TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES – CONCERNING OCEAN RISK RETENTION GROUP, INC.
Ocean Risk Retention Group. Inc. (Ocean) was put into liquidation on September 6, 2013, by Court Order. Ocean’s policies will expire 30 days from September 6, 2013 per the attached Court Order and the Washington D.C. Law. All carriers who are insured by Ocean are advised to seek alternative insurance coverage now to assure you remain in compliance with the Parking Authority’s financial responsibility requirements (52 Pa. Code § 1025.3).
Notice to all Interested Parties
The Taxicab and Limousine Committee (TLC) of the Philadelphia Parking Authority Board will meet to receive public comment concerning implementation of new taxicab driver safety measures. These may include but are not limited to requiring installation of security and surveillance cameras, trouble lights, and development and posting of public service announcements to increase awareness.
The meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 18 at 1:00 PM at the PA Convention Center, Room 108 AB at 12th and Arch Streets, Philadelphia, PA. Written comments may be sent tocmilstein@philapark.org in advance of the meeting. Please call 215-683- 9637 with any questions.
To All Concerned Parties:
The Board of the Philadelphia Parking Authority, at its regular meeting on 7/23/13, issued the attached Order and proposed regulations concerning Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV)Taxicab Service. This proposed rulemaking will proceed through the standard state agency regulatory promulgation process. All interested parties will be afforded the opportunity to provide comment through that process during a comment period to be designated at a later date.
James R. Ney, Director Taxicab & Limousine Division Philadelphia Parking Authority 2415 S. Swanson Street Philadelphia, PA 19148 T 215-683-9417 | F 215-683-9437 | E-Mail JNey@Philapark.org
To All Industry Members:
To All Industry Members:
This notification of a new fee schedule was necessitated by the enactment of Act 64 of 2013. The new TLD Assessment & Fee Schedules for fiscal year 2014, along with Act 64, are attached for your reference.
Shop costs for FY 2014
130709.HB 1490 As Signed by Gov
Assessment & Fee Schedule FY14
Notice To All Interested Parties
Attached is the Fiscal Year 2014 Fee Schedule for taxicab and limousine service providers regulated by the Philadelphia Parking Authority Taxicab and Limousine Division. THE 2014 FEE SCHEDULE GOES INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1, 2013.
Maximum Taxicab Lease Amounts
The Taxicab and Limousine Division has received questions regarding the maximum amounts to be charged in taxicab lease agreements. To clear up any misunderstandings the maximum amounts as of this date are:
These maximum lease amounts were established by the Authority on March 25, 2008 after a lengthy investigatory process and in compliance with 53 Pa.C.S. § 5720.
To report a violation of the maximum lease amounts or to raises questions, please contact William Schmid, Deputy Director of the TLD at Wschmid@Philapark.Org
These maximum taxicab lease amounts were developed through an Authority wage investigation conducted in compliance with 53 Pa. C.S. 5720 (c). In September, 2007, the Board of Directors authorized the TLD to conduct a review of taxicab rates and leases. Consequently, a rate proposal was issued on December 7, 2007 by the TLD. Comments were received during the comment period of December 7, 2007 to December 28, 2007, and at a public hearing on January 17, 2008. On February 25, 2008 a proposal was submitted to the Board for review with a recommendation for adoption effective June 2, 2008. On March 25, 2008, at an open meeting the Board unanimously adopted the proposal, including the above referenced maximum taxicab amounts.
TERM OF LEASE
Some medallion owners are attempting to circumvent the Boards intent by charging the “daily” lease rate for seven individual days payable once a week with the same exact weekly payment requirement as a “weekly” lease. The Enforcement Department rejects this reasoning and may cite violators.
COMPLIANCE
A copy of the lease, as required in §1017.6 “Required documents” must be presented at bi-annual inspection and will be reviewed for compliance.
A Message To Taxicab and Limousine Owners concerning the Powertrain Control Module (“PCM”)
The PCM is an automotive component that controls more than 100 factors in a car or truck. Its purpose is to monitor the many hundreds of error codes that can occur and indicates through a “Check Engine Light” that some subsection of the car is experiencing a problem.
The PCM is one of several onboard computers, and is essentially the “brain” of the engine control system.
The PCM also tracks the vehicle’s mileage, an issue that often controls the eligibility of a vehicle to provide taxicab or limousine service.
The PCM should be replaced only when it is diagnosed to be defective because it also contains a unique serial number and controls the odometer.
The TLD’s inspection process will now include a diagnostic review of the PCM’s status.
IMPROPERLY REPLACING A PCM may disqualify your vehicle from entry into service as a taxicab or limousine. You should report the replacement of a PCM in any vehicle currently authorized to provide taxicab or limousine service to: Robert Hager, Deputy Manager of Inspections, 215-683-9447 or Rhager@Philapark.org. You must disclose the presence of a replacement PCM in any vehicle upon presentation of a vehicle for inspection.
Alert To Parents as the Prom and Graduation Season Approaches
As we approach spring, many families are busy preparing for Proms and Graduations. A key part of your preparations may be making transportation arrangements. In that regard, the Philadelphia Parking Authority (Authority) wants to help safe guard your loved ones from illegal limousine operators.
Limousine carriers operating between points within Philadelphia are regulated by the Authority. Trips between points in the City and points within the Commonwealth may also be regulated by the Public Utility Commission.
If the deal sounds too good to be true it probably is. Don’t trust your loved ones and their once in a life time moments to unregulated and under insured carriers. Properly licensed carriers use first class vehicles that have undergone rigorous inspections. These licensed companies use only certified drivers who have undergone a detailed vetting process.
Interested parents can check a carrier’s status by contacting the Taxicab and Limousine Division at 215-683-9440, 9444 or taxicomplaints@philapark.org.