A Look Inside Taxi Regulations

Tim Fasano, cab driver and blogger of Tampa Taxi Shots fame, often talks about taxi-business issues on his blog. Because of this, he has become an unofficial leader of the cab community. If you have time, add his blog to your reading list. He pointed out today that he was quoted in the St. Petersburg Times article about a controversy brewing in Hillsborough County. Taxis in Hillsborough are not regulated by the county or city government, but by a "special district" called the Public Transportation Commission. The PTC was created by a special act of the Florida Legislature to ensure a viable taxi industry. Tim gave a great post earlier this month talking about how the system works. There needs to be a balance on the number of taxis to make sure that each taxi company, and their drivers, is able to both provide adequate service while making enough money to survive. However, the current controversy is about the actions of the PTC Director, Greg Cox, and the applications submitted by a new company for new permits to serve the growing community. Some are alleging that Cox prefers the new company to local companies who already operate here. The article, and Tim's posts, are interesting reads.