Council Votes Sweeping New Rules for Taxis

Nobody walks in L.A. But not everybody drives.

Thousands of people in Los Angeles depend each day on the 1,158 city-licensed taxis to get about, and not all of them are happy with the service they have been getting. On Friday, prompted by rising complaints about cabbie appearance, conduct and response to calls, the Los Angeles City Council approved sweeping new regulations to force bad operators out of the business.

In a unanimous vote taken over the yells of disapproving cabbies who packed the council chambers, the council approved a plan to make drivers attend training programs and periodic refresher courses that will stress promptness and “courteous behavior.”

The new ordinance would also enforce a basic dress code outlawing tank tops, open-toed sandals and cut-off shorts. And it would provide “courtesy cards”--soliciting comments on taxi service--to all customers.

A new system of heavy fines would be meted out to offending drivers, and the city’s five big taxi companies and three associations of independent owners would be held more accountable for the actions of their drivers.

Increasing Competition

Independent drivers say the rules are not so much a reflection of worsening service, but rather of increasing competition within the taxicab business. David Shapiro, an official with the United Independent Taxi Drivers, said the new rules were encouraged by big fleet owners as a means of forcing independents out of business.

“It is not a fight over conduct or dress,” Shapiro said. “It is a fight over a $60-million pie.”

Backers of the new rules disagreed.

“Good drivers have nothing to be afraid of,” said Councilman Joel Wachs. “It’s the bad drivers that have something to be afraid of, and they are the ones who need to be regulated.”

Row after row of cabbies who packed the council chamber alternately applauded and booed during the debate, causing Council President John Ferraro to bellow at one point: “They’re just as rude as they are on the street.”

Expands Regulations

The council action will expand the number of city regulations affecting taxi operation from 40 to 200. Cabbies said that such an increase makes it impossible to perform their jobs without routinely running afoul of the rules and being slapped with costly fines.

But Ed Rowe, Department of Transportation general manager, told the council that many existing rules were simply rewritten in a form that increased their number, but not the spirit of what is required of cabbies.

The biggest change will be the fines. Companies and associations will be assessed points for infractions by their drivers. Once a company or association accumulates a certain number of points, they will be fined $500 for each additional point. Other fines will be assesed directly on the cab drivers. Companies failing to meet a minimum level of performance could be suspended or have their licenses revoked.

In a concession to the companies, the ordinance authorizes an increase in the number of cabs for each company by 5%. An additional 10% of the total number of cabs could also be licensed to compensate for an expected increase in taxis being taken out of service for repairs as a result of improved inspection programs.