Limo industry 'going nuts,' operator says

By Joanne Kelley, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published March 15, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Local limousine operators have been making a last-ditch attempt to fight proposed changes to the types of vehicles they can offer for hire.

A new set of rules would allow them to keep offering extravagant "stretch" limos and certain types of luxury sedans, vans and gaz-guzzling sport utility vehicles. But it imposes curbs on conventional passenger vans, as well as fuel-efficient "green" hybrids and older vehicles.

"The industry is going absolutely nuts," said Gene Cuckenboo, who operates Presidential Limousine and also represents other companies in his role as president of the Colorado Limousine Association.

The new rules would:

* Phase out conventional vans carrying 14 passengers on bench-style seats and require new vans to be outfitted with special chairs holding fewer people.

* Make no allowances for fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles, already popular as alternative limos in other cities.

* Eliminate the use of older cars in top condition with the exception of high-value antiques.

* Allow limo companies little flexibility in the makes and models in their fleets.

At issue is whether limo operators would be unable to bolster their current fleets of 14-passenger vans ahead of the Democratic National Convention. Corporate executives traveling together with lots of luggage and rock bands laden with instruments are among the clients choosing vans as a more practical alternative to stretch limos.

Last week, an entourage accompanying first lady of Mexico Margarita Zavala hired two Presidential Limousine vans that would be phased out under the new rules.

The industry battled for years to get the vans into their fleets, a change that eventually was allowed by a 1998 state law.

The industry has been battling the potential changes since last fall, when an administrative law judge for the Public Utilities Commission took input at a hearing attended by more than two dozen limo operators.

The judge ultimately recommended that the commission adopt the rules as they had been proposed initially, prompting the industry to file an appeal. "Exceptions" to the rules must be filed by Thursday.

Next step: The commissioners will weigh in on the industry's requested changes.

"It goes to the three commissioners," said Terry Bote, PUC spokesman. "They will consider the merits."

The issue has captured the attention of state lawmakers, who only last year gave the commission authority to write the rules and regulations for the industry.

"Where it seems they're going with some of the rules is not what we intended," said Rep. Joe Rice, D-Littleton. "My thought now is, it doesn't make sense . . . things like the green issue and the types of seats in vans."

Rice, who serves on the House Transportation and Energy Committee, said he plans to meet with the regulators to ask questions about the recommended rules. He said new legislation is "a possibility" if they fail to make a convincing argument."

• March 16, 2008

  2:35 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  gwats writes:

  If you're going to outlaw any type of Limo, start with those stupid stretch Hummer limos. It's got to be the most stupid, impractical vehicle on the planet! 14 passenger Vans are much more practical for the amount of luggage /passengers they can haul in a single trip.
  I thought this was America. Why is the PUC involved in this? Why aren't they policing the three big Cab companies and their horrible drivers from Africa? Those Hack drivers are going to destroy our City's reputation in August with their lousy service.

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