DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Transportation Network Companies and Chapter 33
SUMMARY:
Transportation Network Companies (TNC) entered the San Antonio vehicle for hire market in March of this year. They continue to operate although Cease and Desist letters were issued by Chief McManus. The nature of the vehicle for hire industry has changed with the introduction of the TNCs and Chapter 33 of the City Code requires revision to keep pace with the change in the industry.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Police Department has briefed the Public Safety Committee on two separate occasions, providing an overview of the TNCs business model, the regulations contained in Chapter 33, and the traditional industry's position regarding revising Chapter 33. Following the May 7, 2014 Public Safety Committee Meeting, the Police Department recommended establishing a "working group" to review and recommend revisions to Chapter 33 that were agreeable to the TNCs and the traditional local industries. A series of seven (7) meetings were held with representatives from the local taxi cab and limo industry, Lyft and Uber.
During these meetings, the local industry remained adamant that they were opposed to any revisions to Chapter 33 although both Lyft and Uber expressed a willingness to work towards revising Chapter 33 to fit their business model. Staff attempted to revise Chapter 33 by retaining the current driver, vehicle and insurance standards for all vehicles for hire companies and shifting the responsibility for screening vehicles and drivers to the individual companies. The City would city move to an "audit" / "inspection" method of assuring standards were met, which would ease the administrative burden on the City staff and reduce industry fees. The traditional industries maintained their "No Revision" position, resulting in the meetings becoming non-productive.
Sta...
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