Government Affairs Consulting accepted an invitation to team with the Greater California Livery Association to represent California's Limousine Industry in legislative and regulatory matters impacting the ability of limousine operators to serve their clients. Initially, Government Affairs Consulting focused on defeating legislation that would have allowed local agencies to regulate limousine operators and require licensing fees to be paid to local governments in every city or county that limousine operators served. We were successful in defeating that legislation. We joined forces with the California Public Utilities Commission to beat back a proposal to require criminal background checks of all limousine operators and drivers in reaction to ongoing concerns regarding potential terrorist activity in California's airports. In fact, no legislation detrimental to the owners of limousine companies has been adopted by the California Legislature since GCLA has teamed with Government Affairs Consulting.

Our team has been able to amend California law to recognize the limousine industry in the 21st Century. We've redefined "limousine" to include SUVs, the resulting considerable savings to operators. We redefined "medical transportation vehicle" to save our operators the costs being assessed through fines by local police authorities. We passed legislation to allow transportation in large vehicles for students attending school-sponsored activities.

We have represented California's limousine industry in proceedings before city and airport commissions on matters that might impair your ability to operate your business efficiently and profitably. We've engaged, on a professional, informed and successful basis, with Los Angeles, Burbank, Orange County, San Diego, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento airports to fight potentially exorbitant penalty and fee increases, increases that directly affect the profitability of your business.

That was then, what about NOW!

GCLA is sponsoring legislation, in cooperation with the California Public Utilities Commission that would eliminate the tri-annual CPUC permit renewal requirement that will result in significant cost savings to limousine operators. Our legislation will include redefining "charter-party carrier" to include a rented vehicle operated by a hired driver, an attempt to protect the traveling public from "chauffeur drive schemes." The result of this effort will be to place "chauffeur drive" programs under the jurisdiction of the California Public Utilities Commission and require appropriate vehicle safety inspection, insurance and permitting. In an effort to increase enforcement of laws and regulations regarding "bandit operators," our legislation will provide for CPUC suspension or revocation of an operating permit for failure to comply with airport regulation and allow for vehicle impoundment for violation of operating as a "charter-party carrier" without a valid certificate or permit issued by the CPUC anywhere within the state of California.

GCLA has petitioned the California Public Utilities Commission to increase fines and penalties imposed on unlicensed or uninsured limousine operators, to reduce the time period from suspension of the CPUC permit to revocation and to increase fees associated with re-instatement following permit revocation.

GCLA is at work for you. Our goal is to protect limousine operators from unreasonable fees, assessments and regulations that impact your ability to operate your company efficiently and profitably. At the same time, we are committed increasing awareness and understanding of the role and needs of your industry by public officials at the state and local level. It is critical that legitimate limousine operators not be victimized by the activities of those who operate illegally. We must do everything possible to rid the limousine industry of those individuals who insist on operating in violation of California law and regulation. We will do this at every level of government in the state. The integrity of your industry, and your business will determine our future success.

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