The dark, dark world of illegal Segway tours of Washington, D.C.

[Chris_]

The dark, dark world of illegal Segway tours of Washington, D.C.

In Washington, D.C., it is illegal to talk about the monuments or the history of the city if a person pays you to take them around town. That is, unless you pay the government $200 and pass a 100 question multiple-choice exam.

The regulation has actually been around for about 100 years, though it has for the most part gone unenforced. But in July, the District new regulations took effect that specified that tours  conducted on “self-balancing personal transport vehicles,” a.k.a. Segways, are subject to the licensing regulation. There are only three Segway tour companies in the District, so the threat was pretty clear. Instead of waiting around for the District to begin enforcing the law, Main and Edwards decided to sue.

Not only does the regulation require a license, but it prohibits anyone without one from “[using] the words “sightseeing,” “tours,” “guide” or any combination of these words, to advertise the availability of sightseeing tour services.”

Institute for Justice points out that many people’s jobs are to talk, such as broadcast journalists or comedians, and there is no licensing fee for them to do so. Moreover, the regulation has unintended broad-reaching consequences: “If … a person hires a D.C. taxi for a sightseeing tour (at a cost of $25 per hour), and the driver talks about the prospects of the Washington Redskins, no law has been broken. But if, during that same ride, the driver says “Hey, that’s the Washington Monument,” the driver can be fined $300 or even thrown into jail for three months.”

Institute for Justice takes issue with the broader trend of requiring people to have a license for specific jobs — what they call “the explosion of occupational licensing.” According to McNamara, one in three people is now required to get a license to do their job, up from one in twenty 60 years ago. Past IJ lawsuits have fought licensing requirements for African hairbraiders, florists and funeral homes. IJ has also worked to prevent the implementation of a similar tour guide licensing requirement in Philadelphia, Pa.

Read more at the Daily Caller

[littlelamb]

That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard but it coming out of DC so it figures that place is awful

[Ptarmigan]

I never heard of it. No wonder why DC is in a sorry state.

[vesta111]

I never heard of it. No wonder why DC is in a sorry state.

Those damn thing- a-ma -bobs are everywhere in DC. They come in like a flock of sea gulls, most of the riders are like kids learning to ride a 2 wheeler, one just gets out of their way and pray for the best for them.

I guess I broke the law when I gave a half a pack of cigs. to a well spoken articulate street person for showing us some of the sights they have grown up knowing all their life.

Surprising the well educated street people in DC, for some reason they are much happier sleeping in parks then living their old 9-5 job. 

Nothing goes on in DC that they do not know about, they have seen the changes in the administrations in 30 years, all the worlds leaders come to town, much better tour guide then one with a script to follow.

I could write a book just from the memory's of these men,  The woman are insane so I stay away from them.

Yeah I know Hubby says I am going to get killed by my curiosity, he may be right I may be crazy, but so far as long as I treat people with respect, have no fear of them and talk to them as one human being to another, no problem yet.

 Wether out of [WTH] is this little white woman doing is she a set up, or the novelty of speaking to someone that shows respect, so far we have gotten a tour of the city you will not get for any price.

One warning, if you smoke and are outside Union Station these not street people but professional street hustlers will come up to a woman, not a man and ask to buy a few Cigs.  They work on the theory that a white woman will just turn over to them a pack just to get them to go away.  Not me baby I look them right in the eye and say NO.

Sooner or later they will go away after whining and begging and call you every name in the book.   Just smile, wave and tell them to have a nice day.   It is a good feeling to see them get their knickers in a twist.

[true_blood]

That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard but it coming out of DC so it figures that place is awful

You said it.

[Chris_]

That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard

They'll find a way to make it even worse.  Want to work on your car in your driveway? You must be ASE certified.  Want to change the banister and newels in your home?  You'll have to join a union.  Shit, the UAW managed to weasel their way into babysitting, of all things.

It's the whole slipperly slope thing.