Des Plaines approves changes to taxicab licensing laws

Des Plaines city officials Monday night approved changes to the city’s taxicab licensing rules, setting limits on the number of licenses a company can own and raising the cap on how many cabs are allowed to operate in town, per the recommendations of the city’s legal and licensing committee.

To operate in town, taxicab companies must own a minimum of 10 licenses and not more than a maximum of 55 licenses.

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

The new rules are to help the city deal with an anticipated proliferation of cabs spurred by the planned opening of the $445 million Rivers Casino and entertainment complex, off Des Plaines River Road and Devon Avenue, on July 19.

After an influx of new license applications, the Des Plaines City Council in March 2010 capped the number of taxicab licenses the city would issue yearly at 170. Then in January, the council imposed a six-month moratorium on issuing any new cab licenses to buy time to study how the new casino would impact the demand for cabs.

City officials Monday raised the cap for the total number of taxicab licenses allowed in town from 170 to 275 licenses to service the city and casino. The cab license 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.

Per the new rules, the yearly licensing period will run from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012. The licensing fee per cab was increased from $1,000 to $2,500 yearly, payable by the company and not the individual driver.

The fee increase discourages “fly-by-night companies,” said Tex Bullock, support service manager for the Des Plaines Police Department.

The fee for a chauffeur’s license also was raised from $43 to $50 to cover the cost of a background check and fingerprinting of the driver.

All license applications will now be vetted by the police department, which conducts background checks and fingerprinting on drivers through Illinois State Police. The department also is responsible for conducting twice yearly inspections of all cabs, as well as disciplinary actions, Bullock said.

“With the inspections, we have increased what they are looking for,” Bullock said.

While there is no specific age requirement for cabs allowed to operate in town, vehicles will be inspected for rust, body damage, front end vitals, tires, wear and tear on seat belts and arm rests, properly functioning doors, windows and locks. The inspections will be done by Des Plaines businesses.

“We provide each one of these companies a list of things we expect from them,” Bullock said.

Officials also banned smoking in city cabs and established a $750 ceiling for fines depending on the number of violations, and added a new rule penalizing cab company if their drivers refuse to pick up seniors or disabled citizens.

The new rules also regulate the appearance of cabdrivers, who will be required to wear covered shoes, collared shirts and observe general standards of cleanliness, officials said.

“The integrity of the city is on the line here as well as the cab company,” Des Plaines Police Chief Jim Prandini said. “That’s part of what we are trying to do to improve the integrity of the program.”

There also will be a new discount program for seniors and handicapped residents, who can get multiple $3 vouchers from the city based on their need. The nontransferable vouchers would be turned in for rides, and the companies can get reimbursed by the city.