FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Terrie Prosper, 415.703.1366, news@cpuc.ca.gov
PUC WORKS WITH SAN DIEGO OFFICIALS TO STOP
ILLEGAL PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION
SAN FRANCISCO, May 26, 2005 - The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC), in its ongoing efforts to prevent illegal passenger transportation, announced that it completed a joint inspection of for-hire passenger carriers with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and San Diego County Regional Airport Authority on May 9, 2005, at the San Diego Airport.
Forty-two vehicles (limousines and vans that provide prearranged passenger transportation) were inspected with the following results:
· Six observation reports to carriers for violation of PUC regulations for failing to maintain an updated equipment list with the PUC listing all vehicles operated;
· Sixteen observation reports for violations of PUC regulations for failing to display operational identification (decals) on vehicles;
· Eight misdemeanor warnings to carriers for operating with a suspended permit; and,
· Four misdemeanor warnings to carriers for operating without charter-party authority.
For the 12 misdemeanor warnings issued by the PUC, staff will do follow-up investigations and pursue administrative actions where appropriate to impose fines.
In addition, 17 vehicles were put out of service by the CHP and the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority and 25 administrative citations were issued by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority for various violations including carriers lacking a PUC permit and vehicle code violations such as safety related factors, faulty brakes, and lack of insurance.
"I would like to thank the CHP and the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority for working with us to stop companies from illegally transporting passengers," said Richard Clark, Director of the PUC's Consumer Protection and Safety Division. "My team will continue to work in cooperation with local authorities around the state as we all endeavor to stop unfair competition amongst passenger carriers, and to make the industry safe for California consumers."
For more information on the PUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.
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