Legislature gets controversial taxi issue

Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2005 | 9:57 a.m.

The Nevada Taxicab Authority, stung earlier this month by an interim legislative committee's ruling that rejected regulations ordering cameras in taxis, voted Tuesday to let state lawmakers grapple with the issue.

Stuck in procedural limbo, authority board members agreed to do nothing in response to an objection filed by the committee, which has the effect of putting the issue in the hands of the Nevada Legislature. Lawmakers now have until the end of their session either to allow the authority's regulations to take effect or to pass a joint resolution rejecting the regulations and explaining their objections.

The board could have agreed to make changes in the regulations, a procedure that would have taken longer and required a new set of hearings and workshops on proposals that have been hashed out since the middle of last year. Board members said lacking guidance from the Legislature, they also would not know if their regulatory fixes would appease lawmakers.

At the core of the dispute is whether camera systems the Taxicab Authority mandated to be installed in cabs by April 1 could include audio recording systems.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada filed a complaint on the regulations, arguing that cab customers' privacy rights would be violated if audio recording systems are allowed.

Cabdrivers have been leery of the "Big Brother" effect recording systems in their vehicles would have, with owners having the ability to eavesdrop on what goes on between drivers and their customers.

Some owners have agreed to go ahead with their camera system installations while wrangling on the regulations continues.

In other business, the authority board approved temporary allocations of additional cabs for each company during four upcoming events expected to draw large numbers of people to the city. The board also voted to keep a fuel surcharge in place against the recommendation of the Taxicab Authority staff.

The county's 16 cab companies will be allowed to have additional cabs on the streets during this week's Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show and the Surfaces trade show, early February's Super Bowl weekend, mid-February's Men's Apparel Guild in California fashion convention, and the late February-early March Associated Surplus Dealers-Associated Merchandise Dealers Show and Night Club and Bar Convention.

The board also turned down a staff recommendation to end a fuel surcharge of 20 cents per ride. Board members agreed that gasoline prices continue to be extremely volatile and appear to be on another upswing. The board agreed they could revisit removing the surcharge if fuel prices drop in next two months.