City Seeks to Flag Down ‘Bandit’ Taxicabs

A coalition of taxicab companies joined Mayor Tom Bradley and other government officials Wednesday in announcing a crackdown on hundreds of “bandit” cabbies suspected of operating illegally in Los Angeles.

The Taxi Industry Council of Los Angeles, which represents the city’s licensed taxicab firms, filed a $100-million lawsuit against one of 30 maverick taxicab companies believed to be working in the city and accused it of unfairly siphoning business from taxi council members.

City Atty. James K. Hahn told reporters Wednesday that six cab drivers were arrested in a one-day “sting operation” last month as part of a new law enforcement push by police and the Department of Transportation.

“We’re going to do everything we can to have a full, frontal assault to protect our licensees and to protect the public,” Hahn said at a news conference attended by representatives of the taxi council and public officials, including City Council President Pat Russell, County Supervisor Ed Edelman and Bradley.

The mayor, who formed a task force two years ago to investigate unlicensed cabs, said the problem continues to plague Los Angeles, and he accused bandit drivers of “ripping off” the city, the legitimate companies and the taxi-riding public.

“We are determined to clean up this situation of bandit cabs in this community,” Bradley said.

Only city-licensed drivers are permitted to pick up fares in Los Angeles. Unlicensed drivers may operate in the city only when bringing in passengers picked up outside the city.

According to the Department of Transportation, which regulates the taxicab industry, about 600 bandit drivers are competing with 1,000 licensed drivers--and many can be found vying for passengers at hotels or at Los Angeles International Airport.

Although the bandit drivers may have permits to operate in the county or in other cities, they lack the required Los Angeles city permit, which costs $690 a year and can be obtained only through a franchise company or taxi association.

Drivers with the proper permits can be identified by a city taxicab seal on their front doors, the required fare meter and the driver’s identification card.

Hahn said the city attorney’s office is now prosecuting six cab drivers who were arrested in a “sting” Dec. 17 when undercover police officers, posing as passengers, were picked up by unlicensed drivers in the Hollywood area.

The drivers now face the possibility of six months in jail and a possible $1,000 fine.

“We intend to continue these kinds of operations, and I want the message to go out to all the bandit operators in the city of Los Angeles,” Hahn said.

In its lawsuit, the Taxi Industry Council charges that bandit companies have ignored the city law and have “actively advertised, solicited, cruised for fares, sat on taxi stands, hailed passengers, placed telephone ads, responded to telephone and radio orders and otherwise sought to do business” in the city without the proper permits.

The complaint named United Yellow Cab Co. and seeks more than $100 million in general and punitive damages. But council attorney Kenneth Cloke said his group intends to pursue other “bandit companies.”

Moe Nader, general manager of United Yellow Cab Co., denied the allegations and said his firm operates only in West Hollywood and Los Angeles County.

“There’s no basis for that lawsuit. They are just some allegations that they can’t prove,” Nader said. “We are fully prepared to answer that case.”

Currently, seven firms are licensed to do business in the city: Valley Cab Co., Independent Taxi Owners Assn., United Independent Taxi Drivers, Beverly Hills Cab Co., Los Angeles Checker Cab Co., L.A. Taxi Co. and Wilmington Cab Co.