TSA gives up on limo system

Friday, Sept. 3, 2004 | 10:58 a.m.

The Nevada Transportation Services Authority, saying its hands have been tied by state lawmakers who refused last month to reconsider the development of an allocation system for the limousine industry, has thrown in the towel.

The TSA, which regulates limousines and buses statewide, voted unanimously Thursday to close its rule-making docket and terminate a contract with a consultant that would have outlined a process for limiting the number of limousines that operate in the Las Vegas area.

Several representatives of the industry have called on state leaders to establish an allocation system similar to the one in place for operators of taxicabs.

The Nevada Taxicab Authority manages its allocation system as part of the regulation of 16 cab companies that operate in Clark County. Under the allocation system, each company is authorized to operate the same number of cabs.

Lawmakers have been urged by several limousine company owners to give the TSA the authority to set up an allocation system, which they say would give regulators better control over vehicle safety, insurance and driver conduct issues.

The TSA had even arranged to go to the Legislative Interim Finance Committee on Sept. 15 to ask for $50,000 to conduct the study on how to set up the system. A consultant, Tennessee Transportation & Logistics Foundation of St. Louis, Mo., was contacted to draft a report on a potential allocation system in Clark County.

Those actions were dependent on an affirmative vote from the Legislative Commission, a 12-member board of senators and assembly representatives that help guide legislation in the years when the Nevada Legislature is not in session.

But last week, the Legislative Commission was deadlocked in a 6-6 vote to reconsider a May 24 action denying the plan.

Lawmakers who opposed the plan said they saw no connection between a limousine allocation system and the conduct of limousine drivers.

Representatives of the TSA said Thursday that the limousine industry in Clark County "is struggling desperately."

TSA Chairwoman Sandra Avants said it's difficult to control limousines that aren't licensed and that an allocation system would include additional officers to monitor the industry and illegal operators.

"The Legislative Commission has tied our hands," TSA member Bruce Breslow added.

Board members said it's possible that the Legislature could resurrect the matter when it convenes next year, but in the meantime, there's no progress in solving the industry's problems, which continue to occur.

Avants has said that some unscrupulous limo drivers have paid kickbacks to resort employees to steer customers to the limousines and away from the taxi drivers. That activity has resulted in fistfights between taxi and limo drivers, she said.