Lawmakers Urged to Put Public Safety First

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The PA Taxi Association is urging lawmakers to put public safety first as they consider a series of proposals to make sure that ride-sharing services provide the same levels of insurance and safety that taxi owners and drivers are compelled to provide under current state law.

"We welcome competition and we welcome innovation. That's why we have developed the 215GetaCab APP, to make it easier for people to order a cab," said Alex Friedman, President of the PA Taxi Association and owner of Checker Cab Philly.

"We are urging all lawmakers to put their constituents first. We are urging them to make sure these new operators play by the same rules that govern the traditional businesses in our industry."

Ronald Blount, President of the Taxi Workers Alliance of Pennsylvania, said that lawmakers need to make sure that small business owners and drivers are not put at a disadvantage.

"A lot of our drivers are making less than $5 an hour after all their expenses, including insurance, are paid. It's just not fair to allow these new operators to provide the same service but allow them to escape the same laws and regulations," said Blount.  The Alliance represents 1,200 drivers throughout the southeast corner of the state. The Taxi Association and the Taxi Workers Alliance support HB 2445 would require that all TNCs:

• Obtain commercial liability insurance as primary coverage, rather than a secondary umbrella policy
• Obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience from the Commission
• Obtain and file criminal background checks on the network drivers with the Commission
• Obtain a special tag from PennDOT to provide easy identification for passengers.

Friedman and Blount also noted that HB 2445 would exempt TNC service in Philadelphia, to ensure continued oversight by the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

"Local, on-the-ground oversight is important in a city as large as Philadelphia," Friedman said. "We support that local control and these new carriers should be made to play by the same rules as we do."

SOURCE Pennsylvania Taxi Association