Source FOX8
New Orleans - People who operate cabs in New Orleans say they run the risk of losing their certificates because of rules now being enforced at the city's taxicab bureau.
Cab operators say if they want to renew their CPNC, a certificate of public necessity and convenience for "for hire" vehicles, they have to go through several steps that are new to them.
Steps they say are not only more expensive, but will put a hardship on some people. Some of the cab operators are elderly and some of them are ill and hospitalized.
They can own a cab number and just rent or lease that number to a driver. In some cases, these operators never interact with the public.
The certificates have been in their family for decades and they rely on that for income.
Regardless, they say city rules require that they renew their certificates in person.
One operator is 76 years-old and suffers with Alzheimer's Another man had a massive stroke years ago and hasn't left his nursing home for two years. His family and friends say they were told to just "strap him to a wheelchair" if that's what it took to get him there.
"They're in their 90s, they're in their 80's and they have a great deal of difficulty coming down here and do this.. not only that we have people in hospitals undergoing cancer treatment, we also have one fellow that's serving our country in Afghanistan. He can't get back in time and we've been given no leeway whatsoever," said Frank Davis, attorney for United Cab Company.
The city says operators have until March 31st to renew their CPNC's and the city will address special circumstances on a case by case basis.
The taxicab bureau director told FOX 8 these rules have been on the books for decades, they just haven't been enforced until now.
And he says while some of the operators we met lease or rent their cab numbers to drivers, some operators are drivers which is why they're enforcing background checks and drug screenings.
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Cab operators say if they want to renew their CPNC, a certificate of public necessity and convenience for "for hire" vehicles, they have to go through several steps that are new to them.
Steps they say are not only more expensive, but will put a hardship on some people. Some of the cab operators are elderly and some of them are ill and hospitalized.
They can own a cab number and just rent or lease that number to a driver. In some cases, these operators never interact with the public.
The certificates have been in their family for decades and they rely on that for income.
Regardless, they say city rules require that they renew their certificates in person.
One operator is 76 years-old and suffers with Alzheimer's Another man had a massive stroke years ago and hasn't left his nursing home for two years. His family and friends say they were told to just "strap him to a wheelchair" if that's what it took to get him there.
"They're in their 90s, they're in their 80's and they have a great deal of difficulty coming down here and do this.. not only that we have people in hospitals undergoing cancer treatment, we also have one fellow that's serving our country in Afghanistan. He can't get back in time and we've been given no leeway whatsoever," said Frank Davis, attorney for United Cab Company.
The city says operators have until March 31st to renew their CPNC's and the city will address special circumstances on a case by case basis.
The taxicab bureau director told FOX 8 these rules have been on the books for decades, they just haven't been enforced until now.
And he says while some of the operators we met lease or rent their cab numbers to drivers, some operators are drivers which is why they're enforcing background checks and drug screenings.
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