Board removes limousine firm restrictions

The Nevada Transportation Service Authority has removed a restriction that limits the number of vehicles Las Vegas Limousines can operate on Clark County streets.

The ruling, signed by TSA chairman John Mendoza and board members Donald Soderberg and Paul Christensen on Tuesday, resulted in a new Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity being issued to the company, allowing it to have unlimited limos instead of the 12 it was limited to 10 months ago.

The decision is not expected to have a major impact on local limousine service, other than making more limousines available to the public and creating more competition for the six other local companies. It costs about $35 an hour for the luxury transportation service.

At a TSA hearing in late May, Las Vegas Limousine attorney Kristin McMillan told the three-man panel, which regulates the limousine industry, that the restrictions placed on her client were "far broader" than on any other local limo operation.

Apparently the board agreed, citing in its five-page finding that the authority "lacked substantial evidence on the record to support such a restriction, and the restriction should be removed from applicant's certificate."

In May, the Sun reported that competing limo companies claimed that Las Vegas Limousine, in apparent violation of its license, was operating far more than its 12-limo limit.

One rival company even counted the number of Las Vegas Limousine vehicles at one location on one day, then hired a private detective firm to count them at several sites on another day before filing its complaint with the TSA.

The TSA panel, in its findings, made no mention of whether it felt that Las Vegas Limousines had violated its old certificate.

During the two-hour hearing, rival limousine and taxicab companies said other transportation firms have had such restrictions placed on their Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity to keep "a level playing field."

They cited that Strip trolleys originally were limited to seven vehicles to protect the public bus company and the cab industry. Also, Ray & Ross was limited to four buses to serve McCarran International Airport and Western Coach was limited to 10 vehicles.

McMillan, during the May hearing, said the limitation against her client's business was "one of the most disabling restrictions" in the industry. She said it limited the company's ability to grow.

"Legally, it's just plain wrong freezing out one carrier," McMillan told the board.

Las Vegas Limousines was acquired by Charlie Frias in December 1996. He also is the owner of A-NLV Cab Co.

On Sept. 25, the Public Service Commission voted to limit Las Vegas Limousines to 12 vehicles. The TSA has since replaced the PSC as regulators of limousines.

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