Title 50, Motor and Non-Motor Vehicles and Traffic.

The Driver License Compact is adopted and entered into with all jurisdictions legally joining in it in the form substantially stated as follows: Findings and Declaration of Policy (a) The party states find that: (1) The safety of their streets and highways is materially affected …

(a) By June 30th of each year, the Mayor shall submit to the Council of the District of Columbia a report that shall include, but not be limited, to the following: (1) The number of reports of convictions received by the District of Columbia (“District”) from other states pursuan…

(a) Except as otherwise currently provided in § 601 of Title 18 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations or as otherwise provided by the Council of the District of Columbia, all motor vehicles and trailers registered in the District of Columbia shall be inspected for saf…

(a)(1) There is hereby established the District of Columbia Motor Vehicle Biennial Inspection Fund (“the Fund”). The Fund shall be a revolving fund and not be a part of nor lapse into the General Fund of the District or any other fund of the District. (2) The Fund shall be classi…

The annual estimates of appropriations for the government of the District of Columbia for the fiscal year 1939 and succeeding fiscal years shall include estimates of appropriations for the construction and/or rental and/or leasing of ground and buildings, the purchase of equipmen…

All motor vehicles and trailers owned and officially used by the government of the United States, the government of the District of Columbia or the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority shall be subject to inspection.

The Mayor of the District of Columbia or his designated agent may refuse to register any motor vehicle or trailer which has not been inspected as required, or which is unsafe or improperly equipped, or otherwise unfit to be operated, and for like reason he may revoke or suspend a…

(a) Any individual, partnership, firm, or corporation found guilty of using or permitting the use of any unregistered motor vehicle or trailer, or who is found guilty of using or permitting the use of the same during the period for which any such vehicle’s registration is revoked…

The Mayor of the District of Columbia shall make such regulations as in his judgment are necessary for the administration of this chapter, and may affix thereto such reasonable fines and penalties as in his judgment are necessary to enforce such regulations. The Mayor may issue a…

As used in this subchapter, the term “motor vehicle” means a vehicle propelled by an internal-combustion engine, electricity, or steam. The term “motor vehicle” shall not include a traction engine, road roller, vehicle propelled only upon rails or tracks, personal assistive mobil…

The Mayor shall notify an owner of the expiration date of the owner’s vehicle inspection sticker. The required notice shall be mailed to the named owner at the address of record at least 30 days prior to the date of expiration. If the Director does not deliver the notice as requi…

(a) There is established a Vehicle Inspection Task Force (“Task Force”) to study the impact of the elimination of mandatory vehicle safety inspections for private vehicles, in order to recommend whether the District should restore mandatory vehicle safety inspection for private v…

The Task Force shall complete its study and submit its report to the Council and Mayor no later than February 28, 2011.

For the purposes of this chapter, the term: (1) “Person” shall include one or more individuals, firms or unincorporated associations, or corporations. (2) “Director” shall mean the Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles, including assistants or agents duly designated by the…

During the time a certificate is outstanding for any motor vehicle or trailer, no lien against such motor vehicle or trailer or any equipment or accessories affixed or sold to be affixed thereto shall be valid except as between the parties and as to other persons having actual no…

In the absence of agreement of all parties affected and in the absence of circumstances estopping a lienholder from insisting upon such rights, lien shall be entered on the certificate by the Recorder and shall have priority among themselves in the following order: (1) If the mot…

(a) An instrument: (1) Shall be in writing; (2) Shall show the name and address of the holder, the trade name and engine, serial or identification number of the motor vehicle or the trade name and serial number, if any, of the trailer; and (3) Shall be signed by the parties. (b) …

Applications for certificates of title shall state whether or not there are any liens against the motor vehicle or trailer or any equipment or accessories affixed thereto, and, if so, the lien information in the order of its priority, and shall be accompanied by instruments or an…

An application to add a lien to an existing certificate may be presented to the Director with payment of the necessary fees. The Director shall review the application and, if convinced that the statement as to the lien is full, true, and complete, enter the lien information on th…

The rights of the holder of an unsatisfied lien shown on a certificate may be assigned by an assignment in writing, which shall show the name and address of the assignee, the trade name and engine, serial or identification number of the motor vehicle, or the trade name and serial…

Whenever it is desired to enter a lien or an assignment upon a certificate and such certificate is not available, upon delivery to the Recorder of the instrument or assignment the Recorder shall demand that the person possessing the certificate surrender it for the purpose of ent…

The record holder of the 1st unsatisfied lien shown upon the certificate shall be entitled to the possession of the certificate and upon satisfaction of his lien he shall, within 72 hours, place upon the face of the certificate the Recorder’s record number of the lien, or, if no …

The Recorder, upon receipt of a certificate whereon a lien is marked “Satisfied” as set forth in § 50-1210, shall enter on the face of the certificate and on the instrument, if any, filed in the Recorder’s office as hereinafter provided, his said record number, or, if no such ins…

The fee for recording liens or assignments of liens upon a certificate shall be the sum of $20 for each lien or assignment of lien on each motor vehicle or trailer contained in the instrument, which fee shall include the charge for recording the release of such lien. The District…

Notwithstanding the provisions of § 50-1212, there shall be a fee of $.50 for recording the release of a lien which is recorded under the provisions of this chapter, prior to June 19, 1948, and no assignment of which is recorded under the provisions of this chapter after June 19,…

Any person intentionally making a false statement with respect to liens in an application for a certificate, or wilfully violating any of the provisions of this chapter, shall upon conviction be punished by a fine of not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 or be impris…

Appropriation is hereby authorized to be made to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and the Mayor of the District of Columbia is authorized to include in his annual estimates provision for all the expenses of the Office of the Director incident to such purposes, and for pe…

In the case of motor vehicles or trailers, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, a transaction does not create a sale or security interest merely because it provides that the rental price is permitted or required to be adjusted under the agreement either upward or downward…

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, the Director may receive and transmit liens and lien information electronically, record liens electronically, and create and transfer titles electronically, in accordance with the following provisions: (1) Any lien informat…

This chapter may be cited as the “Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act of the District of Columbia.”

The following words and phrases used in this chapter shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this article except in those instances where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: (1) “Mayor” means the Mayor of the Distr…

(a) The Mayor shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter. The Mayor may issue rules necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter, including, but not limited to, the amendment and revision of Chapter 8 of 18 DCMR. The fee for the reinstatement of a licens…

(a) Any order or act of any agent of the Mayor under the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to review by the Mayor. Application for review of any such order or act shall be in writing and shall set out in detail the reasons for such review. Such application shall be file…

(a)(1) The Mayor shall, upon request, furnish any person a certified abstract of the District of Columbia operating record of any person subject to the provisions of this chapter, which abstract shall include enumeration of any motor vehicle accidents in which such person has bee…

(a) A certified copy of any record of the Department of Motor Vehicles shall be deemed authentic without further testimony as evidence in any judicial proceeding or administrative hearing. (b) The Director may satisfy a Superior Court subpoena directed to the production of docume…

The Mayor shall furnish to any person who may be injured in person or property by any motor vehicle, upon written request, a statement that the owner or operator of any motor vehicle has furnished evidence of his ability to respond in damages in accordance with the provisions of …

(a) The operation by a nonresident or by his agent of a motor vehicle on any public highway of the District of Columbia shall be deemed equivalent to an appointment by such nonresident of the Mayor or his successor in office to be his true and lawful attorney upon whom may be ser…

Whenever any motor vehicle, after the passage of this chapter, shall be operated upon the public highways of the District of Columbia by any person other than the owner, with the consent of the owner, express or implied, the operator thereof shall in case of accident, be deemed t…

The provisions of this chapter requiring the deposit of proof of financial responsibility for the future, subject to certain exemptions, shall apply with respect to persons who have been convicted of or forfeited bail for certain offenses under motor vehicle laws or who have fail…

The terms “proof of financial responsibility for the future” or “proof” or “proof of financial responsibility” as used in this chapter shall mean: Proof that the motor vehicle subject to registration or reciprocity under the laws of the District of Columbia is an insured motor ve…

The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter shall, for the purpose of such sections, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section: (1) The term “judgment” shall mean any judgment which shall have become final by expiration without appeal of the…

(a) The license and registration of all vehicles registered in the name of any person who by a final order or judgment shall have been convicted of, or shall have forfeited any bond or collateral given to secure appearance for trial for a violation of any of the following provisi…

The suspension or revocation hereinbefore required shall remain in effect and the Mayor shall not issue to such person any new or renewal of license or register or reregister in the name of such person as owner of any such vehicle until permitted under the motor vehicle laws of t…

(a) If a person by final order or judgment is convicted of or forfeits any bail or collateral deposited to secure an appearance for trial for driving a motor vehicle within the District of Columbia at a time when his license is suspended or revoked, the operating privilege of suc…

Whenever the Mayor suspends or revokes a nonresident’s operating privilege by reason of a conviction or forfeiture of bail, such privilege shall remain so suspended or revoked unless such person shall have previously given or shall immediately give and thereafter maintain proof o…

Whenever any person fails within 30 days to satisfy any judgment, then upon the written request of the judgment creditor or his attorney it shall be the duty of the clerk of the court in which any such judgment is rendered within the District of Columbia to forward to the Mayor i…