City Council Approves Taxicab Regulation Overhaul
By aaroncynic in News on Jan 19, 2012 4:20PM
The Chicago City Council approved new regulations for taxicab drivers yesterday that it hopes to improve safety. According to the Tribune, the regulations would restrict drivers to 12-hour days, excluding breaks; require companies to keep detailed records on their drivers; and fines for violating various regulations would increase to $5,000. The new rules follow a Tribune investigation on dangerous cab drivers that remain on the roads.
At a press conference, Mayor Emanuel said “The rules and regulations overseeing the taxi industry have not really had a significant scrub in about 25 years.”
At present, the city does not track tickets issued to cab drivers, and drivers only need show a copy of their records once a year for renewal. The Tribune investigation and a WBBM investigation found that bad drivers slip through the cracks because judges often dismiss tickets issued to cab drivers. The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection is working with Chicago police and the state to build a system which would provide monthly updates of driving records.
Cab companies will be given a year to comply with the new measures.