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

There shall be established within the Office of the Director of the District Department of Transportation an Office of Bicycle Transportation and Safety to promote the safe and convenient use of the bicycle as a means of transportation and recreation. (1) The Office shall be head…

(a) There is established a District of Columbia Bicycle Advisory Council (the “Council”). (b)(1) The Council shall be composed of 17 members appointed as follows: (A) The bicycle coordinator of the Office of Bicycle Transportation and Safety of the District Department of Transpor…

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person under 16 years of age to operate or to be a passenger on a bicycle or any attachment to a bicycle on a public roadway, public bicycle path or other right-of-way, unless that person wears a protective helmet of good fit, fastened securely up…

Failure to wear a helmet as described in this subchapter shall not be considered as evidence of either negligence per se, contributory negligence, or assumption of the risk in any civil suit arising out of any accident in which a person under 16 years of age is injured. Failure t…

(a) Within 60 days of May 23, 2000, the District Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police Department and District of Columbia Public Schools, shall develop and implement a public education program to educate adults and children under 16 years of a…

The District Department of Transportation shall adopt a helmet assistance program which shall include grants and discount programs to assist indigent parents and guardians of children under 16 years of age in obtaining safety helmets.

For the purposes of this subchapter the term: (1) “Bicycle” means a human-powered vehicle with wheels designed to transport, by pedaling, one or more persons seated on one or more saddle seats on its frame. “Bicycle” also includes a human-powered vehicle, and any attachment to th…

(a)(1) No person shall be required to register a bicycle in the District of Columbia. (2) A person wishing to register a bicycle to permit the Metropolitan Police Department to track or locate the bicycle if it becomes lost or stolen may do so through the National Bike Registry o…

(a) As of June 1, 2008, a person regularly engaged in the business of renting bicycles shall require each person seeking to rent a bicycle to provide his or her signature on the rental form, or on a separate form, containing each of the following: (1) A statement of rental bearin…

(a) An individual who, while riding a bicycle, is the victim of an assault or battery by a motorist, and prevails in a civil action for such assault or battery, shall be entitled to: (1) Statutory damages of $1,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater; (2) Reasonable attorney’…

For purposes of this subchapter, the term: (1) “Commercial bicycle operator” means an individual at least 16 years of age who receives financial compensation for the delivery or pick-up of goods or services by bicycle as a substantial part of his or her business or earnings, as d…

(a) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, no commercial bicycle operator shall operate within the District of Columbia without a license issued by the Mayor. A commercial bicycle operator shall pass a bicycle safety test developed by the Mayor in order to receive …

No courier company shall employ, compensate, utilize, or contract with a commercial bicycle operator who does not have a valid commercial bicycle operator’s permit and a properly registered bicycle.

(a) The Mayor shall promulgate a schedule of civil fines not to exceed $50 for violations of the provisions of this subchapter and rules promulgated pursuant to § 50-1632(d)(3). (b) The proposed schedule of fines shall be submitted to the Council of the District of Columbia withi…

For the purposes of this subchapter, the term “bicycle parking space” means a device or enclosure, located within a building or installation, or conveniently adjacent thereto, for securing a bicycle that is easily accessible, clearly visible and so located as to be reasonably sec…

(a) A bicycle parking space shall conform to the bike parking rack standard established by the District Department of Transportation, or be of such design that will enable the frame to be supported in 2 places, and allow for both wheels of a bicycle to be secured with ease by use…

(a) Notwithstanding any other law or regulation, the Council shall increase the number of public bicycle parking spaces at the John A. Wilson Building. (b) The total number of public bicycle parking spaces provided at the John A. Wilson Building shall be no less than 16; provided…

(a) Within 180 days of February 2, 2008, the Mayor shall prepare and make public a report on the availability of bicycle parking spaces at buildings occupied by the District government, including office buildings occupied by District government agencies, public school buildings, …

(a)(1) A residential building owner shall provide secure bicycle parking spaces for all existing residential buildings with 8 or more units. (2)(A) A residential building owner shall provide a reasonable number of bicycle parking spaces, as determined by the Mayor, for all existi…

(a) An owner of a building with office, retail, or service use shall provide a minimum number of bicycle parking spaces at least equal to 5% of the number of automobile parking spaces provided for the building. (b) If the utilization of the minimum number of bicycle parking space…

(a) Within 90 days of April 8, 2011, the Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2 [§ 2-501 et seq.], shall issue rules to implement the provisions of this subchapter. (b) All rules promulgated under this subchapter shall be submitted to the Council for review and a…

(a) A violation of this subchapter or the rules issued under authority of this subchapter shall be a civil infraction for the purposes of Chapter 18 of Title 2 [§ 2-1801.01 et seq.]. (b) Civil fines, penalties, and fees may be imposed as sanctions for an infraction of § 50-1641.0…

Rules promulgated pursuant to this subchapter shall apply to existing, substantially rehabilitated, and new residential, retail, office, and service buildings 6 months after February 2, 2008.

Nothing in this subchapter shall supplant any requirements of the Zoning Regulations.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person under 16 years of age to ride roller skates, a skateboard, sled, coaster, toy vehicle, sidewalk bicycle, scooter, or any similar device without wearing a protective helmet of good fit, fastened securely upon the head with the straps of the …

The penalties provided for in § 50-1651(b) shall not be enforced until 90 days after March 16, 2005.

The Council of the District of Columbia finds that: (1)(A) Nationally, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death of children of less than 6 years of age; (B) In 1981, over 600 children of less than 6 years of age were reported injured in motor vehicle accidents in th…

As used in this chapter the term: (1) “Child restraint seat” means any motor vehicle restraint system which has been designed to protect children and has been approved pursuant to § 50-1704 . (2) “Operator” means a person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle. …

(a) The operator of a motor vehicle may not transport any child of less than 3 years of age unless the child is properly restrained in a child restraint seat. (b) The operator of a motor vehicle shall not transport any child under 16 years of age unless the child is properly rest…

Any fines in excess of $55 shall be directed to fund the Child Passenger Safety Program which will be used: (1) To assure that at least one fitting station is located in each ward of the city at the facilities of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Depart…

Child restraint seats shall conform to all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards established pursuant to § 103 of title 1 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, approved September 9, 1966 (80 Stat. 719; 15 U.S.C. § 1392 ).

The Department of Transportation shall continue to serve as the lead agency in the administration of the Child Passenger Safety Fund and in coordinating the child safety seat program with the DCFEMS, MPD and DMV.

(a) This chapter shall apply to any person operating a motor vehicle in the District of Columbia. (b) This chapter shall apply to any motor vehicle that is used for personal use.

(a)(1) First time offenders of this chapter shall be given a choice of paying a $75 fine or attending a child restraint safety class, for which they will be charged $25. For the second offense, offenders shall be required to attend a child safety class, for which they will be cha…

Neither a violation of this chapter nor compliance herewith shall constitute any evidence of negligence or contributory negligence, nor shall either a violation or compliance provide any basis for a civil action for damages.

Within 180 days from March 7, 1992, the Mayor shall issue rules to implement this chapter and, through public or private programs, shall maintain a child restraint seat loan program for residents of the District of Columbia, and make available to the public information about this…

This chapter may be cited as the “Distracted Driving Safety Act of 2004”.

For the purposes of this chapter, the term: (1) “Distracted driving” means inattentive driving while operating a motor vehicle that results in the unsafe operation of the vehicle where such inattention is caused by reading, writing, performing personal grooming, interacting with …

Distracted driving shall be prohibited. A person found guilty of distracted driving shall be subject to the fines and penalties set forth in § 50-1731.06(a).

(a) No person shall use a mobile telephone or other electronic device while operating a moving motor vehicle in the District of Columbia unless the telephone or device is equipped with a hands-free accessory. (b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the following: (1…

(a) A person shall not use a mobile telephone or other electronic device, including those with hands-free accessories, while operating a moving school bus that is carrying passengers; provided, that this section shall not apply to a school bus driver who places an emergency call …

(a) The penalty for violating §§ 50-1731.03, 50-1731.04, or 50-1731.05 shall be a fine of $100; provided, that the fine shall be suspended for a first time violator who, subsequent to the violation but prior to the imposition of a fine, provides proof of acquisition of a hands-fr…

(a) Whenever the Metropolitan Police Department (“MPD”) makes a written report on an accident involving a motor vehicle, the report shall include the following information: (1) Whether a mobile telephone or other electronic device was present in the motor vehicle; (2) Whether the…

The Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles shall include educational information on the use of mobile telephones and other electronic devices while driving in the District’s Driver and Motorcycle Operator’s Study Guide. The Director shall also include questions pertaining t…

(a) The Director of the District Department of Transportation shall annually publish and submit to the Council a report containing statistics regarding the possible relationship between motor vehicle accidents in the District of Columbia and the use of mobile telephones or other …

The Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, shall issue rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.