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=
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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.”
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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.
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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
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by admin on April 27, 2013
The New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) recently announced that Uber Technologies Inc was approved as the first provider for a 12-month pilot program which enables travelers to e-Hail NYC taxis using a smartphone application.
NYS Supreme Court Judge Carol Huff earlier this week dismissed a lawsuit which sought to halt the pilot program.
List of Approved e-Hail Pilot Participants
- Several competing e-Hail app providers have requested to participate in the year-long pilot program and are in various stages of the approval process. View current list of approved pilot participants:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/industry/current_licensees.shtml
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