A bill to put limousine companies under the Taxicab Commission was heatedly debated for three hours at Tuesday’s Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs, and Consumer Protection meeting. The bill was held in committee as it required “more work” according to some senators.
Sen. Kenneth Gittens and Sen. Alma Francis Heyliger both called the debate nonsensical but for different reasons. Heyliger said it was obvious the bill was unnecessary; only present regulations must be enforced. The Licensing and Consumer Affairs Department presently regulates limousine companies. Gittens said the bill was obviously needed so all vehicles for hire are treated equally.
Horace Graham, assistant commissioner at DLCA, told senators that the ride-share economy is a more significant regulatory challenge. This includes services such as Uber, which have become popular stateside. He said, “This area of transportation is in need of immediate attention. If there is an area poised to transform the transportation landscape of the Virgin Islands and impact the Taxicab Commission, it is not the limousine service operations; it is the ride-share economy.” He added, “Failure to do so will inevitably be injurious to the present taxi regime.”
VI Hail has a website in the territory. Another service, Cari, advertises on Facebook that it will deliver food as well as give rides.
As the proposed bill addressed limousines, much of the criticism hovered around the perception that the Taxicab Commission was having trouble fulfilling its duties now and was not ready to have expanded duties.
Chris Watson, the chief executive officer of The Tropical Adventure Group, said, “We must express our significant reservations about entrusting the V.I. Taxicab Commission with oversight of limousine operations, given its long-standing issues and current workload. We are extremely concerned that this move could disrupt our business operations, and we do not support a bill that places our industry under an agency struggling with its existing responsibilities.”
Vernice Gumbs, executive director of the Taxicab Commission, admitted that the commission had problems but said it could be fixed with funding to hire more employees and digitalize its paperwork.
The bill also proposed changing the name of the Taxicab Commission to the V.I. Taxicab and Limousine Commission. Elizabeth Hansen-Wattley, acting chair of the Taxicab Commission Board, suggested the more inclusive name—V.I. Vehicle for Hire Commission.
Mervin Smith of the East End Taxi Association and Kerry Harrigan of Best Taxi both testified in favor of the bill. They pointed out that the taxi profession was being passed on from generation to generation, allowing locals to work for themselves instead of for a corporation.
Smith testified, “Currently, limousines are allowed to do whatever they are pleased to do with no oversight or rules to govern them.”
Graham testified, “DLCA currently oversees sixty-five licensed limousine providers in the territory and ensures compliance with existing laws.”
Gumbs noted that taxi drivers needed to own or lease a medallion to operate, and a taxi medallion on St. John could cost $60,000. Taxi and limousine drivers must also obtain a business license, which costs $130.
Sens. Gittens, Francis Heyliger. Javan James Sr., Angel Bolques Jr., Marvin Blyden, Dwayne DeGraff, Samuel Carrion, Novelle Francis, Carla Joseph, Milton Potter, and Ray Fonseca attended the meeting.
