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VLA President Paul Walsh of Superior Transportation opened the meeting, which launched into a DMV presentation about how TNCs will be legally operative in Virginia starting July 1. The state statute grants enforcement of TNC regulations to the DMV and all law agencies, and all TNC vehicles must have $1 million in insurance coverage while the app is on.
Jagiela then spoke to the assembled VLA members about his role with Chauffeur Driven and how the creation of his position will allow CD to visit with every association at least once a year to explore industry trends and craft education relevant to both the industry and each association’s unique needs.
A conference call with NLA President Gary Buffo was also on the agenda, which covered the national association’s Ride Responsibly initiative and the work it’s doing with PR firm EVINS Communication. The NLA is aiming to rebrand while also focusing on the safety of choosing traditional ground transportation over TNCs, and is developing a sticker that can be placed on luxury ground transportation vehicles to identify those currently registered with the association—all 36,000 of them. Buffo went on to say that he is confident that “we will prevail with our efforts against TNCs,” and explained that this year’s Day on the Hill, which will be held June 10, will focus solely on the issues of TNCs.
Andrew Nixon of First Colony Winery, which hosted the meeting, offered tips to make any vineyard tour a successful one before Jagiela raffled off two passes to Chauffeur Driven’s 2015 events. Dan Goff of A Goff Limousine & Bus Company won the Nashville Executive Retreat Pass while Audrey Stroud of Black Tye Limousine was the winner of the Miami Show pass.
The next VLA meeting is scheduled for July 13.
Visit virginialimousineassociation.org for more information.
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On the first morning of the event, the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Foundation met to discuss its key initiatives: Transportation On Patrol—a “neighborhood watch on wheels” program that utilizes locally operating taxis, limousines, and paratransit vehicles to serve as additional eyes and ears for the communities they patrol—and its History Video project, which is recording an oral history of the for-hire vehicle industry. That afternoon, the Taxicab and Paratransit Steering committees held open meetings to discuss issues and concerns to be addressed by TLPA during the remainder of 2015, including topics to present at TLPA’s Annual Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas. The opening cocktail reception was held in the exhibit hall later that evening.
After a buffet breakfast in the exhibit hall the next day, attendees were treated to six educational sessions: Why Transportation Bookers Stay and/or Leave a Limousine Network; How to Prepare and Conduct a Paratransit Safety Meeting; Complying with the Affordable Care Act; Taxi Regulatory Reforms Needed to Compete with TNCs; Paratransit Driver Safety Meeting Demonstration; and Public Relations Response to TNCs.
Thursday was also the day the exhibit hall opened, and visiting vendors were available to discuss the exciting new products and services on display. After lunch, the Limousine Steering and the Women in Transportation committees held open meetings to both set their work agendas and select topics for presentation at TLPA’s Annual Convention & Trade Show this fall.
During the General Session, which was held Thursday afternoon, Fogarty welcomed attendees by stating, “TLPA is the world leader in fighting Uber.” He added that he could not emphasize enough the importance of addressing our industry’s image, and stated how imperative it is to “reach the people not in this room.” He said each attendee should leave the conference determined to improve one thing in his or her operation and service delivery.
TPAC President Bill Rouse also addressed attendees and introduced the keynote speaker, California State Senator Ben Hueso. Senator Hueso, who grew up in the taxicab business in San Diego, called for a level playing field, stressing how unfair it is to have heavily regulated operators competing with new lightly regulated companies that are providing the same service.
The next TLPA event is its 97th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nev., which will be held October 26-30.
Visit tlpa.org for more information.
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LANJ President Jeff Shanker of A-1 Limousine kicked off the meeting by welcoming and thanking everyone in attendance. He also presented both LANJ’s Immediate Past President Jim Moseley of Trip Tracker and LANJ Director Barbara Chirico of Gem Limousine Worldwide with tokens of the association’s appreciation, speaking of how far LANJ has come in recent years because of its members’ dedication.
Newly installed NLA Executive Director Sarah Gazi also spoke at the meeting, as both she and NLA Deputy Executive Director Kyle Hammerschmidt presented LANJ with a rebate check.
Assemblyman Joseph Lagana, who is the primary sponsor of AB-3765, was the meeting’s keynote speaker. When the Assembly Transportation Committee passed the bill in March, LANJ had opposed it for not addressing all areas of the association’s TNC safety concerns; however, members of the association have been working with Lagana to revise the bill before it goes to the Senate, and he has expressed his concern for the public-safety threats that arise from TNCs’ lax regulations.
“I wouldn’t even put my name on the bill if it didn’t have an insurance trolling period,” Lagana said, referring to the “app-off” times when a TNC driver might otherwise not be covered. “Each day that passes, people are at risk.”
The auction raised more than $10,000 for LANJ, and a number of CD donations were among the items up for grabs: Barry Trabb of Complete Fleet won a full-page ad; Bob Schiavo of Albert’s Transportation won the South Jersey Affiliate Central ad; Cabot Smith of Royale Limousine won an e-blast; Arthur Messina of Create-A-Card won a pass to next month’s Executive Retreat in Nashville; and Karen Gajda of Country Club Transportation Services won two passes to the Miami Show this October.
LANJ’s next general meeting is scheduled for September 16.
Visit lanj.org for more information.
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