WASHINGTON (Map, News) - D.C. cab drivers have until June 1 before the city begins fining them $1,000 for not having time-and-distance meters in their vehicles, Mayor Adrian Fenty announced Tuesday.

One day earlier, a ruling handed down by Superior Court Judge Brook Hedge supported the legality of the mayor’s decision to force the switch from a zone-based fare system to meters by May 1.

Fenty said the May 1 deadline for taxis to have the devices stands. Police officers and nine inspectors from D.C.’s Taxicab Commission will begin inspecting cabs that day — but $1,000 fines won’t be levied until June 1.

Instead, drivers will be handed warning citations.

Officials said there’s no limit to the number of times a driver can get a warning so long as they have a required meter in place by June.

“If you look at thousands of laws across the country, there’s always some staggered implementation,” the mayor said. “We think this is the fair way to do it.”

City leaders will “keep track” of the drivers who receive warnings, but those drivers won’t be targeted specifically when the fine period starts, Fenty spokeswoman Leslie Kershaw told The Examiner in an e-mail.

Customers who board a taxi without a meter are being asked to report the name and identification number of the offending driver to the Taxicab Commission at 202-645-6018.

Officials on Tuesday acknowledged that cab drivers were expected to file an appeal of the Superior Court ruling on the mayor’s meter decision, but added they expected that the court would rule on the appeal before June.

Leon Swain, chairman of the cab commission, said 10 companies have been authorized to sell and install the meters.

As of Tuesday morning, he said, seven more had submitted applications for that distinction.

The city hopes to have 15 to 20 companies approved to provide the meters in the very near future, he said.

dlevitz@dcexaminer.com