Ask yourself: Just how well do I know my chauffeur?

When a Florida limousine driver ferrying 10 teens to their high school prom at Disney World was arrested on drunk driving charges, the news likely shocked parents across the country who’ve been depending on limo services to keep their children safe on prom night.

According to authorities, the driver, a 49-year-old woman with a prior DUI charge, was so intoxicated during the April 9 incident that she was driving on the wrong side of the road and cutting off other vehicles.

Fortunately, the teens, all decked out in their tuxedos and prom gowns, persuaded the driver to pull over and grabbed the keys out of the ignition.

Generally, preventing your teens from getting behind the wheel with a carload of their friends on prom night is a very wise decision.

But as the Florida incident illustrates, paying hundreds of dollars for limos does not always guarantee a safe or smooth ride to the prom. Nor does it guarantee that you’re putting your kids in a licensed and insured vehicle.

In the last five years, the state agency that oversees limo services in California has issued 55 citations and two permanent injunctions, and it has opened seven investigations targeting alleged violators.

Some of the recent actions by the state involve limo services that failed to comply with drug and alcohol testing, operated charter-party limos without proper permits or insurance and allowed improperly licensed drivers to drive larger vehicles. (For more details on these companies and the investigations, go to www.cpuc.ca.gov.)

The agency, the California Public Utilities Commission, requires limousine companies to obtain permits or certificates in order to operate, according to spokeswoman Terrie Prosper. Companies are also required to have a license and proof of adequate liability insurance for all the vehicles in their fleet.

Many of the larger stretch limos -- including Hummers or SUVs that are as long as 32 feet and can seat as many as 24 passengers -- are required to undergo a California Highway Patrol safety inspection and approval process because of their size.

Statewide, there are about 3,800 licensed passenger firms. The majority are limousine services, according to the commission. There’s also an untold number of unlicensed and uninsured limo services that operate illegally in the state, say owners of some legitimate limo companies.

Whether it’s for a prom or a wedding, renting a limousine from an unlicensed and uninsured company can pose safety and financial risks, says Dan Walters, who owns Classic Limos in Laguna Niguel. He says he spends up to $36,000 a year to insure his licensed fleet of vintage vehicles.

The California Public Utilities Commission and Francis J. Shane, executive director of the National Limousine Assn., offer the following tips for parents and students who are looking for limo services:

* Check the qualifications of the limo company you are considering by calling the licensing division of the utilities commission at (800) 894-9444. This will allow you to obtain their insurance number, permit number and permit status. Also, you can check complaints filed against the company.

* Check to see if the firm is a member of the National Limousine Assn. at www.NLAride.com, which requires its members to be licensed and insured.

* When contacting a limo service, ask if there is a minimum charge and number of hours required.

* Ask whether the firm “farms out” jobs when it is short on vehicles or drivers. If it does, make sure that these subcontractors are also properly licensed.

* Get a signed contract and information about the company’s cancellation policy.

* Add the following to your contract: Teen passengers, parents and limousine service agree that no alcohol, drugs or other intoxicants are allowed in the limo and that the privacy screen will remain open at all times. Also, all packages will be inspected by the chauffeur and placed in the vehicle’s trunk.

The contract should specify that if the driver detects drugs or alcohol, the parents will be called and the passengers returned home. Only teens on the contract should be allowed in the limo.

Jeanne Wright can be reached at jeanrite@aol.com