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In the NLA's PSA, ride-hail apps are linked to instances of sexual assault and passengers are encouraged to think twice before utilizing these services. Uber and Lyft have responded to the PSA, claiming that they perform rigorous background checks on all drivers to ensure the safety of passengers. However, as demonstrated recently in Colorado and Massachusetts, the background checks of these companies are ineffectual, and have missed thousands of drivers with criminal backgrounds and resulted in the dismissal of 11 percent of their workforce in some cases.
"Uber and Lyft continue to evade the issues and questions concerning their driver screening procedures," said Gary Buffo, president of the NLA. Continued Buffo, "A truly comprehensive screening process would include a fingerprint-based background check solution, with the ability to find crimes many years back and across state lines. Additionally, in-person interviews, as well as drug and alcohol screening, are noticeably absent from the ride-hail vetting process, at the same time that our nation is suffering through an opioid crisis. It is time that all transportation providers are held to a much higher standard."
Through its Ride Responsibly initiative, the NLA has formed multiple partnerships over several years to advocate for stricter driver vetting. The NLA has also tirelessly advocated for the rights of ride-hail drivers, who are currently misclassified as independent contractors rather than as employees.
Visit www.limo.org for more information.
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Chief among the issued discussed on the call was the nomination of board officers for the 2018 LANJ elections. Each of the current officers was nominated to continue their role for the coming term. These include:
President: Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Worldwide
1st Vice President/Treasurer: Jon Epstein of Royal Coachman Worldwide
2nd Vice President: Jeff Brodsly of Chosen Payments
Secretary: Karen Gajda of Country Club Transportation
These nominations will be presented to the membership for an official vote.
The call began with an update from Golf Committee Chair Brian O’Neill of Grech Motors, who proposed a new plan to for the marketing and operation of this year’s LANJ Charity Golf Tournament. With the 2017’s inaugural event being a huge success (grossing more than $33,000), the board unanimously agreed to move ahead with O’Neill’s suggestion.
Next, Sharenow gave his President’s Report, which addressed the unfortunate cancellation of the previous week’s meeting. Sharenow also provided the board with an update from the association’s lobbying firm regarding recent legislative matters. Representatives from LANJ will be meeting with the firm in coming weeks to get some sort of resolution with TNC background checks as well as port authority fees. Since N.J. recently sworn in a new governor, the association also touched on the potential for a new, higher minimum wage.
LANJ Executive Director Patricia Nelson followed with her report, highlighted with the announcement that the association’s membership is currently at an all-time high, with more than 150 members. Nelson also provided the board with a bit of information regarding the NLA Day on the Hill on May 23 in Washington, D.C., and the upcoming New York International Auto Show.
Before the call concluded, Epstein provided a brief Membership Committee report that largely focused on LANJ’s next meeting in March, held at Englewood Cadillac. Scott Solombrino of Dav El/Boston Coach will be attending as a guest speaker.
Visit lanj.org for more information.
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With all 12 members of the steering committee present, it guaranteed a series of thought-provoking discussions, which covered new revenue opportunities, a review of the TLPA’s strategic plan against the TNCs, and legislative talk. However, one of the most engrossing discussions dealt with autonomous cars, and the role of the luxury ground transportation market in this emerging market. Currently, Google’s Waymo subsidiary is testing fully autonomous vehicles in the Phoenix market, which means, in effect, that the future is now; however, TLPA CEO Al LaGasse is optimistic that our industry will not be shut out.
“It’s premature to say we have no role,” he said. “The TLPA needs to study this and get involved more. We need to participate in the policy debates, so people think of us as a player in autonomous vehicles. We don’t know what the opportunity in this is right now, but we need to keep our options open so that we can become a player, however we participate.”
The steering committee also got brought up to speed on TLPA’s plans for 2018. As the association looks toward “tomorrow,” a new bimonthly newsletter—Innovations—will launch in February with a concentration on autonomous vehicles, technology platforms, and new operating systems. But LaGasse wants readers to know that this isn’t solely a tech-heavy publication.
“Innovation is not limited to technology,” he said. “Anything is fair game.”
Also in the planning stages for release later in the year is a TLPA podcast that will offer interviews and discussions with members. What’s more, the association has lowered its dues and restructured member services so that all members will receive each of the TLPA publications and information offerings.
“The industry is changing,” said LaGasse. “The distinct lines are devolving between paratransit, limousine, and taxi—the regulatory lines, the operations lines—everything is evolving. We have members in all three of those lines of business. We’re all in the local passenger ground transportation business, and we think all of our members should be aware of what’s happening in all of our market segments.”
Look for a full recap of the Steering Committee meeting in the March issue of Chauffeur Driven.
Visit tlpa.org for more information
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