[Vision2020] Taxi Service in Moscow

[Ron Force]

Well, here's one you probably don't want to use:


Moscow cab owner says smoking ban a bad idea 
By David Johnson of the Tribune | Posted: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 12:00 am  
MOSCOW - George Hudson, owner of Pegasus Taxi of Moscow, has
been picking up drunks and driving them home safely for three
years.
Now, after the city council passed a new taxicab licensing
ordinance, Hudson says he'll lose business, and he predicts more
inebriated drivers will get behind the wheel.
This despite the ordinance having nothing to do with
drinking.
"From what I understand, they're going to pull our license if we
let people smoke," Hudson, 53, said Tuesday. "So I'll probably lose
my license."
The ordinance, passed Monday night, bans taxicab passengers from
smoking. But most of the intoxicated people he transports from bars
in the early morning hours, Hudson said, are aching to light up,
because the city banned smoking in local taverns.
"They really want that cigarette when they step out of the
bar."
If he tells people they can't smoke, Hudson said, they're more
likely to take their own vehicle. If he waits for people to finish
a cigarette, he'll lose dollars because time is money.
"If I have to wait for people to finish their cigarette, that's
going to be more drunks out driving, because I can't pick up as
many of them."
There are four taxi companies and one limousine service
operating in Moscow. All, except for Pegasus Taxi, have
self-imposed bans on smoking. Hudson said he geared part of his
business to bar patrons who smoke.
"I don't mind if you take somebody else's cab," Hudson said of
people who don't like the smell of smoke. "But I want to be the one
who lets them smoke. It just makes more sense to me."
Moscow Police Chief David Duke said the city has been working on
the new taxicab ordinance for about six months. Most of the
document has to do with vehicle safety issues and stricter
background checks on drivers.
"We decided to change some of the requirements for backgrounds,
to do fingerprinting that we never did before," Duke said. "We had
some convicted felons, but not for crimes against persons. Most
were for crimes against property."
Hudson said he supports the enhanced background checks and
vehicle inspection provisions of the ordinance.
"But it slows me down to wait and let somebody finish their
cigarette. If they can jump in, smoke their cigarette on the way
home, no problem."
The ordinance allows drivers to smoke when they're in the cabs
alone.
"But some nights we don't get to stop for 12 hours. And there
are times when I don't get five minutes in between picking people
up and dropping them off," Hudson said. "So you're basically
telling me I can't have a cigarette for 12 hours because somebody
out there thinks it's bad."
City Clerk Stephanie Kalasz said the ordinance will become
effective, possibly within the next week, after being signed by
Mayor Nancy Chaney and published in the newspaper.
Councilor Tom Lamar spoke in favor of banning taxi drivers from
smoking even when alone in cabs, while Councilor Sue Scott
suggested smoking should be a matter for both drivers and
passengers to decide.
The ordinance states that prohibiting smoking "will promote
health and safety" for both passengers and drivers. That, Hudson
said, should be the concern of people involved, not government.
Combined with the smoking ban in taverns, Hudson said the ban on
smoking in taxis is little more than another example of government
trying to fix what isn't broken and ultimately shifting problems
elsewhere.
---
Ron Force
Moscow Idaho USA


________________________________
From: Janesta <janesta at gmail.com>
To: vision 2020 <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2011 7:48 AM
Subject: [Vision2020] Taxi Service in Moscow


Greetings,
 
I will be in Moscow for a couple of weeks, and will be using a taxi service,
and would appreciated a recommendation for a clean taxi.
 
Are there any taxi's that don't smell like a well used ash tray?
 
Also, isn't a taxi service required to follow Idaho smoking regulations? If
not, perhaps the city council can set some rules.
 
Thank you!
 
Janesta
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