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Extra Taxis Costing Drivers Money
Driver: Special License Program Can Add Overkill To Streets
POSTED: 8:19 pm PST January 7,
2008
UPDATED: 10:29 am PST January 8,
2008
LAS VEGAS -- It's a good problem for tourists and locals but several taxi drivers call it a serious problem, and they would like stricter regulations put in place.When large conventions or events come to Las Vegas, the city allows each of the 16 companies to put more taxis on the street, using some special license plates. Each company gets eight additional licenses, meaning the market is flooded with 128 additional taxis.Many drivers feel the extra licenses add too many drivers to the field and cut into their profit. They said they are often sitting around waiting for fares instead of driving."Its overkill right now," driver Don Haze said. "Putting out extra medallions long after the conventions are over and busy times are over and people have left town."
Less than a week ago, the Taxi Cab Authority did reprimand the cab companies. The group told each company told to pull back five of the eight special plates, taking 80 cabs from the streets.But drivers said the TCA only checks if companies are violating the special license policy when a driver issues a complaint. The said the cab companies put the extra cabs out on purpose -- even when they're not needed -- because of the advertising dollars that are brought in with the signs on the taxis.
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