Crackdown on ‘Bandit’ Taxis Launched by City Officials

Los Angeles officials launched a crackdown on “bandit” taxicabs Monday in an attempt to remove from the streets 300 to 500 unlicensed cabs believed to be operating in the city.

Unregulated by any city agency, the vehicles are often unsafe and without adequate insurance, and their drivers frequently charge exorbitant rates and may have criminal records, officials said.

At a news conference, Mayor Tom Bradley called the cabs “a menace to the people of this city.”

Two police officers and four Department of Transportation inspectors set out Monday to search for the cabs in popular tourist areas such as Hollywood and hotels near Los Angeles International Airport.

By day’s end, three drivers had been cited, but the number is expected to increase significantly today as the program goes into full operation, said Ed Rowe, general manager of the city’s Department of Transportation.

During a test run one evening last month, 17 so-called bandit cab drivers were ticketed, Rowe said.

Drivers who are caught driving unlicensed cabs generally are charged with misdemeanors and face fines of about $100 and six to 12 months probation. Fines for repeat offenders can go up to $1,000 and jail terms can be imposed.

The crackdown is to last for 90 days.

The program is part of a general plan to improve taxi service that began earlier this year with a new code of conduct and dress code for cab drivers, Rowe said. But the crackdown also comes in response to complaints from legitimate cabbies.

“Our drivers come back and say it’s difficult to make a living anymore,” said Dennis Rouse of Taxi Systems Inc., which operates two cab companies in Los Angeles. Bandit drivers often use scanners to monitor radio calls to legitimate cab drivers, then rush to pick up passengers before the licensed driver arrives, he said.

In one recent case, Rouse said, a bandit stole away a passenger from a legitimate company and then attempted to charge the elderly passenger $10 for a three-block trip. When she was unable to pay, he reportedly confiscated her bag of groceries and drove away, he said.

Bradley said the city loses $300,000 a year or more in uncollected fees.

For the average passenger, and especially for out-of-town tourists, it can be difficult to detect illegal taxis, officials said. Some veteran bandit drivers have adorned their cars with relatively convincing copies of the city seal, they said.

But other bandit cabs are obvious by their unusual paint jobs, Rowe said. “Some of them are almost psychedelic.” He added: “If there’s no driver ID; if there’s no meter, get out of the cab.”

Bradley said he supports proposed state legislation that would make it possible to impound illegally operated taxis. Now, only vehicles that have accumulated five or more unpaid parking tickets can be impounded under the “Denver boot” program, Rowe said.

HOW TO SPOT A ‘BANDIT’ CAB No city of Los Angeles seal on sides

No top light

No meter inside

No driver identification card, including photograph, on dashboard

Unusual exterior paint job

Dilapidated condition of car

No legal cab company affiliation stenciled on outside