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 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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The Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA), a non-profit trade association for the passenger ground transportation industry has recently released a media briefer about Rogue Transportation Apps.

The TLPA says “rogue” app dispatch services continue to threaten passenger safety.

Media Brief Overview

1. A “traffic-light” color-coded overview and explanation of the main apps in use today.
2. A review of the difference between taxicab and limousine service and regulations.
3. A look at some of the legal actions against rogue apps.
4. Useful quotes from industry leaders on the dangers of rogue apps.

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Rogue Apps: A Threat to Public Safety and to Equal Access Transportation

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recently submitted comments to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) expressing concerns about proposed regulatory changes which “may hurt competition in the marketplace for passenger vehicle transportation services”.  The Colorado PUC regulates ground transportation companies including taxi, shuttle limousine and charter-bus companies.

Staff stated that “the changes could inhibit the use of mobile smartphone software applications that allow consumers to arrange and pay for transportation services in new ways.”

Proposed Regulatory Changes for Colorado Ground Transportation

•  Create a barrier to the entry and operation of independent smartphone applications that match customers with transportation services.
• Limousine operators would be required to use a specific fixed price.
• Limousines would be prohibited from stationing themselves within 200 feet of a hotel, motel, restaurant, bar, taxicab stand, or airport passenger pickup point unless a passenger pick-up has been prearranged and a completed charter order is in the vehicle.

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FTC Sticks Up for Taxi Apps in Colorado

The Clark County Commissioners have recently approved a proposal to lower the required rental payments for the airport’s exclusive on-demand limousine companies which provide walk-up service at the McCarran Intl Airport.

According to Aviation Director, airport revenue for limousine and bus service has decreased 21 percent from the previous year.  Annual revenues have remained about the same since 2007 at about $40 million per year.

Last month, Executive Las Vegas, one of the contracted on-demand limousine operators decided to drop it’s services from the airport.  The County Commission has approved an application from AWG Ambassador LLC to replace Executive Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas Airport will reduce the Minimum Annual Rent by 21 percent and cap required payments at 20 percent of revenues.

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County Awards Exclusive Las Vegas Airport Shuttle and Limousine Contracts

The Smartphone Apps Committee of the International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR) has recently proposed new guidelines to address the use of smartphone applications in ground transportation.  IATR members include regulatory officials who are responsible for transportation regulation.

The purpose of the IATR Smartphone Apps Committee is to “ensure smartphone application technology can exist fairly, safely and with accountability to protect the consumer, while creating a level playing field for transportation providers.”

Smartphone Apps Committee Proposed Rules include:

• Forbid the use of a GPS device as a meter for calculating fares based on time and distance.
• Drivers will not be allowed to accept an electronic hail through a smartphone while driving.
• Limousine companies may not accept a request for a ride that is made less than 30 minutes in advance.

Recent Ground Transportation News on Smartphones

zTrip: Veolia Transportation On-Demand Launches Mobile App

Veolia Transportation’s On Demand Division recently launched zTrip, a new mobile app which enables travelers to book ground transportation service using a smartphone.  Initially, the zTrip app will be available in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and will offer either on-demand or scheduled limousine service using ExecuCar.

Veolia Transportation On Demand operates taxi, shuttle and limousine services in over 50 locations throughout the U.S. and intends to use the zTrip app to book all of it’s services in the future using one app.

zTrip: Phoenix Limousine Service Rates

• The minimum fare for car service is $15.00 and includes the first 3 miles.  Each additional mile traveled costs $3.00 per mile.  Driver gratuity is included in the fare.  The on-demand service (Pick me up now) is currently available in Scottsdale and portions of Phoenix.  Scheduled limousine service (Pick me up later) is available in the greater Phoenix metro area including Carefree, Cave Creek, Chandler, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Laveen, Mesa, Peoria, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Sun City/Sun City West, Surprise and Tempe.

About ExecuCar
A division of Veolia Transportation On Demand which operates in over 50 U.S. cities.  In most locations ExecuCar offers black sedan towncar service including SUV’s.

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State lawmakers recently imposed a 7-percent sales and use tax on Rhode Island ground transportation including taxicab, limousine and charter-bus services.  The new sales tax took effect today on October 1, 2012.

The 7% sales tax on taxis, limos and buses will only apply for intrastate transportation.  Interstate rides are exempt from the mandated sale tax.

A lawsuit was filed in state Superior Court by the Rhode Island Taxi Owners Association (TOA) and by Airport Taxi Inc in order to block changes to the new state sales tax.  The Taxi Owners Association argued in it’s lawsuit that subjecting ground transportation companies to the state sales tax violates the “commerce clause” of the U.S. Constitution by “impermissibly burdening interstate commerce.”

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The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport operates as a “Closed System” for passenger ground transportation service which allows only a limited number of limousine companies to provide on-demand service from the PHX Airport.  The Phoenix limousine rates are the same for all authorized companies and are regulated by Sky Harbor Airport.

Other competing limousine operators are allowed access to the PHX Airport but require an advanced reservation and must have a valid airport license.  Contact the Phoenix Airport Ground Transportation office at 602-273-3383 to verify that the operator has an active license and is authorized to pick you up.  These limousine rates are not regulated by the PHX Airport and may be different among the competing operators.

Authorized Phoenix Limousine Companies
The following limousine companies are contracted by the Phoenix Airport to provide walk-up service.  An advanced reservation is not required but is recommended.

• All Star Trans: (480) 628-3722
• AMP Enterprises: (480) 961-1100
• Black Pearl Limo: (602) 290-8923
• Mechelle Limousine: (602) 501-5199
• Monarch Limousine: (602) 531-6132
• Zion Limousine: (602) 694-6064

Limousine rates are based on a zone system and is calculated based on distance traveled from the Phoenix Airport.  Additional charges apply for three or more passengers which is $10.00 per person.

- Zone A: 0 to 5 miles – $35.00
- Zone B: 5.1 to 10 miles – $45.00
- Zone C: 10.1 to 15 miles – $55.00
- Zone D: 15.1 to 20 miles – $65.00
- Zone E: 20.1 to 25 miles – $75.00
- Zone F: 25.1 to 30 miles – $85.00

Phoenix limousine rates for distance traveled more than 30 miles are not regulated by the PHX Airport and are negotiable among the authorized limousine service companies.

Recent Phoenix Airport Ground Transportation News

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