Legislators Continue to Explore Taxi and Limo Regulations
While the Putnam County Legislature continued to look at a mechanism to better oversee taxi companies operating in the county, Legislator and Rules Chairwoman Toni Addonizio said there are, “a lot of questions that need to be answered,” at a committee meeting last Thursday.
While Westchester County has a taxi commission that has an appointed commissioner, Putnam County Chambers of Commerce president Bill Nulk said Putnam wouldn’t necessarily mirror what Westchester does. Instead, the county should seek permission from New York State into how to properly regulate the taxi business within Putnam’s borders.
“Some sort of regulations at the county level is probably preferable and we should at least have the mechanism to start that regulation,” Nulk said.
Carmel Taxi and Car Service owner Ruth Ayaia-Quezada, who gets her licenses from Westchester County, was also at the committee meeting. In small towns in Westchester, all taxi businesses needed to do before the county commission was set up, was show an insurance card, registration card and a sticker would be given to display. The individual driver needs to have a Class E license.
She said at a past meeting nobody in Putnam is checking licenses and the overall safety of vehicles like if it has proper tires or seatbelts for passengers.
Legislator Dini LoBue suggested the county Law Department examine whether the county can begin its own commission, rather than going though the state, which can be a “long and arduous process.”
While lawmakers agreed taxies and limousines need to be better regulated, they stressed they didn’t want to add another layer of government.
“I don’t want to bite off more responsibility,” LoBue said.
Legislator Carl Albano suggested taxies would only need to produce their insurance and a list of their licensed drivers.
Consumer Affairs Director Jean Noel said the county doesn’t have the ability to monitor a background check or fingerprint drivers. Any criminal activity would be referred to county law enforcement.
Legislative Counsel Clement Van Ross said the legislature should seek permission from all nine towns and villages to give consent to the county to take over regulating the taxi industry because right now, it’s the municipalities’ responsibility. Nulk noted last year he verbally received consent from all municipalities that they were willing to cede the authority to the county and let them explore, at the very least, solutions.
Nulk noted the taxi business continues to evolve, with ride-share services like Uber becoming more of a presence. The company has expressed interest in going statewide.
“So there may be some functionality in the state winding up doing some regulation,” Nulk said.
