per hour.”
D.C. Law 15-105 validated previously made technical corrections; repealed par. (3); and in par. (10), substituted “The term ‘traffic’ shall” for “Traffic shall”. Prior to amendment, par. (3) had read as follows:
“(3) The term ‘District’ means the District of Columbia.”
D.C. Law 15-289 added pars. (13) and (14).
D.C. Law 16-224 revived the provisions of D.C. Law 14-235 that expired on October 1, 2005, and rewrote pars. (1) and (12) which had read as follows:
“(1) The term ‘motor vehicle’ means all vehicles propelled by internal-combustion engines, electricity, or steam. The term ‘motor vehicle‘ shall not include traction engines, road rollers, vehicles propelled only upon rails or tracks, electric personal assistive mobility devices, as defined by paragraph (12) of this section, and battery-operated wheelchairs when operated by a handicapped person at speeds not exceeding 10 miles per hour.”
“(12) The term ‘Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device’ or ‘EPAMD’ means a device, designed to transport only one person, with an electric propulsion system that limits the maximum speed of the device to 10 miles per hour or less.”
D.C. Law 16-305, in par. (1), purported to substitute “person with a disability” for “handicapped person”.
D.C. Law 17-67 added par. (15).
D.C. Law 17-303 added par. (16).
Temporary Amendments of Section
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 10(a) of Motor Vehicle Definition Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device Exemption Temporary Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Law 16-85, April 4, 2006, law notification 53 DCR 3344).
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary (90-day) amendment of section, see § 2(a) of the Motor Coach Vehicles Tax Exemption Emergency Amendment Act of 1999 (D.C. Act 13-182, November 22, 1999, 47 DCR 1).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 10(a) of Motor Vehicle Definition Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device Exemption Emergency Amendment Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-237, December 22, 2005, 53 DCR 249).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 10(a) of Motor Vehicle Definition Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device Exemption Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-323, March 23, 2006, 53 DCR 2567).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 101(a) of Personal Mobility Device Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-528, December 4, 2006, 53 DCR 9826).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(a) of Doubled Fines in Construction and Work Zones Emergency Amendment Act of 2007 (D.C. Act 17-149, October 18, 2007, 54 DCR 10894).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(a) of Doubled Fines in Construction and Work Zones Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2008 (D.C. Act 17-252, January 23, 2008, 55 DCR 1264).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 102(a) of Comprehensive Impaired Driving and Alcohol Testing Program Emergency Amendment Act of 2012 (D.C. Act 19-429, July 30, 2012, 59 DCR 9387).
Legislative History of Laws
Law 1-133 was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 1-11, which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Environmental Affairs, the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Criminal Law. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on October 12, 1976 and November 23, 1976, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on February 14, 1977, it was assigned Act No. 1-230 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 5-42 was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 5-29, which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Environmental Affairs. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on July 5, 1983, and September 6, 1983, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on September 22, 1983, it was assigned Act No. 5-67 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 5-176 was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 5-382, which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Environmental Affairs. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on December 4, 1984, and December 18, 1984, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on January 11, 1985, it was assigned Act No. 5-241 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 9-96, the “Comprehensive Anti-Drunk Driving Amendment Act of 1991,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 9-34, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on October 1, 1991, and November 5, 1991, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on November 25, 1991, it was assigned Act No. 9-98 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
For D.C. Law 13-289, see notes following § 50-401.
For Law 14-235, see notes following § 50-601.
For Law 15-105, see notes following § 50-203.
For Law 15-289, see notes following § 50-1401.01.
For Law 16-224, see notes following § 50-601.
For Law 16-305, see notes following § 50-101.
Law 17-67, the “Doubled Fines in Construction or Work Zones Amendment Act of 2007”, was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 17-108 which was referred to the Committee on Public Works and the Environment. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on October 23, 2007, and November 6, 2007, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on November 19, 2007, it was assigned Act No. 17-179 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 17-67 became effective on January 23, 2008.
Law 17-303, the “District of Columbia Vehicle Towing, Storage, and Conveyance Fee Act of 2008”, was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 17-394 which was referred to the Committee on Public Works and the Environment. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on October 7, 2008, and November 18, 2008, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on December 9, 2008, it was assigned Act No. 17-591 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 17-303 became effective on March 20, 2009.
Change in Government
This section originated at a time when local government powers were delegated to a Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia (see Acts Relating to the Establishment of the District of Columbia and its Various Forms of Governmental Organization in Volume 1). Section 402 (292, 293, 295 to 299) of Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1967 (see Reorganization Plans in Volume 1) transferred all of the functions of the Board of Commissioners under this section to the District of Columbia Council, subject to the right of the Commissioner as provided in § 406 of the Plan. The District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act, 87 Stat. 818, § 711 (D.C. Code, § 1-207.11), abolished the District of Columbia Council and the Office of Commissioner of the District of Columbia. These branches of government were replaced by the Council of the District of Columbia and the Office of Mayor of the District of Columbia, respectively. Accordingly, and also pursuant to § 714(a) of such Act (D.C. Code, § 1-207.14(a)), appropriate changes in terminology were made in this section.
Miscellaneous Notes
Expiration of Law 14-235: Section 14 of D.C. Law 14-235 provided that the act shall expire on October 1, 2005.
