Des Plaines committee revisits taxicab ordinance

The Des Plaines Legal and Licensing Committee this week firmed up changes to the city’s taxicab ordinance, setting limits to the number of licenses a company can own.

The committee recommends allowing a cab company to operate in town only if it has a minimum of 10 licenses and not more than a maximum of 55 licenses.

Fearing a proliferation of cabs after an influx of new license applications, the Des Plaines city council in March 2010 capped the number of taxicab licenses the city will issue yearly at 170.

Then in January, the city council in January imposed a six-month moratorium on issuing any new cab licenses to buy time to study how the new casino will impact the city’s demand for cabs.

At present, four registered cab companies — Horizon, American, 303 and Community — operate roughly 130 cabs in Des Plaines.

After several conversations with the transportation director for casino developer Midwest Gaming & Entertainment, the committee has agreed to raise the cap to a maximum of 275 licenses to service the city and casino, committee chairman and Ward 2 Alderman John Robinson said.

The $445 million Rivers Casino and entertainment complex, located on 20 acres off Des Plaines River Road and Devon Avenue, is set to open July 19.

If approved by the council, the cab moratorium will be lifted July 1.

The city has no limit on the number of cab companies allowed to operate in town. A city license entitles a cab to pick up fares in Des Plaines. A cab does not need a license to drop off a passenger within the city limits.

The committee set the yearly licensing period from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012.

After paying a $1,000 yearly fee, the company is issued a license and can then apply for individual cab licenses for an additional cost of $63 per cab. The city also established a $25 fine for cabdrivers who refuse to pick up seniors or disabled citizens. The fine doubles to $50 for a second offense.

The committee set a ceiling for fines. “If a driver refuses to take a handicapped person, (the city) could fine him and the cab company up to $750” depending on the number of violations, Robinson said.

Applications have to be vetted by the police department, which conducts background checks on drivers through Illinois State Police. The police department also will be responsible for conducting twice yearly inspections of all cabs, Robinson said.

The committee also recommended senior citizens and handicapped residents be given multiple $2 vouchers by the city based on their need. The nontransferable vouchers would be turned in for rides.

“Drivers can turn these in at the end of their shift and the companies can get reimbursed from the city,” Robinson said. The recommended changes to the taxicab ordinance will go before the full city council for first reading on June 6.