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In September 2015, the judge presiding over the case held that the plaintiffs—at the time, members of the taxi industry as well as one limousine company—had stated a claim that the city’s unequal treatment of taxis as compared to TNCs violated the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Shortly thereafter, the plaintiffs asked the judge to enter a preliminary injunction that would order the city to stop making unfair distinctions between taxis and TNCs. Before the judge ruled on that motion, the city proposed amendments to its transportation ordinance that would allow TNCs to perform pickups and drop-offs at O’Hare and Midway International airports.
Green-lighting TNC operations at the airports was part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s budget package, which City Council passed last month. The legislation regarding TNCs—referred to as TNPs, or Transportation Network Providers, in the city’s regulations—was pushed ahead on an expedited schedule. The public had only two weeks, from November 2 to November 16, to comment on the policy. Well before the city had stopped accepting public feedback, however, O’Hare had already begun allocating TNC-only space to its upper level.
On November 9, in response to the city’s proposed amendments, ILA’s board of directors voted on and approved a motion to hire legal counsel and join the existing federal lawsuit. ILA hired Miller Shakman & Beem—the same firm representing the other plaintiffs in the lawsuit. On November 13, the plaintiffs asked the judge for permission to amend not only the complaint to add the ILA and other livery plaintiffs but also the motion so the preliminary injunction includes relief on behalf of the livery plaintiffs.
The judge granted both requests and, on November 25, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint as well as an amended motion for preliminary injunction that asked for equal treatment for both liveries and taxis as compared to TNCs regarding driver qualifications, vehicle requirements, and annual fees. The plaintiffs also asked the judge to prevent the city from implementing the new and unfair rules allowing TNCs preferential treatment regarding airport access, staging and pick-up locations.
The city’s regulations became effective November 20: Lyft and Uber have been granted operating permission at O’Hare and Midway.
Before they are granted permission to begin airport drop-offs and pickups, TNC drivers must register with the city, undergo airport training, and affix identifying signage to their vehicles, as well as pay $5 every time they enter airport property.
TNCs are allowed access only to certain parts of either airport: at O’Hare, the upper level of the domestic concourse between Terminals 1 and 2 and Terminals 2 and 3, as well as a designated lower-level spot for international flights; at Midway, TNC drivers can only drop-off and pick up passengers at the south end of the terminal’s upper level. Fifteen parking spots at Midway’s cell phone lot will be set aside for TNC drivers.
In the meantime, ILA President Tracy Raimer of Your Private Limousine says that moral and financial support both within the ILA and from the industry has been astounding.
“We’ve received an overwhelming response from the membership,” she said. “It wasn’t just companies in Chicago: We had companies outside the area who also sent in money to support our fight. I think that shows the ILA board made the right decision going forward with this.” The ILA has raised more than $40,000 from members and supporters and the ILA board approved a $30/vehicle member assessment to help cover legal fees.
The ILA’s next move is to keep an eye on TNC activity at the airports to make sure they’re operating within legally designated boundaries. As the association had until November 25 to file its injunction, it is currently waiting for the judge’s ruling in response; the timeline of both the city and the ILA’s additional responses will push into early 2016.
“Best case scenario is that we’re on a level playing field with TNCs,” Raimer said. “Even if they were to give concessions—such as making it easier to license our chauffeurs, instead of it being a three-month process or the large fees we pay to license them, and even the fees we pay for the plates on our vehicles—it still means absolutely nothing if they don’t allow us to pick up in the same timeframe as the TNCs. On a normal day, it takes us 10 to 12 minutes and can take upwards of 30 minutes to pick up; if TNCs are picking up within five minutes, there’s no way we can compete with that.”
The ILA will hold an open board meeting January 6 in Des Plaines.
Visit illinoislimousineassociation.com for more information.
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Toronto — INKAS Armored Vehicle Manufacturing has become the first manufacturer to release an armored sedan based on the 2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600. The unique vehicle incorporates a heightened level of ballistic protection achieving a CEN 1063 BR7 rating while being discrete and virtually indiscernible from an unarmored luxury vehicle of the same class—both in visual appearance and performance.
“It shows what happens when the best innovations in security, performance and technology merge to make a top-notch vehicle. Modelled on the Mercedes-Maybach S600, it caters to customers who desire prestigious, high-class vehicles without compromising safety,” said ret. Major-General David Fraser, COO, INKAS Armored Vehicle Manufacturing. “Apart from being the pinnacle of Mercedes-Benz luxury, the car is equipped with a full set of safety features specially designed and built by INKAS here in Canada.”
With this vehicle, INKAS has set out to create a new paradigm for armored engineering excellence. The modern composite materials used throughout the build, as well as it lightweight armoring techniques, affect the vehicle’s performance minimally; most drivers rarely notice any difference. The car maintains speed and maneuverability that ensure safe driving even in extreme situations. To allow for increased safety, it is equipped with run-flat tires and a smoke-screen system facilitating easy escape when necessary. INKAS has taken security one step further by installing fully operable windows all while maintaining the necessary ballistic properties and featuring the most transparent glass available in the market today.
Other features fitted to the INKAS Armored Mercedes-Maybach S600 include an independent air-conditioning system as well as a fire suppression system, which is installed within the entire vehicle and not for the engine compartment only. Add to this the optimized suspension and braking components that maximize performance. Furthermore, upon request, the vehicle may be hand-delivered by an INKAS Ambassador who will offer a complete on-site vehicle walkthrough, security systems training and evasive driving course.
“This is a car meant to perform and we are sure it will command much attention from high-end customers next year,” added Fraser.
Visit inkas.ca for more information.
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“We are excited about this relationship for a number of reasons, not the least of which is Nations Bus’s strong reputation in the industry for cultivating long-term, repeat customer relationships with their clients,” said Vern Kauffman, COO for McSweeney Designs. Kauffman further lauded Nations Bus’s “full commitment to providing world-class sales and service for the product lines they represent,” and has complete confidence in the dealer’s ability to represent McSweeney Designs in marketplace
The new partners said that they were elated to immediately see the benefits of their alliance at October’s Chauffeur Driven Show in Miami, Fla. While jointly manning the McSweeney Designs booth on the exhibit floor, the combined efforts of McSweeney Designs and Nations Bus resulted in the sale of two MD Exec Livery 14-passenger portal-door luxury shuttles to Simon and Barbara White, the owners of VIP Transportation Group of Orlando, Fla.
The Whites commented about their new purchase: “We are extremely proud to have partnered with McSweeney Designs and purchased two of their all-new design 14-passenger Executive Mercedes Sprinters with more units to be added in our fleet for 2016. McSweeney’s design and quality of craftsmanship is an exact fit for what our corporate and affiliate partners are now demanding from us.”
Building upon this positive dealer and end-user momentum, McSweeney reports that Nations Bus Sales will be stocking its product to ensure quick delivery, as well as to leverage the strengths of its in-house design, engineering, and build teams to assist clients in the development of custom-tailored upfit solutions to uniquely suit their own upscale transportation needs.
Send an email to vkauffman@mcsweeneydesigns.com or chip@nationsbus.com for more information.
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