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Rahm Proposes Taxi Reforms

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 12, 2011 5:30PM

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Image Credit: a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_mel/4564274561/">the_mel

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, along with 9th Ward Ald. and City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Anthony Beale, announce proposed a sweeping set of changes to taxi industry regulations that would give cab company owners incentive to modernize their fleets, put safer cab drivers on the streets and curb the white knuckle experience that many of us have getting inside a cab.

The proposals include:

  • A new limit on age of vehicles that can be put on Chicago’s roads, by lowering the maximum number of miles on a new taxi from 150,000 to 75,000.A tiered lease system that will incentivize fuel-efficient and wheelchair-accessible vehicles. By raising lease-rates on more fuel efficient vehicles, vehicle owners will be incentivized to modernize and upgrade their fleet, resulting in significant fuel savings for drivers and greatly reducing environmental impacts.A standardized lease system that will restrict the add-on and supplemental charges that companies are incorporating in their leases to protect drivers from illegal overcharges.
  • Real-time access to the Secretary of State’s moving violation’s database, which will allow the City to take dangerous drivers off the street immediately, instead of waiting for annual reviews. Additionally, this will eliminate the need for drivers to submit their own driving records;
  • A partnership with the Chicago Police Department for ticketing information, so City regulators have access to moving violation tickets. These incidents will now be added to the driver watch list, and help ensure that cab drivers are following the rules of the road consistently;
  • Denial of renewal for chauffeurs with three moving violations in a 12-month period;
  • A limitation to no more than 12 hours of driving each day for drivers, in line with federal motor vehicle safety laws, as well as industry standards for other drivers of commercial vehicles;
  • A revamping of the City Colleges of Chicago coursework for taxi drivers, with an increased focus on safety and mandatory behind-the-wheel training;
  • An incentive for wheelchair accessible vehicles of $100 off of the annual $600 medallion fee, to encourage companies to make more of their cabs wheelchair accessible. Additionally, any cab company with more than 20 cabs must maintain at least five percent as accessible vehicles;
  • A new category of licenses for so-called “jitney” cars, which will bring regulation, licensing, safety and structure to this industry, and improve service to underserved areas;
  • Mandatory swipe machines in the back of each taxi for credit cards to increase ease of access and speed for credit card transactions; and
  • Installation of GPS technology into cabs, to improve application development for people looking to hail a taxi in their neighborhood.

Today's announcement comes on the heels of proposed taxi regulation overhaul by Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Commissioner Rosemary Krimbel, who said that one reason many cabbies drive as though they're setting records on a salt flat is because the age of the vehicle and the speed they drive make it more financially rewarding. Emanuel said in a statement:

”These reforms will increase safety and bring Chicago’s taxi fleet into the 21st century by enhancing oversight of drivers, ensuring vehicles are modern and more fuel-efficient, and giving customers a cleaner and safer ride. These advances in the taxi industry are part of a comprehensive effort to help Chicagoans get where they need to go safely and affordably.”