3. The Need For Reform
Research on San Diego’s taxi industry conducted by local
graduate students and researchers from the Association of
Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC), San Diego
State University (SDSU) and the Center on Policy Initiatives (CPI)
reveal serious concerns about the way the taxi industry
currently operates.
Current public policy has failed to create a healthy and
dynamic taxi industry that provides safe, quality service to city
residents and visitors. Most importantly, the San Diego taxi
industry’s current system fails to adequately address significant
and continued concerns of:
•Public Safety
•Working Conditions of Taxi Drivers
•Quality of Service for Passengers
4. • ACLU of San Diego
• American Federation of
Teachers Local 1931
• Assemblywoman Lorena
Gonzalez
• Center on Policy Initiatives
• City Heights Community
Development Corporation
• City Heights Town Council
• International Association of
Machinists and Aerospace
Workers
• Mini Haha Market
• Mid-City CAN
• United Domestic Workers of
America, AFSCME Local 3930
• MAAC Project
• San Diego & Imperial County
Labor Council
• Fatuma Restaurant
• Horn of African
• Ocean Beach Hotel
• San Diego Organizing Project
• United Taxi Workers of San
Diego
• Coalition For Labor &
Community Solidarity
• Employee Rights Center
• The San Diego City College
Associated Student Government
• Interfaith Coalition for Worker
Justice
SAFE CAB San Diego is a coalition
working to create a healthy and
dynamic taxi industry that provides
safe, quality services to city residents
and visitors while also providing livable
wages and safe working conditions for
San Diego’s taxi drivers.
5. $100K+
$3K
TaxiMedallionTransfers
Medallion Transfers
“Profit taking has occurred on a grand scale in
San Diego’s taxicab permit market during the
last six years.
Of the 125 new permits issued during that period,
more than half have been transferred at least
once.” – True North Research, 2011
Permits are public property of the City of San
Diego and are therefore not private property of
individuals or companies. Permits are a privilege
granted by the City for a period of time, much
like liquor licenses, and should be surrendered to
the city upon cessation of operation. Original
Price
Transfer
Price
6. Allowing the transfer of Medallions is not good
policy. It does not benefit the public in terms
of better services and lower fares.
This practice benefits primarily those who
receive the initial issuance by allowing them
to profit hugely in the sale of these permits.
Further, this practice encourages corruption in
the industry especially in the allocation and
issuance of Medallions.
Several cities, including Austin, TX; Los Angeles
;Minneapolis, MN; and San Jose, CA, have
prohibited the transfer of medallions. Also,
the San Diego International Airport has
stopped all transfers of airport permits starting
this year.
7. I’ve been
driving for
10
years…
Medallion Issuance
Only 11%of
licensed
drivers hold a
medallion.
89% do not.
Lease
Payments
consist of 40%
of drivers
costs.
Drivers should
be given
priority to be
owner-
operators.
Because a majority of licensed
drivers do not hold their own
permit, they should be given
priority if permits are released.
Drivers, who have served the City
of San Diego for more than 5 years
have been excluded from the true
benefits of the taxi industry.
These drivers are qualified and
ready, if given the opportunity to
become owner-operators. This will
result in lifting drivers out of poverty
to enter the middle class. This will
also democratized control of the
industry to a larger group of
stakeholders.
8. Concept Concept
Anti-Retaliation
An avenue for drivers in the taxicab industry to raise
concerns over safe practices without fear of
retaliation is fundamental for promoting public safety,
transparency, and establishing a healthy taxi industry.
The inability for taxi drivers to effectively monitor and
report unfair business dealings by taxi owners
decreases the safety and autonomy of taxi drivers
while greatly reducing the health and economic
viability of the taxi industry.
9. Examples of Retaliation
Regulations In Other Cities
NEW YORK
Title 35 of the Rules of the City of New York §58-21(j) Retaliation.
(1) An Owner must not retaliate against any Driver for making a good
faith complaint against any Owner for violation of the leasing
provisions . . .
(2) “Retaliation” will be broadly construed, and will include imposing
any adverse condition or consequence on the Driver or withholding or
withdrawing any beneficial condition or consequence from the Driver.
Fine for violation: $10,000 plus restitution to the driver for losses
CHICAGO
MCC § 9-112-190 Retaliation.
No medallion owner or lessor in a medallion-only lease may retaliate in
any way against any chauffeur for disclosing, reporting, or testifying
about any violation of this chapter or regulations thereunder or any
law. Any violation of this section may result in revocation of the
medallion.
10. Dispute Resolution
Creating a forum to effectively resolve disputes between permit
owners and lease drivers would fundamentally improve the quality of
the taxi industry within San Diego.
Making sure that permit holders are accountable to lease drivers
(and vice versa) regarding regulatory compliance concerning
vehicle conditions, maintenance issues, and recordkeeping policies
would greatly improve the condition of taxicabs out on the road.
Currently there exists no avenue for permit holders and lease drivers
to truly hold each other accountable as most lease drivers have no
choice but to agree to various arbitration agreements that severely
limit their remedies.
11. Examples of Dispute Resolution
In Other Cities
SAN FRANCISCO
Article 1100 Regulation of Motor Vehicles for Hire §1120
• The SFMTA employs hearing officers who serve as judges in
"Disciplinary Hearings" that “concern a disciplinary action taken by
the SFMTA concerning a SFMTA permit holder (a driver, medallion
holder, color scheme or dispatch service)”
• There is also a mechanism to appeal the decision of the hearing
officers through a "Board of Appeals Hearing"
NEW YORK
Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH)
• The OATH Taxi and Limousine Tribunal is an independent tribunal
responsible for hearings on issues relating to violations of New York
Code and Taxi and Limousine Rules and Regulations. Hearing officers
serve as judges.
12. Uniform Leases
Adoption of a uniform lease will have multiple benefits for the industry
as a whole.
First, it will help protect drivers from unfair or vague lease provisions
such as arbitration clauses that discourage drivers from pursuing
complaints against permit holders.
Second, uniform leases will help promote transparency in the taxi
industry by promoting better understanding of each parties’ rights
under the law.
Third, by adopting uniform lease provisions, it will allow for easier
regulation of the taxi industry by standardizing the rules that govern
permit holders and taxi drivers.
14. High Lease
Rates
Long Hours
Behind the
Wheel
Risks to
Public
Safety
Lease Caps
The cost of lease is the biggest overhead expense that drivers bear as
independent contractors. “The current system encourages taxi drivers to
drive when tired or sick, putting public health and safety at risk. ” Lease
rates have more than doubled since 2002. A lease cap would:
• Increase driver take home pay
• Return job sustainability
• Ensure fair practices
• Promote public safety
15. Several major cities, including New York City, Chicago,
Seattle, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, have
implemented rules regulating the maximum amount
permit owners can charge a taxicab driver to lease a
vehicle.
Examples of Lease Caps