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Sandoval drives proposal to tow illegal limousines
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SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - Limousine drivers illegally stealing fares from taxi cabs in The City, a problem that authorities say is rampant, could have their wheels swept from under them.
Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval said he plans on introducing legislation in the coming weeks that would allow law enforcement to tow any limo illegally operating in The City.
For years, cab drivers have complained that limousines have been dipping into their livelihood by stealing fares illegally. And with the recent increase in cab fees, gas prices and the number of cabs on city streets, the complaints have increased, according to authorities.
Complaints includes hotel doormen receiving cash in exchange for putting guests into limos and limo drivers removing their license plates so they cannot be ticketed or reported.
Under state law, limousine operators can only carry passengers by prearrangement. But they have been known to prowl city streets and illegally pick up people on the street or illegally wait in hotel taxi stands, according to police and cab drivers. Law enforcement currently faces restrictions when it can tow illegal limos, such as only if the driver had received a citation for the offense in the last year, among others.
“Cabdrivers have been begging you for ages to try and figure out what can we do to solve this problem,” cab driver Barry Taranto told a Board of Supervisors committee Thursday during a hearing on limos illegally picking up passengers.
Sandoval, who requested the hearing, said he wants to “eradicate the illegal limousine practices here in San Francisco.”
Comments from Examiner Readers
7:43 PM MST on Mon., May. 19, 2008 re: "Sandoval drives proposal to tow illegal limousines"
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8:03 AM MST on Mon., May. 19, 2008
re: "Pricey cab rides could get pricier"
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re: "Pricey cab rides could get pricier"
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re: "Sandoval drives proposal to tow illegal limousines"
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Examiner Reader said:
When 49.75% of all taxis dispatched are no-shows, these drivers are there simply because the taxi system in the city is broken down. How many times you look for a taxi and can't find one? Or call one and end up losing your plane? If taxis were plentiful and reliable this would be a non-issue, but PLEASE don't take limos away--otherwise what would we do on a Friday night, when many time they are the only option?
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Examiner Reader & Cab Ridwer said:
Your article on pricey cabs has the NYC fare only partially correct. NYC - Taxi Fare Components are more complex. Initial fare.............$2.50 Each 1/5 mile (4 blocks).$0.40 Each 1 minute idle.......$0.40 Peak surcharge...........$1.00 (after 4pm until 8pm Mon-Fri) Night surcharge..........$0.50 (after 8pm until 6am) Tolls....................$extra The add-ons/surcharges/peak pricing in NYC put their average taxi-fare higher than SF. In real, inflation adjusted, terms, SF gates and fares have significantly decreased in value since 2000. Regulatory inertia is hurting this entire industry.
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SF Cab Driver said:
Personally I'm against any meter increase right now. I would like the surcharge for pick ups from SFO to be raised to $4.00 though.
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Gretchen said:
Once he gets this quality of life issue settled maybe he can look at other problems such as homicide rates, panhandling, gangs, drugs, public urination, drive by shootings, grafitti, truancy, public drunkenness, Muni, potholes, etc. But first, let's get those illegal limos under control.
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SF Cab Driver said:
Hurray for Sandoval. Illegal operators are a public safety issue. These drivers who are hustling the streets of the City are fringe operators, not legitimate car services. Most don't have license plates on their vehicles, they display phony TCP numbers and are uninsured. They gouge riders by luring them into the car and then charging $5 to $20 per passenger for a ride that should be less than $10 total. Viva Sandoval!
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Examiner Reader said:
Limos are more expensive than cabs. I've taken them a few times and only when the prospect of finding a cab is dire -- New Year's Eve and Friday night downtown. If people want to pay a premium, it's obvious that they'll do so because the alternative is less savory (walking, bus). By trying to solve every city gripe, such as this one from taxi drivers (the only ones complaining), the City will solve nothing. Didn't we recently learn that half of called cabs don't even show on Friday and Saturday night? They have a nerve then complaining about limos.
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Examiner Reader said:
Hey Supervisor Sandoval how about cracking down on crack dealer, users, gang thugs while your at it? These are quantum order issues that we have to deal with daily....obviously the other Daly cares less, maybe you care???
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Examiner Reader said:
Sabatini says "With a low estimate of 700 shifts per year, that would mean a cost increase of at least $3,500 for the cabdrivers." A $5 increase per shift for 5 shifts a week is $25 a week or $1000 a year! Did you get your figures from the UTW clowns and Barry the Liar? As an average increase, what it means is that the busy shift drivers will pay more than $5 a shift and the slow shift drivers will pay the same as now except for the hybrid drivers who will save more than the increase in gas. So how about the real problem in the industry, all the illegal limos, gypsies and out of town cabs poaching all the peak business. Where is the mayor's leadership on this issue?
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