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Is It the Beginning of the End
for Illegal Limos?

Sgt. Ron Reynolds of the Taxi Detail met recently with the managers of 15-20 of the largest hotels in town. The meeting was called as a result of an altercation over illegal limos at the Hilton. An officer who was being paid as a private cop by the hotel said a cab driver's vehicle struck him and knocked him to the ground.

Sgt. Reynolds says he told the managers at the meeting, “‘If you don't take this problem seriously, someday you will have a cab driver drive their cab right through your window, into your lobby.’You could have heard a pin drop after I said that. I told them that if that happened, and the media got ahold of (the story), I'm going to say you had been warned.”

Sgt. Reynolds has a contract for the hotel door staff (which they will have to sign) that requires the customer be given the choice between a cab and a limo only if the hotel has a contract for a courtesy car. Passengers cannot be charged for riding in a courtesy car. “As far as I know, no hotel has a contract for free rides to the airport,” Reynolds said.

If the passenger is paying for the ride, door staff must tell the person to go back into the hotel and book the transportation through the concierge. Or else, door staff can get all the required information for pre-arrangement, then call up the limo from its parking spot. The limo waybill must be completely filled out with nine pieces of information before the customer gets into the vehicle.

Police Code Section 1105 makes it illegal for any person to act as an agent for a limo, taxi or other motor vehicle for hire on a public street, sidewalk or other public place. That includes hotel staff. Penalties include a $500 fine or six months in jail. Hotel staff could also be charged with an unfair business practice.

In December, Sgt. Reynolds coordinated a sting operation called “Project Bandit.” It resulted in 12 misdemeanor arrests and two towed vehicles. The police continue to work the streets, using different officers, and are averaging one arrest a week. According to the sergeant, the operation is limited by budget and personnel constraints, but the police are determined to continue the project.

Sgt. Reynolds will be meeting with Mike Casey, head of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees union, to alert the union of the problem. He is also working to educate the courts and other police officers about the issues so that offenders will not only get fines and jail time, but also be placed on probation. If they are caught again during probation, they could be jailed immediately.

District Attorney Kamala Harris is also committed to dealing with the problem. Her office recently obtained criminal convictions against two illegal limo operators.

What can you do? If you see a bandit limo at a club, bar, theater, wherever, note the time, place, date and any other pertinent information. Then contact Sgt. Ron Reynolds at 553-9688.