How Far is the Limousine Industry Regulated?

Small Public Service Vehicles such as, wheelchair accessible vans, taxis, hackney cabs, and limousines are vehicles that have seating for about eight people. These automobiles are regulated by an official governing body that ensures all vehicles and their drivers follow the rules laid down by the authorities. The duties of such regulators include:

• To make sure all taxis are properly licensed. They process all applications, renew and issue licenses.
• To ensure that drivers comply with the duties as put down by the Taxi Regulation Act. These rules incorporate the right treatment of customers, meter usage and calculating fares, issuing of receipts, license display, and knowing all the shortest routes.
• To handle the register of licenses. This register comprises of important data on all small public service vehicles and their drivers.
• To set upper limit of the fares
• To make sure that passengers comply with the rules pertaining to the duties of the passengers. These rules comprise of not instigating any kind of damage to the automobile, paying the fare, and not putting the life of the driver in danger.
• To make sure that small public service vehicles meet the standards as set by the Road Traffic Regulations. This is ensured by the National Car Testing Service.

Surprising to a lot of people in San Mateo and several other parts of California, the regulations that administer limousines and its operators are ineffective and counterintuitive in stopping life-altering injuries and fatalities. Limousines that are set to carry fewer people, including the driver, are only subject to negligible governmental regulations.

Drivers of such limousines do not require having a commercial license. If a person wants to start a limousine company, all he/she has to do is buy the vehicle, apply for a regular Class C license and just register with the Public Utilities Commission of California. The law does not even necessitate that the driver or operator have any experience or training in driving limousines.

The way these automobiles are made is not regulated either. Several transport companies customize normal cars and utilize them as limousines. Some of these cabs undergo transformation in areas including, transmissions, fuel lines, and electrical wiring. Hence, they can get dangerous at times.

Choosing the right company:

Due to such reasons it becomes very important to choose a transportation company carefully. The provider must not just hire a fleet of professional drivers but must also have top quality cars. The best way to find out about the company and its services is to call them up and ask them some questions upfront such as, the hours of operation, how much rates are they asking, and whether they have insurance. It is also important to understand that low-cost services are not always the best. At times it is worth spending a little extra to ensure safety. It is also a good idea to research well about the provider through the internet. The World Wide Web can offer plethora of information regarding the service quality of the company.

The civil law pertaining to injury cases involving limousines necessitate limousine operators to be vigilant, take proper care of passengers and keep their vehicles in good condition. They charge a handsome amount to transport people from one place to another, consequentially they are expected to buy good quality vehicles and appoint trained drivers. In San Mateo and all of California, law suits pertaining to negligence can be brought against reckless limousine drivers. However, unfortunately, private law suit is the only way for victims of careless limousine companies and their drivers to attain justice.