- Details
- Category: Industry News
Richmond, Va. — Concerned members of the Virginia Limousine Association (VLA) took on lobbyists from Uber in legislature meetings on January 20 in regard to changes in bills that are being put before the Va. Transportation Subcommittee on January 22 and the Va. State Senate on January 24.
The meetings were attended by Sen. John Watkins, (R) Va. 10th District, Delegate Ronald Villanueva, (R) Va. 21st District and VLA members Betty Callahan of Bay Breeze Limousine Service, Audrey Stroud of Society Coach Lines and Paul Walsh of Superior Executive Transportation, who travelled four hours round trip from Virginia Beach to attend, along with Stephen Story of James River Transportation and VLA President Glenn Stafford of Love Limousine.
The general thrust of these meetings was to properly edify the legislators who have been given the erroneous impression by Uber lobbyists that the proposed changes in long-standing state transportation bills regarding proper licensing and insurance are beneficial to the chauffeured ground transportation industry. VLA members were there to oppose this position and to convince the legislators that Uber and UberX are a detriment to public safety because they would continue to hold no liability or accountability if these changes were passed.
Interestingly, the Uber representatives present at the meetings denied that UberX was available in the state of Virginia at that moment. This was assertion was refuted by VLA President Glenn Stafford who pulled up the fully functioning app on his smartphone and showed the legislators that UberX cars are indeed available in most of Virginia’s major cities.
Delegate Villanueva requested the presence of Virginia DMV Commissioner, Richard Holcomb, at the meetings to clarify the agency’s position on these issues. Commissioner Holcomb stated that Uber, at the minimum, needed a broker license in Virginia before any kind of discussion on these matters can even begin. The Uber lobbyists stated that they are getting this license but, to date, have yet to properly apply.
“Bottom line, we believe we have convinced the patrons to hold the bill over until the industry stakeholders, including Uber, can hammer out a proper solution and bring the solution back next year,” says Glenn Stafford. “They want it solved and are giving the participants an opportunity to work amongst ourselves to figure it out. Although, the meat grinder of a legislative session is not the place to rush this through.”
Visit www.virginialimousineassociation.org for more information.
1/14
- Details
- Category: Industry News
Princeton, N.J.— The Limousine Association of New Jersey (LANJ) met for a luncheon this past January 15, where Uber, the chauffeur certification program, and changes to the association’s leadership were the top discussions.
Secretary Jason Sharenow (center) and President Jim Moseley (right) are sworn in by Assemblyman Charles Mainor
Leading the meeting was an update on the joint effort with Burlington County College for an online chauffeur certification and driver safety courses to educate chauffeurs. LANJ is expecting to acquire a $200,000 grant from the DOL to foster this curriculum, which will encourage returning military personnel to become involved in the livery industry. If all goes according to plan, these courses should be available starting with the spring 2014 semester.
An ardent discussion of Uber, UberX, and Lyft and the PASS Act (HR2596) to speed up criminal background checks rounded out the afternoon’s discussions. The PASS is being submitted to amend title 28, United States Code, to authorize the Attorney General to share information with agencies of state and local governments that conduct criminal background checks when issuing licenses to taxi drivers, chauffeurs, and other public passenger vehicle operators. This bill is significant to the industry because states such as New Jersey only permit access to background checks for the state and not nationally through the N.J. State Police.
LANJ Executive Director Barry Lefkowitz announced the current LANJ president, Tim Rose of Flyte Tyme Worldwide Transportation, was stepping down. Rose has served the association with distinction for 13 years and “leaves very big shoes to fill,” Lefkowitz said. Jim Mosley of TripTracker was sworn in as the new president, in addition to Vice President Jeff Shanker of A-1 Limousine (not at the meeting) and Secretary Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Chauffeured Services Worldwide. Barbara Chirico of Gem Limousine Worldwide will remain in her current position as treasurer.
Treasurer Barbara Chirico of Gem Limousine Worldwide and Brian O'Neill of Wolfington Body Company
Rose was called to the mic to discuss the trials and tribulations that operators will face when working Super Bowl XLVIII. Rose advised all operators to avoid curbside pickup at the Newark Liberty Airport due to a required ticketing system and staging lot that will bog the entire process down. Parking will also be difficult because of the limited number of parking passes for the event (and the overall involvement of Homeland Security), but there are still parking passes available from outside ticket brokers for $250.
Lefkowitz then segued into a discussion of the jitney legislation and introduced NJ Assemblyman Charles Mainor (D) 31st District, who is currently backing the LANJ initiatives for legislating hazardous jitneys. Mainor is working in conjunction with N.J. State Sen. Nicholas Sacco, who is on the N.J. Senate Transportation Committee, to ensure that jitneys must follow the same strict guidelines as limousine operators. Mainor also swore in the board.
Other speakers included Alan Lefkowitz (no relation) of Lefkowitz & Lefkowitz CPAs, who gave a short speech on his firm’s CFO services. The meeting was sponsored by Wolfington Body Company, and Sales Manager Brian O’Neill was on hand to not only discuss and give tours of his company’s newest products, but to educate attendees on the new requirements by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The agency is amending FMVSS No. 208 to require lap/shoulder belts at all seating positions on over-the-road buses and non-over-the-road buses with a GVWR greater than 11,793 kg (26,000 lbs.), exceptions being transit buses, school buses, prison buses, and perimeter-seating buses. The mandate will take effect in November 2016.
Visit www.lanj.org for more information.
1/14
- Details
- Category: Industry News
Boston, Mass.—TD Garden, home stadium of the Boston Celtics, announced that BostonCoach has been named as the exclusive entitlement partner of the arena’s Premium Club Lounge, now known as the ”BostonCoach Lounge.” This exclusive naming rights opportunity will remain in place until 2018.
"The BostonCoach Lounge is located in the heart of the Premium Club and is a distinctive networking and entertaining area in the arena," says Amy Latimer, TD Garden president. "It's a prime meeting spot for many of our Premium Club members and we're excited to partner with BostonCoach, a locally owned, international executive car service, to showcase its brand to our business clientele within this unique space."
The BostonCoach Lounge is an upscale hospitality area for networking, mingling, and entertaining located at the east end of Level 6 within The Premium Club at TD Garden. Accessible to all Premium Club members, its modern décor and sightlines that overlook the arena floor make it the place to see and be seen for members pregame, between periods at a Boston Bruins game or at halftime during a Boston Celtics game. BostonCoach Lounge guests also have access to a raw bar and an expansive lounge with various dining options and waited service.
“We’re thrilled to partner with TD Garden to name the BostonCoach Lounge and to be the official car service of the Boston Bruins and TD Garden,” says Russ Cooke, BostonCoach CEO and managing partner. “At BostonCoach, our business is all about bringing people together—business people, friends, and family. And while we provide car service in 40 countries around the world today, it all started here in Boston. Being a key sponsor of TD Garden, a premier sports and entertainment arena, is a terrific opportunity to showcase BostonCoach and a perfect fit for our event-management company, Best of Boston Events.”
Visit bostoncoach.com for more information.
1/14