City Council recently approved Mayor Bob Filner’s proposal to spend $100K on a taxi study on how best to regulate San Diego taxicabs.  The city currently contracts with the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) which licenses and regulates all taxicabs which operate in the city.

The city’s contract with the MTS Taxicab Administration is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2013.  The city has opted to extend it’s contract with MTS for one additional year instead of signing a five-year renewal contract.

The mayor is proposing to return taxi oversight back to it’s city government.  Since 1989, MTS has had contracts with the city to regulate it’s taxicabs.

Recent California Ground Transportation News

SB-109: New Bill Proposed to Improve Limo Safety in California

A new vehicle safety regulation is being proposed in the state of California as a result of the two recent limousine fires.  State Senate Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett (D-East Bay) introduced California Senate Bill No. 109 (SB-109) to improve California limousine safety.

The new proposed bill will require:

• Two exit doors in the rear portion of limousine vehicles to allow for the prompt evacuation of individuals in the case of fire or other emergency.
• At least two windows in the limousine passenger compartment of the vehicle can be pushed out, if necessary.

SB 109 is currently in the Assembly Transportation Committee for consideration, though a hearing date has not yet been set.

TEXT:  CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL NO. 109

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB109&search_keywords=

RELATED:

SB 338: New Bill Proposes Fire Extinguishers For All California Limousines

The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a Settlement Agreement with SuperShuttle Inc to resolve a complaint that alleged the airport shuttle operator discriminated against an individual with a disability in violation of title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

According to the Settlement Agreement, “the complaint alleged that SuperShuttle required the Complainant, who uses a service animal, and her five traveling companions to take a more expensive non-shared ride to their destination because SuperShuttle would not allow the Complainant’s service dog to travel with other passengers in a shared ride.”

Under the terms of the settlement, SuperShuttle agrees to:
-  Adopt a revised service animal non-discrimination policy.
-  Train all personnel on the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
-  Pay $1,000 in damages to the Complainant.

RELATED:

Settlement Agreement Between United States and SuperShuttle Inc
http://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/resources/274201365151513706036.pdf

RECENT NEWS

SuperShuttle Partners with Rearden Commerce to Increase Customer Loyalty

In response to a WUSA9 investigation documenting discrimination against black and disabled taxicab passengers, the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights (OHR) has launched a new reporting system which will enable travelers to file a refusal of service complaint.

How to File a DC Taxi Discrimination Complaint
http://ohr.dc.gov/taxis

Find Accessible DC Taxicabs
- Both Royal Cab and Yellow Cab operate wheelchair accessible taxis with in the District of Columbia.

RELATED:

WUSA9: DC Taxi Drivers Ignore People with Disabilities

A new bill introduced to the Nevada Legislature proposes the use of a computerized real-time data system for tracking Las Vegas taxis.  On Thursday, the Assembly Ways and Means Committee approved Senate Bill 430 (SB 430) which sets an October 1, 2013 deadline to commence the implementation of the new system.

SB 430 would authorize the Nevada Taxicab Authority to use the new data system to:

• Enable e-Hails.
• Verify the validity of temporary or permanent medallions.
• Keep electronic versions of daily trip sheets of taxicab drivers.

NEVADA SB 430 SUMMARY

http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/77th2013/Reports/history.cfm?billname=SB430

Recent Las Vegas Ground Transportation News

Audit: Las Vegas Taxis Overcharged $14.8 Million On Airport Transfers

A recent follow-up case study analysis conducted by TransportationReviews.com indicated that 13.1% of all limousine companies listed on the Oakland Airport website have a permit status classified by the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) as “Denied”, “Revoked” or “Suspended”.  Operators with an inactive permit status may be driving unsafe vehicles and may not be insured.

CASE STUDY RESULTS FOR THE OAKLAND INTL AIRPORT:
The following results are based on information communicated on the Oakland Airport website as of May 11, 2013.  Limousine companies classified as “inactive” may be operating under a new license or permit which may be currently active with the PUC.

• Over 1 in 10 (13.1%) of the limousine service companies displayed on the Oakland Intl Airport website have a permit status of one of the following: Denied, Revoked or Suspended by the PUC.  Limousine companies with an inactive permit status are not legally authorized to provide limousine service with in the state of California.
• Almost two-thirds (65.5%) of the limousine service companies displayed on the OAK Airport website communicate a company name that does NOT EXACTLY MATCH with the name that is registered with the PUC.  In most cases these names are abbreviated, misspelled and or missing words.
•  The average number of days with an inactive license was 387 days.  The number of inactive days ranged from 9 to 1,011.

SIMILAR CASE STUDIES WERE CONDUCTED IN 2010:

SFO Limousine Companies Denied, Revoked, Suspended

Illegal Limousine Companies Listed on Bay Area Airport Websites

SFO Limousine Companies With Inactive Permits Displayed On San Francisco Airport Website

Know Before You Go
Many California ground transportation companies advertise various different Company Names many of which are not registered with the PUC and or fail to communicate their license or permit number in advertisements which includes their company website.

For your safety, limousine companies displayed on the TransportationReviews.com website display the company’s legal business name or a dba name which is registered with the California PUC.  In addition, our Company Profile pages include a “License Status” link which will enable travelers to check the operators PUC’s permit status in real time!

RELATED:

KGO-TV ABC 7 NEWS: Limos Without Valid Permits Listed On Oakland Airport Website

Following the recent fatal limousine accident on the San Mateo Bridge which caught fire and killed 5 passengers, state Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) recently introduced California Senate Bill No. 338 (SB 338) which will require limousines with a seating capacity of not more than 10 passengers (including the driver) to be equipped with a fire extinguisher.

Vehicles would include any sedan or sport utility vehicle of either standard or extended length.

State law currently mandates that vehicles with a seating capacity of more than 10 passengers (defined as a “bus”) are required to be equipped with a fire extinguisher.

Limousines are currently exempt from the fire extinguisher provision.

CALIFORNIA SB-338 TEXT:
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB338&search_keywords=

RELATED:

Smaller California Limousines Lack Required Safety Inspections

A recent undercover investigation by WUSA9 TV documented DC taxis stranding People with Disabilities on the curb which are trying to hail a taxi in the District of Columbia.

42 DC taxis were tested using volunteers with a wheelchair or guide dog.

RESULTS OF WUSA 9 INVESTIGATION

• According to WUSA9: “48% either drove right past the passenger with a disability in favor of another fare, took them to the wrong location without warning, or charged an illegal extra fee.”

RELATED:

Discrimination by D.C. Taxicabs against People who use Service Dogs

A recent fatal limousine accident on the San Mateo Bridge which caught fire and killed 5 passengers brings to the forefront the lack of required safety inspections for smaller California limousines.

California Limousines Used to Transport 10 or Fewer People (Including the Driver)

• The limousine operated by Limo Stop Inc of San Francisco was NOT required to undergo a state safety inspection.  (Vehicles which transport more than 10 passengers (including the driver) require routine safety inspections every 13 months).
• Vehicles are not required to carry a fire extinguisher.

The limousine operated by Limo Stop Inc was a 1999 Lincoln Town Car 28-foot stretch limousine.  The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) which regulates limousine companies in the state has “no rules or standards about how stretch limousines are built from standard cars” according to PUC spokeswoman Terrie Prosper.

Recent California Ground Transportation News

SFO Airport Bans Ride Sharing Firms

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer recently signed into law Arizona Senate Bill 1087 (SB 1087) which mandates that ground transportation companies that operate taxis and limousines are required to conduct criminal background checks and drug testing on all drivers which operate a livery vehicle.

The criminal background check and drug testing is required BEFORE the driver is hired AND must complete a drug test at least once per year whether the driver is an employee or lessee.

Arizona Senate Bill 1087 was sponsored by Judy Burgee (Republican – Senator – District 22) and drafted by the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures (AZDWM) which is responsible for the regulation of Vehicle for Hire companies.

SB 1087 Text:
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/51leg/1r/bills/sb1087p.pdf

Recent Arizona Ground Transportation News

SuperShuttle Unveils 75th Propane Autogas Shuttle at Phoenix Airport