Councilmember Jean Godden
Seattle City Council passes legislation to improve safety and oversight of limousine industry in Seattle
SEATTLE – Today the Seattle City Council, by a vote of 8-0, passed C.B. 117358 giving the City authority to enforce state laws governing limousines. Oversight of limousines is the responsibility of state agencies but due to funding issues they have not been able to enforce rules. As a result, the industry operates unregulated, often times illegally, at the expense of the taxi cab industry and customer safety. This is especially evident at the downtown Colman Ferry Dock where unlicensed limousine drivers illegally pick up incoming ferry passengers.
This bill gives the City new enforcement responsibilities and adds sections to the Seattle Municipal Code outlining regulations, programming, and fees. The bill also authorizes the City to accept up to $130,000 from the state to carry out this new body of work.
“For far too long the safety of our citizens and the livelihood of taxicab and law abiding limousine drivers have been compromised due to lack of industry oversight. I am especially grateful for the hard work of the late Senator Scott White, who earlier this year introduced legislation to transfer authority to the City to improve customer safety and bring about accountability of limousine drivers,” said Councilmember Jean Godden, Chair of the Finance and Budget Committee.
The City will begin its regulation of the limousine industry in January 2012.
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