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UTW to Sponsor ‘Bust the Bandits’ Limo Conference

Illegal Limos and
Out-of-Town Cabs
Are Killing Our Business

By Bud Hazelkorn UTW Chair

Raise your hand if these sound familiar:

The hotel doorman who used to be friendly now acts like you stink. As soon as you show up, you know you're not wanted. “It's dead, Dude. They all left yesterday.” “What're they doing here?” you ask, pointing to the fleet of limos in the white zone, on the sidewalk, double-parked. “Wait, here's one for you,” he calls, and gives you a woman going three blocks;

You pass a limo parked in a hotel garage next to the street. The doorman gets hostile when you ask him about it. You walk inside and ask the desk clerk. “It belongs to the doorman, ” he says. You're on the phone with 311 when three beat cops appear and knock on your window. “Great timing!” you say. “This guy’s running his own limo out of the front.” “Move your cab,” they say. “But this limo's illegal.” “Move your cab,” they repeat. “If I move it, will you report this illegal limo? ” “No,” they say flatly. Later, you learn a former S.F. chief of police runs the hotel security;

At SFO, you see one Town Car after another creeping through the Arrivals level. You follow one. He stops at several airlines, then parks at the curb and walks inside. You see him approach different people. Five minutes later he comes out with two passengers. You run to find a cop. You can’t. Until, that is, you return to your car and see him writing you a $35 ticket.

Limos and out-of-town cabs have been flooding the already strained San Francisco taxicab market, with virtually no enforcement. Sgt. Ron Reynolds, of the Taxi Detail, describes the situation as “out of control.” Likewise Jordanna Thigpen, acting executive director of the SF Taxi Commission. “The illegal limousine situation has become untenable,” she says. “There is a lot of business out there, especially at peak periods, and the penalties [for bandits] are not effective enough to be a deterrent.”

To educate drivers about what they can do about the epidemic — as individuals and as a group — the United Taxicab Workers will sponsor a “Bust the Bandits” Conference at its headquarters at 2940 16th St. (Between South Van Ness and Capp) on Tuesday, June 12. The time will be announced soon (either afternoon or early evening). Speakers will be:

Sgt. Ron Reynolds of the Taxi Detail –
“What the Taxi Detail Is Doing, Wants to Do, and How Cab Drivers Can Help;”

Acting Taxi Commission Executive Director Jordanna Thigpen –
“Getting City and State Agencies To Pool Their Resources In the Current Economic Crisis;”

Officer Stuart Molver, of the SF International airport Ground Transportation Unit,
“Limos and Bandits At SFO and how GTU Plans To Stop Them.”

After the speakers, United Taxicab Workers will
moderate a discussion of the myriad ways drivers can organize against this threat to their jobs, enlisting groups of volunteers for each task. Tasks will include, but are not limited to:

Reporting to Taxi Detail and UTW the names of hotels, doormen and concierges who sell fares to limos and refuse long fares to cabbies. UTW will then post them on its website;

Taking photographs of limos parked illegally at hotels, writing down their license and TCP numbers, and sending them to both Taxi Detail and UTW; Picketing those hotels and handing out informational leaflets to guests. Cab drivers will refuse to stop at those hotels during these periods;

An e-mail and call-in campaign to the Board of Supervisors, Taxi Commission, Mayor's office and California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), demanding enforcement, driver rights, driver benefits, and an end to the oppression of San Francisco cab drivers; Advertisements broadcasting our situation to the community;

Joining United Taxicab Workers so as to approach the city government from a position of strength, and conduct campaigns such as this with the necessary funds;

Other actions designed to illustrate the essential value of cab drivers to the city.

The importance of this conference is greater than just the limo issue. For cab drivers to finally obtain basic workers' rights, we must demonstrate the ability to organize and act in solidarity. This is an essential opportunity for us to do just that.

MOTOR VEHICLE FOR HIRE LAWS IN SAN FRANCISCO

White Zones: Five (5) Minute Time Limit
(SF Traffic Code Sec.38.C):
No driver shall stop in a white curb zone except to load or unload passengers, day or night, in excess of a period of five minutes (This applies equally to limousines under contract to hotels).

Solicitation of Passengers Prohibited
(SF Police Code Sec.1105(a):
It is unlawful for any driver of a motor vehicle for hire, or any person acting in concert with or on behalf of the driver, to solicit passengers for the vehicle where the solicitation is made from any public street, sidewalk, or other public place.

Limousines Operate on a Prearranged Basis
(CA Public Utilities Code Sec.5360.5):
“Prearranged basis” means transportation arranged with the carrier by the passenger or their representative, via written contract or telephone.

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Spring 2008 Issue

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