By Chief Capitol Correspondent Mark Davis
Posted June 19, 2008
Updated 5:20 PM
Hartford (WTNH) _ Taxi troubles got a full airing at the State Capitol
Thursday. But, not from cab riders. It came from cab drivers who say the rules and
regulations on starting a taxi business have got to change.
Gas prices are hurting everyone. But imagine if your driving a cab. And,
that's not the biggest complaint from the drivers.
If you, or someone you know, had a hard time getting a cab at the train
station Thursday it could be because a lot of them were on Capitol Avenue, in
Hartford, bringing a message to state lawmakers.
The cab drivers pay between $250 and $800 a week as independent contractors,
for the right to drive a cab that is licensed by one of the states taxi
certificate holders. They say that makes it nearly impossible to make a decent
living and they say the process freezes them out from starting their own taxi
businesses.
"When we first started, we had drivers just from the New Haven area, but now
we've got guys from Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford," Antoine
Scott, of East Haven, said.
Scott, a former cab driver, has now become an organizer in an effort to
change taxi regulation in Connecticut. "If you want to start your own company,
then you have to go in front of this board and board consists of current taxi
cab owners so they have to really approve the right for you to come on board."
Scott says that seldom happens. William Scalzi owns West Haven-based Metro
Taxi. At 160 cabs, it's the state's largest. He agrees that a review of the
regulations is needed but there is no lock out of new operators.
"Metro Taxi has not applied and been granted any additional permits in the
20 years we've been in business. But, during that time, the D.O.T. has awarded
over 58 taxi permits to one and two and three car companies," Scalzi said.
But there does appear to be some sort of consensus emerging that change for
the business is needed. "There's an impression," Senator Edward Meyer, of the
Program Review Committee, said. "That it is either under regulated or badly
regulated."
"I don't believe in monopolies in any business does the worker any good,"
Senator Edwin Gomes, of Bridgeport, said. "And, my job is to look out for
workers."
There are currently 963 authorized taxi cabs in Connecticut. They're
regulated by the state D.O.T and the D.M.V. which is unusual. In most states, cabs
are regulated by the cities and towns. D.O.T has scheduled a hearing to
consider rate hikes for cabs later this month.
Taxi troubles got a full airing at the State Capitol
Thursday.
But, not from cab riders.
It came from Long Eared Father of Fools who said the rules and regulations written in Heee-Haaww, the official language of fake presidents who hold fake elections for fake memberships of a fake taxi driver club.
do not forget the fake rpeorter and the fake publisher of the fake "news" paper who give Long Ears plenty carrots and straw on a regular basis because they believe it is important to be kind to little dumb donkeys
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Replying to:
Taxi troubles got a full airing at the State Capitol
Thursday.
But, not from cab riders.
It came from Long Eared Father of Fools who said the rules and regulations written in Heee-Haaww, the official language of fake presidents who hold fake elections for fake memberships of a fake taxi driver club.
