Turf war erupts over which agency will regulate taxis

The Nevada Taxicab Authority is considering bucking Gov. Bob Miller's bid to merge the agency into the Transportation Services Authority.

The TSA, a three-member board, regulates buses, limousines, towing companies, moving companies and taxis outside Clark County.

The five-member Taxicab Authority oversees Clark County taxis, hearing appeals from drivers found in violation of state regulations. Drivers can appeal TA rulings to the TSA, but few have reached the new agency.

Observers say differing views between the two agencies about their responsibilities are more about turf wars and politics instead of how best to serve the taxi industry.

Members of the TA board agreed last week to hold off on plans to submit legislation that would allow it to remain independent of the TSA, a year-old agency that was formed when the old Public Services Commission was broken into two agencies responsible for administering transportation and utilities.

The TA, formed to regulate taxis after violent strikes shook the industry in the 1960s, also monitors some limousine drivers who operate through seven taxi companies. An allocation system to limit the number of taxis in operation was established as part of the regulatory process. Drivers also came under scrutiny as well as company owners.

In delaying action, TA members said they hope to meet with TSA officials before their next meeting on Nov. 17.

Observers say when the TSA was formed by a law enacted by the 1997 Nevada Legislature, its relationship with the TA was something most lawmakers expected to modify in the next session.

The governor's office drafted a bill that would turn the TA's responsibilities over to the TSA.

Officials in the governor's office say the bill is mostly a housekeeping measure that would put all the state's cabs under one set of regulations. Insurance and safety requirements would be made uniform under the proposal and there would be no changes in the cab allocation system. Current law mandates the TSA monitor companies' safety records and insurance coverage.

TSA Chairman John Mendoza said Miller's bill to merge the two commissions is "a work in progress" that is in the legal review stage in advance of January's meeting of the Legislature. Mendoza said because the proposal hasn't officially cleared the review process, he couldn't comment on its merits.

Conceptually, the merger is being considered because the agencies' missions are similar. But privately, TA members are suspicious that the TSA is pushing the merger in an attempt to grab the agency's $750,000 budget. TSA officials say their agency is underfunded and revenues collected for industry violations finance its operation.

That rankles critics, who charge the TSA targets certain operators and fines them to fatten the budget.

TA Vice Chairman Bob Bailey said the most important consideration is how to best serve the taxi industry -- and TA members say most of the city's seven cab companies want the agency to stay independent of the TSA.

But Bill Shranko, director of operations and human resources for Yellow-Checker-Star Cab Co., disagrees.

"You're going to find several differences of opinion in this industry and our company is in support of blending the agencies," Shranko said.

The biggest benefit, he said, would be the cost savings to the public through elimination of duplicate services.

"There's also a greater opportunity for equal enforcement of statutes," Shranko said. "The biggest enforcement problem we face are the people who come in from out of state and try to operate. They have no insurance and they pay no taxes."

Another issue is the upcoming change in administration. TA members say it may be wise to allow the new governor who takes office in January to make a policy decision on the issue.

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