San Luis, Az Taxi's

San Luis Taxi Drivers Fighting against A City Ordinance

San Luis, AZ November 7 - A proposed city ordinance regulating the operation of taxi cabs could put many independent taxi drivers out of business.

Joel Serpas, an independent taxi driver operating out of San Luis, says if the ordinance isn't revised it will deeply affect how he makes a living.

Currently the ordinance requires drivers to stay within three feet of their cab when on duty which prohibits them from soliciting business. The ordinance also prohibits drivers from picking up customers along the block immediately north of the border which is where they conduct most of their business.

Taxi cab drivers tell News 13, they have a license just like any other business, yet they are being treated like criminals." Serpas says "I want to remind the police and the city that we're not criminals, that we're not coyotes. We provide a service to the public and they just don't want to see it that way."

City officials say regulations came out of concern for public safety after receiving reports that cabs are over loading vehicles just outside the border. However, taxi drivers disagree and feel the problem stems from Buchanan's Transportation, a company which potentially loses business to all the independent taxi's that surround it.

Drivers also fear the city is looking to wipe them out to provide business for one company. Serpas says, "Right now it's all rumors that one company is going to run the line and the rest will be sent somewhere else in the city, remote areas nobody stops at. Who are we going to pick up in that area? Nobody."