The tour will also include dinner at The Villages of Hope Haven. Council members interested in participating in the tour are asked to respond to Susan Elkins at 704-336-2403 or selkins@ci.charlotte.nc.us by Friday, March 4, 2005 so that appropriate transportation and dinner arrangements can be made.
Passenger Vehicle for Hire Ordinance/ Emerging Issues
Staff Resource: Joe Vanderlip, 704-398-6793
Council approved the Passenger Vehicle for Hire Ordinance in May 2000 (effective July 2001). It expanded the City's regulatory authority from metered vehicles (taxis) only to all passenger vehicles for hire, including limousines, limousine sedans, shuttle vans, contract vehicles, and special needs transportation vehicles. The new ordinance was intended to ensure safe and reliable service, provide appropriate regulation, support market demands for a variety of services, and respond to concerns by stakeholders.
In recent months, Council members may have received an increased number of inquiries on issues covered by the Passenger Vehicle for Hire Ordinance. Three (3) main issues have arisen. They are:
- the phase-in of a seven-year vehicle age limit in 2006;
- the current regulatory requirements for limousine companies based outside Charlotte;
- the availability of "accessible" taxicabs for the disabled.
Staff have also raised several issues with current ordinance language and technical corrections needed to clarify requirements. Staff was planning to provide a presentation on these issues at the March workshop, but because of time limitations, we are providing a written update. The City Manager is referring these issues to the Community Safety Committee for review and recommendation to the full Council.
A brief summary of the main issues and their status follows:
Vehicle Age Limit: One of the principal concerns in developing the new ordinance was the historically poor appearance of for-hire vehicles. After considerable stakeholder discussion, a maximum vehicle age limit of seven (7) years was established as the best reasonable means of ensuring only better-quality vehicles remained in service. (The ordinance has been interpreted to exempt only limousines from the seven-year age requirement.) The ordinance provided a five-year grace period to allow time for owners to bring vehicles into compliance. The age limit becomes effective on July 1, 2006.
Status: Owners of some cab companies as well as special-needs transportation companies (service to people with disabilities) are concerned about having to purchase newer vehicles to meet the age requirement as the deadline for compliance approaches.
Company Permit Requirements: The ordinance requires all companies providing for-hire transportation service within the city limits to obtain a company operating certificate and permits for all drivers and vehicles. Staff established a "one-stop" policy allowing companies based outside Charlotte to bring passengers into the city to a single location (and return) without having to obtain any certificates or permits. Certificates and permits are required only if a company based outside Charlotte exceeds the one-stop limit.
Status: A number of limousine companies based in surrounding counties have challenged the one-stop policy and are pushing for unrestricted and unregulated access to the Charlotte market. Charlotte-based transportation companies with PVH permits have made it clear they expect a level playing field and want all companies doing for-hire business within Charlotte to obtain permits.
Accessible Taxicabs: As an incentive to promote accessible taxicab (wheelchair capable) service, the ordinance currently allows one accessible taxicab to count as five cabs towards the requirement of all taxicab companies to operate a minimum of 30 vehicles. Five smaller cab companies exercise this option to meet the 30-cab total, but the accessible cabs are generally not available for use.
Status: Complaints from the disabled community have been slow but steady. Charlotte has never had an effective metered transportation service (accessible taxicabs), so the demand for accessible service is minimal. Company owners have been reluctant to invest in better accessible vehicles, due to the perceived lack of need. The Passenger Vehicles for Hire Board is looking into options on how to improve accessible taxicab service.
