Expedite the application for new taxi firm
Rocky Mountain News
Published July 4, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
The Public Utilities Commission could truly serve the interests of taxi riders during and after the Democratic National Convention by placing the application from Union Taxi Cooperative in the express lane to approval.
Union Taxi Cooperative - a couple of hundred area cab drivers seeking to start their own business - applied in June to provide cab service under a new law making it easier for competitors to enter the taxi market in Colorado's largest cities.
That law requires existing taxi companies to prove that expanding competition would be "detrimental to the public interest." That's a much friendlier standard for consumers and would-be competitors than the previous law, which required applicants to show that existing service was "substantially inadequate" before the PUC would allow new entrants in the market.
Even with the new law, the approval process takes months, and the convention is eight weeks away. So on Tuesday, Union filed an application to gain temporary permission to operate during the convention. It asked the PUC to declare an "urgent and immediate" need for extra cabs at that time.
The commission said no, based on an opinion from the attorney general's office that the new standard doesn't apply to cab companies seeking temporary authority to operate.
Attorney and former PUC Chairman Ray Gifford, who's representing the Union drivers, called the decision "pro-incumbent," as it clearly was. That said, Union drivers may be picking up fares by the convention. They asked the PUC to expedite their application for permanent authority. With Commissioner Matt Baker calling for a speedy resolution, Union may get its wish.
Union asked the commission to review its application directly, rather than involve an administrative law judge. That could shave weeks off the process.
Moreover, Union asked to shorten the comment period from 30 days to 10. The only likely interveners are incumbents Yellow Cab and Metro Taxi, who have been arguing against competition for years. It shouldn't take them long to update their legal briefs.
A lengthy process only hurts the taxi-riding public, including the thousands of visitors who will be here for the DNC. If the PUC wants to serve the public interest, it'll make sure Union's cabs are on the streets before the first delegate arrives.
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July 4, 2008
7:32 a.m.
Suggest removal
anarchist writes:
More taxi's idling their engines, more pollution, great idea!
July 4, 2008
8:31 a.m.
Suggest removal
anya writes:
Can't you just feel the money being transferred from the incumbent taxi companies into the pockets of the people that denied this permit? Taxi service in Denver stinks compared to some other large cities; a bit more competition is just what the doctor ordered.
Antichrist: Taxis stopped idling quite some time ago; when they stop, except for a very short time, they turn their engines off; it's easy to do, they just turn the key.
July 4, 2008
9:24 a.m.
Suggest removal
anarchist writes:
anya, "Antichrist", thanks for the promotion.
July 4, 2008
10:19 a.m.
Suggest removal
bxwatso writes:
The taxi laws the PUC must follow are the worst kind of influence pedaling filth. New applicants must prove that they will not harm incumbent cabs! What else would they do?
Government is full of laws that were designed by the regulated to benefit the regulated.
Blue laws are an example, as are laws that over regulate the entry into a profession (4 years of college to be a hair braider).
When people ask the Government to "solve" their problems, abuse like this is the inevitable result.
July 4, 2008
2:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
555 writes:
Check out New Heaven.
Connecticut. the same cab company awners here in Denver have created cartel in that state
and they having a problem.state
leaders are going to deregulate the industry there.
July 8, 2008
3:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
Denverite91 writes:
As a current driver here in Denver, there are a few facts that the Rocky Mountain News is not telling you. First off, when you add more drivers on the street, you take money AWAY from the drivers. The supply will change but not the demand. Demand will change depending on events going on around Denver. I am the one dealing with the bad days so please do not take the good days out of my pocket. This year has been horrible from my standpoint and I will not survive if you take the DNC away from the drivers who have dealt with this economy this year. Second, as an independant contractor, I have the option of working all day or not at all. It is the greatest job in the world. I can take a day off to spend with my grandkids if I want and no one can tell me no. If business is booming and I am making money, I will be on the streets. If not, I am going to save on gas and go home for the night. So if people are using us you will see every driver on the street out there and making money. But if I am not making any money, I am parking my car for the night and not you or my company can tell me differently. I am not going to waste $4.00 per gallon so you do not have to wait, when you will not wait ten minutes for me to fill up, get through traffic only to take you three blocks away because you refuse to walk. I am the little guy and the democrats are forcing me out of business with this law. 95% of the problems the public has with the current companies come from this group of individuals. They refuse to work, they refuse to take short fares, they refuse to leave the airport and they refuse to pick up the disabled. They lie, they cheat, they overcharge. The ones that do not currently drive cannot get hired at a current company due to this pittiful service they offer. I have never been treated better in my life then the way I am treated by my company, but do not let the good honest cab drivers such as myself go out of business due to the bad apples that this group is made up of. The ones who are really going to suffer in the end is the public when you force the oldtimers such as myself out of business because I cannot make any money to replace me with the liars and cheaters who want to scam the passenger.
July 9, 2008
10:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
555 writes:
Don't worry Denverite Yellow cab and freedom cab proved that there is a need for more cabs by applying total of 400 more cabs today with the puc. hold your horses and do not play like a driver here. you are not helping the drivers that cry every day.