District of Columbia Administrative Code

720 BRAKES: GENERAL PROVISIONS 720.1 Each motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer and pole trailer, and any combination of such vehicles operated upon a street or highway shall be equipped with brakes in compliance with the requirements of § 720 through 725. 720.2 Each vehicle and c…

721 TRACTOR AND TRAILER BRAKES 721.1 Each trailer, semi-trailer, and pole trailer equipped with air or vacuum actuated brakes and every trailer, semi-trailer, and pole trailer with a gross weight in excess of three thousand pounds (3,000 lbs.), manufactured or assembled after Sep…

722 RESERVOIR CAPACITY AND CHECK VALVES 722.1 Each bus, truck or truck tractor with air-operated brakes shall be equipped with at last one (1) reservoir sufficient to ensure that, when fully charged to the maximum pressure as regulated by the air compressor governor cut-out setti…

723 BRAKING SYSTEM WARNING DEVICES 723.1 Each bus, truck or truck tractor using compressed air for the operation of its own brakes or the brakes on any towed vehicle shall be provided with a warning signal, other than a pressure gauge, readily audible or visible to the driver, wh…

724 PERFORMANCE ABILITY OF BRAKES 724.1 The standards set forth in the following braking table shall govern the performance ability of brakes under this chapter: BRAKING STANDARDS TABLE COLUMN 1 COLUMN 2 COLUMN 3 COLUMN 4 CLASSIFICATION OF VEHICLE BRAKING FORCE (Percentage of Gro…

725 HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID 725.1 For the purposes of this section, the term “hydraulic brake fluid,” shall mean the liquid medium through which force is transmitted to the brakes in the hydraulic brake system of a vehicle. 725.2 Hydraulic brake fluid shall be distributed and servi…

730 HORNS AND WARNING DEVICES 730.1 Each motor vehicle operated upon a highway shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than two hundred feet (200 ft.). 730.2 No horn or other war…

731 WINDSHIELDS AND MIRRORS 731.1 No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sign, poster, or other non-transparent material upon the front windshield, sidewings, or side or rear windows of the vehicle, except a sticker authorized by the Mayor, Public Service Commission, th…

732 TIRE EQUIPMENT 732.1 No person shall drive or move any motor vehicle equipped with any tire in such condition as to endanger or be likely to endanger any person or property. 732.2 Each solid rubber tire on a vehicle shall have rubber on its entire traction surface at least on…

733 BUMPERS AND FENDERS 733.1 Each motor vehicle, except autocycles, motorcycles, and motor-driven cycles, shall be equipped with bumpers in front, securely attached and extending beyond the extreme front of the vehicle. 733.2 Each motor vehicle of the passenger car class, taxica…

734 GLAZING MATERIALS 734.1 No motor vehicle manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1936, shall be operated in the District unless it is equipped throughout with safety glazing materials of a type approved by the Director. 734.2 For the purposes of this section, the term “saf…

735 INSTRUMENTS AND OTHER SPECIAL EQUIPMENT 735.1 Each motor vehicle operated on the streets or highways shall be equipped with a device, in good operating condition, to register the rate of speed of the vehicle in motion; Provided, that vehicles manufactured prior to January 193…

736 RADAR DETECTORS AND JAMMERS 736.1 No person shall sell or offer for sale in the District any device designed to detect or counteract police radar. 736.2 No person shall use or have in his possession in an automobile in the District any device used to detect or counteract poli…

737 SEAT BELTS 737.1 No motor vehicle manufactured for the 1966 Model Year or subsequent years and registered as a private passenger vehicle, except motorcycles or motor-driven cycles, shall be approved on inspection under the provisions of § 503 of this title unless its front se…

738 AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT 738.1 The term “air conditioning equipment” as used in this section means mechanical vapor compression refrigeration equipment which is used to cool the driver’s or passenger compartment of any motor vehicle. 738.2 Air conditioning equipment shall b…

739 SLOW-MOVING VEHICLES, SCHOOL BUSES AND MULTI-PURPOSE SCHOOL VEHICLES 739.1 As used in this section, a “slow-moving vehicle” means any of the following: (a) Any motor vehicle designed for operation at speeds not in excess of fifteen miles per hour (15 mph); (b) Any motor vehic…

740 MOTORCYCLE EQUIPMENT: GENERAL PROVISIONS 740.1 No person shall sell, offer for sale, or distribute any protective helmets, goggles, or faceshields for use by the operators or passengers of motorcycles unless such helmets, goggles, or face shields are of the type approved by t…

741 MOTORCYCLE HELMETS 741.1 The American National Standards Institute, Inc., Specifications for Protective Headgear for Vehicular Users, Z90.1-1966, are adopted as the minimum standards for helmets required to be worn by operators and passengers on motorcycles or autocycles, exc…

742 MOTORCYCLE SAFETY GOGGLES 742.1 The American National Standards Institute, Inc., Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection, Z87.1-1968, designated “Eye Protection,” is adopted as the minimum standards for safety goggles required to be worn by operators…

743 MOTORCYCLE FACE SHIELDS 743.1 The American National Standards Institute, Inc., Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection, Z87.1-1968, designated “Face Shields,” is adopted as the minimum standards for face shields required to be worn by operators and p…

744 MOTORCYCLE WIND SCREENS 744.1 The American National Standards Institute, Inc., Specifications for Safety Glazing Materials for Glazing Motor Vehicles Operated on Land Highways, Z26.1-1966, is adopted as the minimum standards for wind screens when used on motorcycles. 744.2 Th…

750 EXHAUST EMISSION SYSTEMS 750.1 When any motor vehicle was originally equipped with an emission control system， that system shall be maintained in good working order, and no person shall disconnect any part of that system, except temporarily in order to make repairs, replaceme…

751 COMPLIANCE WITH EXHAUST EMISSION STANDARDS 751.1 No motor vehicle shall be allowed to operate on the streets or highways of the District that does not comply with the exhaust emission standards prescribed pursuant to § 752, except as provided in this section. 751.2 After Dece…

752 MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE LEVELS OF EXHAUST COMPONENTS 752.1 On or before January 1, 1996, the Director shall establish maximum allowable emission levels for components of motor vehicle exhaust emissions determined by the federal emission tests, as codified in title 40 CFR § 51.351, …

753 INSPECTION OF EXHAUST EMISSION SYSTEMS 753.1 [Repealed] D.C. Law 10-106, 41 DCR 1014 (March 4, 1994) 753.2 The Director shall provide the operator of the tested vehicle with a written description of the results of the test with an indication of the maximum allowable levels fo…

754 FEDERAL TRANSIENT EMISSIONS TEST: TESTING PROCEDURES 754.1 Approved testing procedures used to perform the federal transient emissions test shall meet the performance standards established in 40 CFR 51.357 and Appendix E of 40 CFR or a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency app…

755 FEDERAL TRANSIENT EMISSIONS TEST: EQUIPMENT 755.1 Approved engine emission analyzers and related equipment used to perform the tailpipe exhaust emissions portion of the federal transient emissions test shall meet the performance standards established in 40 CFR Parts 51, 85, a…

756 FEDERAL TRANSIENT EMISSIONS TEST: QUALITY ASSURANCE PROCEDURES 756.1 Quality assurance procedures necessary for the federal transient emissions test shall meet the performance standards established in 40 CFR Parts 51.359-51.367 or a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approv…

757 LOW-SPEED VEHICLES 757.1 Low-speed vehicles shall comply with the safety standards set forth in Federal Motor Safety Standard No. 500 at 49 C.F.R. § 571.500. 757.2 The manufacturer’s certificate of origin shall clearly identify the vehicle as a low-speed vehicle. 757.3 Afterm…

758 SIDE GUARDS 758.1 Commercial motor vehicles registered in the District with a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating exceeding ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) shall be equipped with a side guard. The requirement imposed by this subsection shall apply twenty-four (24) mo…

800 GENERAL PROVISIONS 800.1 The rules contained in this chapter shall govern the following procedures: (a) (REPEALED) (b) Verification of insurance; (c) Suspension of operating privileges arising out of motor vehicle accidents occurring in the District of Columbia and elsewhere;…

801 FEES FOR RECORDS 801.1 A certified or uncertified abstract of the operating record of any person who has become subject to the Act shall be furnished to any person upon written request to the Director, accompanied by the fee specified in this section. 801.2 A certified abstra…

802 SERVICE OF NOTICES OR ORDERS 802.1 Any notice or order served under the authority of this chapter shall be properly served upon the person to whom the notice is directed if a copy of the notice or order is served upon him or her personally, or if a copy of the notice or order…

804 SUSPENSION OF REGISTRATION AND LICENSE: UNSATISFIED JUDGMENT 804.1 (REPEALED) 804.2 (REPEALED) 804.3 (REPEALED) 804.4 (REPEALED) 804.5 (REPEALED) 804.6 (REPEALED) 804.7 (REPEALED) 804.8 (REPEALED) 804.9 (REPEALED) 804.10 Any person whose license and registration, or nonreside…

805 PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 805.1 Whenever any person is required to give proof of financial responsibility, that person shall give proof for each and every motor vehicle of which that person is the owner or in which that person has or will acquire an ownership interest…

807 SELF-INSURERS 807.1 Any person in whose name twenty-six (26) or more motor vehicles are registered in the District may qualify as a self-insurer by applying to the Director for a certificate of self-insurance. 807.2 The Director shall require that the applicant furnish a fina…

900 MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVING INSTRUCTORS 900.1 Except as provided in § 911, no person shall act as a motor vehicle driving instructor unless licensed by the Director under the provisions of §§ 900 and 901 of this chapter. 900.2 The Director may adopt rules necessary to carry out the…

901 APPLICATION FOR AN INSTRUCTOR’S LICENSE 901.1 Each application for an instructor’s license shall be made upon a form furnished by the Director and shall be accompanied by the proper fee. 901.2 Each application for an original or renewal license shall be accompanied by a fee o…

902 REFUSAL TO ISSUE: SUSPENSION, OR REVOCATION OF INSTRUCTOR’S LICENSE 902.1 The Director may refuse to issue or renew, or may suspend or revoke a license issued under the provisions of §§ 900 and 901 in any case where the Director finds the applicant or licensee has violated or…