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While the GCLA adamantly supports safety measures, which SB 109 addresses in the wake of last year’s limousine fire that killed five people, the bill was pushed through without allowing vehicles to be either grandfathered in or adequately modified before the bill’s July 1 effective date. Nearly 80 percent of the state’s operators have vehicles that require retrofitting—costing them an estimated $30,000 per vehicle—leading the association to ask for either a delay in implementation or a grandfather clause.
Carrie Cornwell—the Chief of Staff for Assemblymember Anthony Rendon, Chair of the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee—agreed that a delay in implementation may be the best option, noting that “legislation in the wake of a tragic event is not always the best for the long term.”
GCLA has partnered with the California Highway Patrol to help clarify SB 109’s confusing terms, and is waiting for confirmation from legislators who are willing to author this bill. Government Consulting, GCLA lobbyists, are working diligently on this effort.
Last year, California approved AB 612; however, the transportation committee allowed TNC vehicles’ insurance to be “off” when a driver does not have the app active on his phone. The GCLA is not entirely satisfied with this solution, but instead focused its efforts on passenger safety. The achieve this, the association is supporting Assemblymen Adrin Nazarian in his efforts to pursue greater driver accountability by way of requiring Department of Justice (DOJ) background checks, pre-employment and random drug and alcohol screenings, and participation in the DMV pull-notice program. The state does not currently require any type of background checks on livery operations, but GCLA made it clear that safety is key and would be wholly behind these requirements if they’re passed.
All GCLA members in attendance met with Nazarian to discuss the fight ahead. His proposed bill, AB 24, will offer a three-pronged strategy: consistency; seeking law enforcement’s rather than businesses’ endorsement of the bill to help validate safety as a goal; and the GCLA’s crucial assistance in working closely with the transportation committee. Because GCLA is willing to take on DOJ background checks, Nazarian believes that his argument’s strength will be consistency across all modes of transportation. He asked that GCLA members return to Capitol Hill when AB 24 is introduced.
Auditors stated enforcement failures regarding the state’s audit on the PUC. With California operators spending nearly $9 million dollars on Public Utilities Commission Transportation Reimbursement Account (PUCTRA) funds, GCLA asked legislators and transportation committees alike to pressure the PUC to use these funds for greater enforcement, particularly against illegal TNCs.
On a positive note for California operators, Chief Consultant for the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee Sue Kately considers the PUC’s role in regulation of ground transportation “antiquated” and said she is unconvinced that consumer protection is being addressed by the PUC at all.
“It is critical to get into the PUC early, and problem-solve with them as a significant stakeholder,” Kately said, adding that heavy lobbying by any group can limit regulation on niche businesses; in this case, TNC legislation allows TNCs to “exploit employees and independent contractors.”
The PUC refused to meet with the GCLA. Even when GCLA has offered and been accepted as a resource to improve enforcement, the PUC has not asked for the association’s assistance. It will continue to reach out to PUC legislative staff and the California Utilities and Commerce Committee that oversees PUC authority.
A late afternoon meeting with new Chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee Jim Frazier yielded quick results. Frazier and his staff are scheduling meetings with two of the PUC commissioners to encourage action on the PUC audit recommendations.
Senate Transportation Committee members also met with GCLA members. As chief consultant to the Senate Transportation and Housing Committing, Randy Chinn drove home how important data is on TNC dangers to help with PUC enforcement. Backed by Alicia Priego, Capitol Director for Senator Jim Beall, Chair of the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee, Chinn asked the GCLA to compile articles and information that would help the association’s cause and educate legislators.
The next GCLA meeting will be February 10 in Los Angeles.
Visit gcla.org for more information.
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Newly elected PRLA President Steve Rhoads of Rhoads Limousine opened the meeting by introducing himself and the rest of the 2015 board: Vice President Robert Euler of King Limousine; Secretary Mark Barnet of Best of Times Chauffeured Limousine Service; Treasurer Chris Haines of Michael’s Classic Limousine; Perry Camerlengo of Luxury Limousine; Tony Onorata of Anthony Limousine; and Vendor Member Pete Corelli of Lakeview Custom Coach. Haines then presented the treasurer’s report.
Rhoads announced that the association’s Monte Carlo Night held in December drew 65 guests and said that the evening was “a great success,” as it raised $2,900 for PRLA. He also reported on his participation in the recent NLA Association Presidents’ conference call.
Two guest speakers from the law firm of Reger Rizzo & Darnall offered their insights at the meeting. Margaret Morris discussed issues pertaining to the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) and the state’s Public Utility Commission (PUC), which led to a conversation between her and association members about TNCs, which dominated the remainder of the meeting. Robert Small then spoke on labor law, specifically what distinguishes an employee from an independent operator.
The association has changed how it accepts its annual dues this year, prorating mid-year memberships and allowing members the option of paying in quarterly increments.
PRLA will hold its next meeting on February 11.
Visit prlainc.com for more information.
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Among the many business matters the association tended to at its first meeting of 2015 was electing its new Board of Directors, which is as follows:
President: Jeff Shanker of A-1 Limousine
First Vice President: Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Chauffeured Services Worldwide
Second Vice President: David Seelinger of EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services
Secretary: Karen Gajda of Country Club Transportation
Treasurer: Jon Epstein of Royal Coachman Worldwide
Outgoing President James Moseley of TripTracker recognized and thanked the association’s many vendors for their support and sponsorships. He also welcomed the newest honorary board member, Philadelphia Regional Limousine Association (PRLA) President Steve Rhoads of Rhoads Limousine, saying that LANJ and PRLA have benefited from an “interactive, cross-border relationship” for a number of years.
Moseley also expressed his gratitude for “the opportunity to work with you all as your LANJ president” and reported on LANJ’s major accomplishments in 2014, which included: achieving a membership of 112 companies, the most in LANJ history; taking the TNC fight full-force to Trenton; installing the LANJ Line to the benefit of operators; establishing the 2015 Sponsor Title Program to benefit vendors; ensuring that the LANJ website is a frequently updated tool to assist members with their needs; upping the LANJ E-News publication frequency from monthly to semimonthly; and establishing the new Membership Committee. LANJ has also formally changed its name to reflect the singular “Association,” indicative of its unified mission as a statewide organization.
Newly elected President Jeff Shanker of A-1 Limousine then spoke of the association’s ambitious plans for 2015, introducing the new lobbying firm that the executive board hired to aid in the fight against TNCs, the Kaufman Zita Group, an established bipartisan organization based in West Trenton.
The TNC bill AB 3401 had been combined into Assembly Committee Substitute (ACS) 3765, which passed through the Transportation Committee in December. “We have to remain focused,” Shanker urged members in attendance. “The fight, to a point, is still in the Assembly but it’s not with the Transportation Committee. It’s now grassroots, boots-on-the-ground: We have to get out to all of our elected officials. That means that we need you.” He added that the association will be looking to its members “for significant input” when it comes to LANJ’s legislative efforts and taking its fight to the Senate.
And LANJ members are already heeding the call for all hands on deck, with more than $5,000 being spontaneously pledged at the meeting to help fund the association’s PAC. Shanker says that the association will need quite a bit more throughout the year to accomplish what they have planned.
Shanker also outlined a number of goals that LANJ has put into place for the upcoming year, which include strengthening its relationship with local and national transportation associations, as well as establishing the likes of social media, marketing, education, and technology committees internally.
Chauffeur Driven’s Editors Susan Rose and Madeleine Maccar both attended the meeting. Maccar offered an update on the upcoming Executive Retreat in Nashville and show in Miami, and raffled off a show pass to the Miami show, which was won by Billy Placier of Music Express Worldwide.
The next LANJ meeting will be March 25.
Visit lanj.org for more information.