Hiring a car for the first time can be a bit scary too, especially as the insurance jargon and terms and conditions info can be a bit confusing. I work for Auto Europe, and we’ve just written the Car Rental Roadmap – a step-by-step guide detailing everything you need to know, including all the potential pitfalls and hidden costs. It’s free to download online: http://www.auto-europe.co.uk/pdf/Car-Hire-Made-Easy.pdf

Do you really think I am supposed to believe this is about public safety? The danger on the streets is in fact the taxi and limousine drivers chasing fares, not chauffers. It is also these same black car drivers — gypsies — still picking up passengers hailing them in the street when if I recall correctly, it is only yellow taxis that are supposed to do so. Black cars are supposed to only pick up dispatched fares.

Let’s face it, every industry except oil and war is in a recession. We are all facing difficult times; however, I see this as somewhat anti-competitive and solely in the interest of sustaining the driver industry.

Where is the DoJ when you really need them? Turning a blind eye? That is what’s wrong with this country. We shy away from competition and innovation and then complain about our declining place in the world.

The Port Authority of New York/New Jersey HAS DECLARED THE AVIS WEDRIVEU PROGRAM ILLEGAL!

Our congratulations go to Barry Lefkowitz and the Limousine Associations of New Jersey for all their hard work in this matter. This means that the following airports will be off-limits to the Avis WeDriveU program:

1) JFK
2) LA GUARDIA
3) NEWARK

New York and Newark are now in good company with Atlanta, Miami-Dade County, Houston and Phoenix
as having done the right thing in shutting down a system that is inherently illegal and a clear and present
danger to Public Health and Safety.

We would encourage all other Limousine Associations across America to re-double their efforts to get
their local and state regulators and airport authorities to consult with their counterparts in other cities who
have already made the correct and proper decision.

Together working hard, we can eliminate this scourge of nationwide illegal gypsy operators and restore
public confidence in truly professional corporate and luxury transportation, on-time every time, with
properly permitted and inspected vehicles and highly-trained, FBI-cleared chauffeurs.

Our congratulations again to the Garden State!

Joe L. Jordan, President
LIMOUSINE ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON
P.O. Box 640
Kemah TX 77565-0640
713 680-3181
http://www.houstonlimos.info
yachtsmanjoe@aol.com

The county had become a national focal point for the controversial Avis chauffeured drive model which avoided the rules and regulations required of chauffeured transportation operators of luxury vehicles. By not playing on a level playing field, Avis WeDriveU had the potential to seriously undermine the longstanding business model of chauffeured transportation operators and thereby radically remake the industry. Avis also was not required to follow the consistent standards of safety, reliability, and quality that have become the hallmarks of law-abiding, license-paying chauffeured operators.

The Miami-Dade County Consumer Services Department ruled that Avis would have to follow country ordinances that require permits, fees, licenses, safety and background checks, and other regulations that apply to luxury chauffeured vehicles, said Ron Sorci, president of the NLA and CFO of Miami-based Aventura Worldwide Transportation. Avis had managed to avoid these rules by forming two separate companies — one for its chauffeured rental vehicles, and another one for its chauffeur service.

The department told Avis they were not in compliance with the rules and regulations of the county’s chauffeured transportation ordinance, Sorci said. Officials also determined that Avis was violating its concessions agreement with the Miami International Airport. As a result, the Consumer Services Department received a letter from an Avis attorney confirming that the car rental agency had ceased its chauffeured service in the county, Sorci said.

Sorci said the decision has national implications for the industry. “The same arguments we made in Dade County are the same arguments you can make in other counties throughout the U.S.”

Since Avis began operating, the NLA, the Florida Ground Transportation Association, the Florida Limousine Association, the West Florida Limousine Association, and other NLA-affiliated associations nationwide have been blowing the whistle on such regulatory inequities. The decision against Avis this week culminates many meetings between association leaders and county officials, industry awareness efforts, and a videotaped expose of Avis chauffeured practices that were given to the Miami-Dade department.

Miami now joins Phoenix and Atlanta as the cities were Avis chauffeured operations have been beaten back, Sorci said.

The Miami-Dade decision concludes this phase of a 15-month battle for Carla Boroday, president of the Florida Ground Transportation Association and owner of Associated Limousine in Miami. Boroday was instrumental in first alerting the department to the Avis problem in the first quarter of 2008. She and other operators then repeatedly met with the Consumer Services Department through its Limousine Advisory Board.

“As far as we’re concerned, Avis was like a gypsy operator,” Boroday said. “They didn’t follow all the rules and regulations like everyone else did.”

Boroday said issuance of the final decision took a long time because the department wanted to make sure Avis would cease chauffeured operations at all airports and venues throughout the county.

Avis also is supposed to pull any WeDriveU advertisments in the county, she said.

Boroday remains cautiously optimistic that the problem has been resolved. Avis can still retain WeDriveU as a separate company, and continues to advertise the services of chauffeurs for clients’ personal cars, instead of rental cars.

“I hoping that this is the end,” Boroday said. “But what’s to stop WeDriveU from hooking up with someone else? Can they still be a personal chauffeur service? Is that a way of getting around it?”

A recent letter to a client promoted a $36.80 per hour personal chauffeur, with the first hour free. “Why waste thousands of dollars on limousine services?” the letter stated.

Now, the FGTA and other associations need to tackle the Avis chauffeured operations in other counties, such as Broward and Palm Beach, where going after the company is a bit more difficult.

Miami-Dade was a logical focal point for the battle because of its heavy regulatory atmosphere, Boroday said. “If ordinances were to be broken, that’s where they’d be broken. Palm Beach is open entry where it’s more difficult to stop.”

Scott Solombrino, CEO of Dav El Chauffeured Transportation Network and an NLA board member, said the decision marks a strong beginning to the eventual end of Avis inroads into the chauffeured transportation market.

“I think it starts to show that the regulators are now paying attention to operators trying to skirt the regulations and operate illegally,” Solombrino said. “This gives us huge credibility with other regulators, and gives us an example that says these people are breaking the rules and the laws.

“In short order, this program will no longer be viable for Avis.”

Solombrino said this decision is a “very positive step in a long process.” “I’m very excited about it. People are finally listening to us.”

The next fronts in the Avis battle will center on the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission. Solombrino predicted that the NY TLC’s standards will set the benchmark for other municipal regulators nationwide.

During a recent Limousine Associations of New Jersey meeting, TLC Commissioner Matt Daus appeared favorably receptive to the industry’s argument that Avis operates outside of the rules, Solombrino said. “Matt Daus gave us hope that they would take a hard, aggressive look at this.”

As to Avis still promoting personal chauffeurs, Solombrino said the correct concept of a personal chauffeur is essentially “your housekeeper chauffeuring you to work and then going back to clean your house” — as a hired employee.

A rented Avis chauffeur still would need to be subject to the same regulations as any other chauffeur, he said.

“Long term, we are going to win this. This will come out favorable to us.”

Source: Martin Romjue, LCT Magazine

Not all of us saw it coming. Not all of us took the threat seriously. But now, in the middle of a recession where price means almost everything, the Avis Chauffeur Drive program is capitalizing on the industry’s weaknesses with a mass hiring
wave in some of the nation’s largest markets. Advertisements
for chauffeur positions have been posted in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, D.C., and more. Twenty-eight in all. For those not familiar with this program, it’s time to get educated because it could be coming to your city soon. Avis is a rental
car company that also happens to own a 45 percent stake in Carey International. WeDriveU is a chauffeur rental service. Combine the two and you can have a rented vehicle driven by
a rented chauffeur. Sounds a lot like the model for the livery industry, doesn’t it? But Avis isn’t really operating up to the same standards as our luxury ground transportation industry. As we’ve reported previously, members of Florida Limousine Association (FLA) decided to use the service, and videotaped the entire trip for educational purposes. The vehicle provided to them was a Hyundai Sonata—not exactly classified as luxury. On top of that, there is nothing that shows Avis Chauffeur Drive licensing or background checking its chauffeurs, nor are the vehicles being outfitted with the proper permitting stickers. Yet everyday groups, corporate executives, and other travelers use Avis to get around, unaware of the potential danger and liabilities—insurance and otherwise—they risk when getting into one of these vehicles. As Chauffeur Drive gains momentum across the country, operators are taking up the fight—a large majority of them using power in numbers. Associations are leading the charge fighting the cancer that is spreading and further weakening our industry. Florida is ground zero. “It is literally destroying Florida,” says Barry Lefkowitz, executive director of Limousine Associations of New Jersey (LANJ). “This is a crisis of major proportions. The industry cannot roll over and play dead and just let somebody put us out of business.” Operators from Florida to San Francisco are asking Avis for one thing: a level playing field. “It’s a free country. If you want to go into business that’s fine, but you need to be operating on the same playing field as the rest of us,” says Carla Boroday, president of Florida Ground Transportation Association (FGTA) and owner of Associated Limousine Services in Hallandale, Fla. “The fact that Avis is operating without having to jump through the hoops we have to jump through just to be in business is ridiculous. We want to see them stop, cease and desist otherwise.” Boroday gives several examples of the ways Avis is violating local and state regulations in Florida. For one, there is no universal county license; her chauffeurs must have licensing in all counties. Her vehicles must also be licensed in each individual county. “We have a lot of vehicles, and let’s say for instance one of my chauffeurs takes the wrong car, arrives at Miami’s airport, but doesn’t have his Miami identification, even though he is licensed,” she says. “He will be fined $1,000. On the other hand, the Avis drivers don’t need any certifications and they don’t even have AVI transponders on their vehicles.” AVIs are required on all for-hire vehicles coming in and out of Miami International. Disregard for the industry’s regulations on Avis’ behalf has been something that operators in the New York City area have pointed out for nearly a year. There have been several meetings between National Limousine Association (NLA), Black Car Assistance Corp (BCAC), LANJ, WeDriveU, Avis, and NYC Taxicab & Limousine Commission (TLC). Victor Dizengoff, BCAC executive director, has attended these meetings and says it is all a work in progress. “It’s an issue in flux right now,” he says. “Our thoughts are that if we all have to be regulated, then there’s no reason Avis can’t play the game the same way.” At press time, BCAC had lawyers involved to draft regulatory language and to urge TLC to take some action. Lefkowitz sat in on some of these meetings as well. “We’ve made it most clear that if TLC allows WeDriveU to do what it is doing, then limousine companies are going to adopt the same template and TLC would end up with no one to regulate,” Lefkowitz says. “It puts TLC between a rock and a hard place because Avis could sue for restraint of trade, but then our industry could sue if this went forward without the service meeting the same responsibilities required of limousine and black car operators.” Drivers with unknown backgrounds frightens Mike Ballard, chairman of Maryland Limousine Association (MLA). As the country’s most historic inauguration is upon us, Avis Chauffeur Drive is of course advertising in the nation’s capital to provide service during inauguration week. “There are at least 5 million people coming into D.C. on inauguration day,” says Ballard, co-owner of Hire Quality Limousine in Bel Air, Maryland. “Unknown drivers will be working this event, possibly driving politicians, and it’s our duty to say something to the regulating authority about this.” Ballard has been in contact with Maryland’s Public Service Commission (PSC). He sent his contact at the agency the Chauffeur Drive recruiting information and explained his fears. Like Lefkowitz, Ballard has mentioned the possibility of the limousine industry adopting the Chauffeur Drive template. “I told PSC if it cannot control Avis, I will write a letter to operators in Maryland saying, ‘You are now a vehicle leasing company and people can rent your chauffeurs. Scrape off your permit stickers and get regular vehicle tags.’ PSC could no longer regulate us and no longer take money from us.” Ballard has alerted local news media about this issue as well. Joanna Fridinger, MLA president, says, “This isn’t getting attention from anybody except for within our industry. The only way the public is going to be aware is through the media.” The limousine industry has high standards for its chauffeurs: intensive training, stringent insurance requirements, background checks, drug tests, and various licensing. If one can’t make it through this process, what would stop him from going to Chauffeur Drive where he doesn’t have to go through half of that and still make decent money? The chauffeur advertisements offer $15 per hour, which is appealing considering the economy. Boroday has had chauffeurs leave her company to work at Avis. “We put our chauffeurs through a two-day class, fingerprinting, background checks, and without their chauffeur ID they can’t drive, so it’s easier for them to just go to Avis,” says Boroday. Clients are also looking for a better deal. Avis is charging about $35 an hour for its Chauffeur Drive service. “We have a legislative minimum in Florida and that is way below,” says Boroday. “Businesspeople or destination management companies (DMC) are going to look at the difference between $35 and our $55 per hour and say the limousine is too much, especially once our gratuity, surcharges, and airport fees get tacked on.” While associations in the New York area and Florida have some lawyers involved, some other options can be explored to help prevent Avis from operating, says Lefkowitz. “It really has to be looked at on a state-by-state basis,” he says. In New York, the industry will need help from surrounding states to get legislative language passed. The Limousine Association of Houston acted fast and stopped Avis from operating there. Airports may also be of help, an unusual ally considering the industry’s relationship with them. San Francisco International, Sky Harbor in Phoenix, and Denver International have all come out and said the Chauffeur Drive program cannot be done there, and Atlanta Hartsville made it clear that it could not operate there. Philip Devlin, VP national operations for Cooper-Atlanta Transportation Services, says the airport has not formally gone on the record with its position, however. “The airport says it doesn’t see the value of Avis becoming involved in Chauffeur Drive because it would be a detriment to the rest of the livery industry,” Devlin says. “If we’re driven out of business it’s no good for the clients the airport is servicing.” Devlin is aware of Avis advertising for chauffeur positions in Atlanta, but says none of the jobs the program has done have been at the airport. “The airports can be our ally in this situation,” says Devlin. “There is revenue on both sides. Airports get money from rental car services and limousines, so why would they want to cut one out of that equation?” Avis Chauffeur Drive is a local problem various markets are facing, but one that will soon become a national epidemic if nothing is done. Lefkowitz says operators should not only contact state legislators to raise awareness, but also their state associations because that is who is going to pick up the ball and run with it. “If this continues,” says Lefkowitz, “the industry is on the brink of becoming obsolete.” LD

Not all of us saw it coming. Not all of us took the threat seriously. But now, in the middle of a recession where price means almost everything, the Avis Chauffeur Drive program is capitalizing on the industry’s weaknesses with a mass hiring
wave in some of the nation’s largest markets. Advertisements
for chauffeur positions have been posted in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, D.C., and more. Twenty-eight in all. For those not familiar with this program, it’s time to get educated because it could be coming to your city soon. Avis is a rental
car company that also happens to own a 45 percent stake in Carey International. WeDriveU is a chauffeur rental service. Combine the two and you can have a rented vehicle driven by
a rented chauffeur. Sounds a lot like the model for the livery industry, doesn’t it? But Avis isn’t really operating up to the same standards as our luxury ground transportation industry. As we’ve reported previously, members of Florida Limousine Association (FLA) decided to use the service, and videotaped the entire trip for educational purposes. The vehicle provided to them was a Hyundai Sonata—not exactly classified as luxury. On top of that, there is nothing that shows Avis Chauffeur Drive licensing or background checking its chauffeurs, nor are the vehicles being outfitted with the proper permitting stickers. Yet everyday groups, corporate executives, and other travelers use Avis to get around, unaware of the potential danger and liabilities—insurance and otherwise—they risk when getting into one of these vehicles. As Chauffeur Drive gains momentum across the country, operators are taking up the fight—a large majority of them using power in numbers. Associations are leading the charge fighting the cancer that is spreading and further weakening our industry. Florida is ground zero. “It is literally destroying Florida,” says Barry Lefkowitz, executive director of Limousine Associations of New Jersey (LANJ). “This is a crisis of major proportions. The industry cannot roll over and play dead and just let somebody put us out of business.” Operators from Florida to San Francisco are asking Avis for one thing: a level playing field. “It’s a free country. If you want to go into business that’s fine, but you need to be operating on the same playing field as the rest of us,” says Carla Boroday, president of Florida Ground Transportation Association (FGTA) and owner of Associated Limousine Services in Hallandale, Fla. “The fact that Avis is operating without having to jump through the hoops we have to jump through just to be in business is ridiculous. We want to see them stop, cease and desist otherwise.” Boroday gives several examples of the ways Avis is violating local and state regulations in Florida. For one, there is no universal county license; her chauffeurs must have licensing in all counties. Her vehicles must also be licensed in each individual county. “We have a lot of vehicles, and let’s say for instance one of my chauffeurs takes the wrong car, arrives at Miami’s airport, but doesn’t have his Miami identification, even though he is licensed,” she says. “He will be fined $1,000. On the other hand, the Avis drivers don’t need any certifications and they don’t even have AVI transponders on their vehicles.” AVIs are required on all for-hire vehicles coming in and out of Miami International. Disregard for the industry’s regulations on Avis’ behalf has been something that operators in the New York City area have pointed out for nearly a year. There have been several meetings between National Limousine Association (NLA), Black Car Assistance Corp (BCAC), LANJ, WeDriveU, Avis, and NYC Taxicab & Limousine Commission (TLC). Victor Dizengoff, BCAC executive director, has attended these meetings and says it is all a work in progress. “It’s an issue in flux right now,” he says. “Our thoughts are that if we all have to be regulated, then there’s no reason Avis can’t play the game the same way.” At press time, BCAC had lawyers involved to draft regulatory language and to urge TLC to take some action. Lefkowitz sat in on some of these meetings as well. “We’ve made it most clear that if TLC allows WeDriveU to do what it is doing, then limousine companies are going to adopt the same template and TLC would end up with no one to regulate,” Lefkowitz says. “It puts TLC between a rock and a hard place because Avis could sue for restraint of trade, but then our industry could sue if this went forward without the service meeting the same responsibilities required of limousine and black car operators.” Drivers with unknown backgrounds frightens Mike Ballard, chairman of Maryland Limousine Association (MLA). As the country’s most historic inauguration is upon us, Avis Chauffeur Drive is of course advertising in the nation’s capital to provide service during inauguration week. “There are at least 5 million people coming into D.C. on inauguration day,” says Ballard, co-owner of Hire Quality Limousine in Bel Air, Maryland. “Unknown drivers will be working this event, possibly driving politicians, and it’s our duty to say something to the regulating authority about this.” Ballard has been in contact with Maryland’s Public Service Commission (PSC). He sent his contact at the agency the Chauffeur Drive recruiting information and explained his fears. Like Lefkowitz, Ballard has mentioned the possibility of the limousine industry adopting the Chauffeur Drive template. “I told PSC if it cannot control Avis, I will write a letter to operators in Maryland saying, ‘You are now a vehicle leasing company and people can rent your chauffeurs. Scrape off your permit stickers and get regular vehicle tags.’ PSC could no longer regulate us and no longer take money from us.” Ballard has alerted local news media about this issue as well. Joanna Fridinger, MLA president, says, “This isn’t getting attention from anybody except for within our industry. The only way the public is going to be aware is through the media.” The limousine industry has high standards for its chauffeurs: intensive training, stringent insurance requirements, background checks, drug tests, and various licensing. If one can’t make it through this process, what would stop him from going to Chauffeur Drive where he doesn’t have to go through half of that and still make decent money? The chauffeur advertisements offer $15 per hour, which is appealing considering the economy. Boroday has had chauffeurs leave her company to work at Avis. “We put our chauffeurs through a two-day class, fingerprinting, background checks, and without their chauffeur ID they can’t drive, so it’s easier for them to just go to Avis,” says Boroday. Clients are also looking for a better deal. Avis is charging about $35 an hour for its Chauffeur Drive service. “We have a legislative minimum in Florida and that is way below,” says Boroday. “Businesspeople or destination management companies (DMC) are going to look at the difference between $35 and our $55 per hour and say the limousine is too much, especially once our gratuity, surcharges, and airport fees get tacked on.” While associations in the New York area and Florida have some lawyers involved, some other options can be explored to help prevent Avis from operating, says Lefkowitz. “It really has to be looked at on a state-by-state basis,” he says. In New York, the industry will need help from surrounding states to get legislative language passed. The Limousine Association of Houston acted fast and stopped Avis from operating there. Airports may also be of help, an unusual ally considering the industry’s relationship with them. San Francisco International, Sky Harbor in Phoenix, and Denver International have all come out and said the Chauffeur Drive program cannot be done there, and Atlanta Hartsville made it clear that it could not operate there. Philip Devlin, VP national operations for Cooper-Atlanta Transportation Services, says the airport has not formally gone on the record with its position, however. “The airport says it doesn’t see the value of Avis becoming involved in Chauffeur Drive because it would be a detriment to the rest of the livery industry,” Devlin says. “If we’re driven out of business it’s no good for the clients the airport is servicing.” Devlin is aware of Avis advertising for chauffeur positions in Atlanta, but says none of the jobs the program has done have been at the airport. “The airports can be our ally in this situation,” says Devlin. “There is revenue on both sides. Airports get money from rental car services and limousines, so why would they want to cut one out of that equation?” Avis Chauffeur Drive is a local problem various markets are facing, but one that will soon become a national epidemic if nothing is done. Lefkowitz says operators should not only contact state legislators to raise awareness, but also their state associations because that is who is going to pick up the ball and run with it. “If this continues,” says Lefkowitz, “the industry is on the brink of becoming obsolete.” LD

ProMedia Travel * January 9, 2009

NEW YORK CITY — A year after Avis partnered with WeDriveU to provide rent-a-chauffeur services along with rent-a-cars, the business model is coming under increasing scrutiny by limousine operators and some government regulators. Critics argue that the model allows companies to provide chauffeured services, but forgo the extensive regulations covering vehicles and drivers. Regulators in New York and Miami are reviewing the issues.

Of greater concern to the head of the National Limousine Association is that economic realities are prompting an increasing number of operators to copy the model, to the detriment of the industry, he claimed. “I think it will set us back 40 years,” said NLA president Richard P. Kane of business models that he described as circumventing regulations.

Other car rental companies also are considering the model, according to Kane and other sources.

To grow its business and revenues, The Hertz Corp. is “looking at a number of growth opportunities, chauffeur services among them, although we are not near a final decision,” according to Hertz senior vice president of corporate affairs and communications Richard Broome. Hertz already has expanded into car sharing and multi-month leases, he added.

Avis Rent A Car System in June 2007 introduced its new Avis Chauffeur Drive service, delivered through a partnership with 20-year-old California firm WeDriveU. The service allows Avis customers to hire a professional driver, at a cost of $36.80 per hour with a three-hour minimum, to drive the customer’s rental car. Avis launched the service in 10 major markets, expanded to 16 by the end of 2008 and offers it in 25 today, according to a WeDriveU spokeswoman. Avis by press time had not responded to several requests for comment.

“Using a chauffeured rental car simply involves an Avis customer adding an authorized driver to their rental agreement, an option that has been available in the car rental market for many years,” said a WeDriveU spokeswoman. “Avis Chauffeur Drive lets customers add a fully certified and insured chauffeur from WeDriveU as that authorized driver, providing greater levels of safety and comfort while minimizing risk.”
Avis and WeDriveU tout the “convenience, plus savings over limousines.”
Independent limousine operators and associations contend that the model takes advantage of legal loopholes to enable a car rental company to function as a limousine service, without the required licensing and regulation. Local and state laws typically regulate limousines, according to NLA’s Kane, who also is chairman and CEO of International Limousine Service in Washington, D.C. “My company spends more than $100,000 a year” on licensing, inspections and regulations for 120 cars in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia,” he noted. “Rental car companies don’t have that same type of regulation.”

Limousine Association of Houston president Joe L. Jordan likewise argued that the practice evades local, state and federal regulations on limousines and chauffeurs. Of most concern to Jordan is that unregulated drivers forego the background checks conducted by regulators. The WeDriveU spokeswoman responded via email that the company provides its own “five-point certification program that incorporates industry standard screening and selection services” to ensure that all chauffeurs possess a valid driver’s license and responsible motor vehicle record. The certification also includes substance-abuse testing, criminal background check and professional training.

The economic realities, Kane said, have prompted 40 to 50 licensed limousine companies to copy the Avis/WeDriveU model and separate their businesses into two companies: one that rents cars and a second that provides drivers. The trend, he said, has emerged “within the last 90 days,” as operators didn’t renew licenses as of Jan. 1, 2009. He declined to identify any of the operators but said, “Almost every operator is rethinking their model.”

Kane said his company isn’t one of them. “I want to have the ability to say we’re better than” operators who forego the regulation and licensing. NLA represents about 2,500 limo operators, but Kane said about 10,000 such companies operate throughout the United States. About 20 of his members decided to adopt the new dual-company model, he added.

“We’ve been in front of all the regulators and frankly we’ve been ignored,” Kane continued. “What we have to do is create legislation on the local level.”

But officials in both New York City and Miami-Dade County reported that they are studying the new business models and current regulations. A spokeswoman for the Miami-Dade County government said its legal team is looking at the issue and “trying to see if any regulations” have been violated.

New York Taxi & Limo Commissioner Matthew W. Daus said, “We have been looking at the Avis/WeDriveU issue and have not, to date, come to any firm conclusions about the necessity of taking specific regulatory action. We will continue to monitor the situation and communicate with our regulated industries about the issue as necessary.”

As for Kane’s concern about limo operators not renewing licenses, Daus said that “the number of black car bases licensed at the end of 2008 remained consistent, at 73, with the number at the same time the prior year, and the number of licensed luxury limousine bases increased by 21, from 145 to 166, in the same period.”

Phoenix Deputy Aviation Director Deborah Ostreicher said that the “additional service that Avis wishes to provide in partnership with WeDriveU is not permitted under their current contract with the City of Phoenix.”

Kane said the topic has emerged at various industry meetings, including a meeting this week of the New Jersey Limousine Association.

Hello Everyone:

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH:

It’s time for all of us to get together and stop Avis once and for all otherwise we can all say goodbye. Art Basel is currently in full swing in Miami Beach and every year 85% of our fleet is booked. This year our numbers are way down. Miami Beach has multiple unlicensed vehicles doing chauffeur transportation. The vehicles are not permitted to do for hire work. The drivers do not need any drivers certifications. They go in and out of the airport without any AVIs (transponders). There are other noncompliance issues but I only mentioned 3. Two weeks ago I forwarded an ad from Avis WeDriveU to Allan Shanedling and Jonna Sabroff, the President and VP of the California Limousine Association. Avis was asking for drivers in LA because they had an event in LA and needed additional drivers. My good friend Joe Jordon, President of the Houston Limousine Association also keeps me posted on current Avis issues. The Florida Limousine Association has met with county regulators but somehow Avis is still operating. My company and my colleagues are loosing our drivers to Avis. The county will not license certain drivers and as a result they now driver for Avis. What does that tell you. As President of the Florida Ground Transportation Association, I can assure you that we in the State of Florida will take action. Please keep me posted on what you all want to do and I will certainly keep you posted on what we will do. Remember the old saying “strength in unity”.

Carla Boroday
Associated Limousine Services
Miami/Fort Lauderdale/Palm Beach Florida
Telephone: 954-771-5466
Fax: 954-492-5556
cboroday@associatedlimo.com

Subject: Avis WeDriveU Targets 28 cities for takeover from Limo companies

A scourge of illegal limousine activity is sweeping the nation. AVIS rent a Car system has what they think
is a loophole in the laws and is renting luxury sedans and then “Renting” on the same contract a driver through a shill company whose only client is Avis. Avis is doing this with criminal intent to knowingly and willfully evade and violate Federal, State and Local laws and ordinances that govern for-hire vehicle activity. In most jurisdictions, transporting the public for hire requires a taxicab or limousine permit for the company, the vehicle and the driver. Avis has met none of those requirements. Avis is a large and wealthy multinational corporation. They could easily form licensed limousine services anywhere they wanted to and get the necessary permits, CDL drivers and commercial livery insurance. Avis, however, is not interested in playing by the rules. In fact they own 45% of Carey International Limos and had an option to increase that stake to 85%, but they declined it when they saw how it easy it was to operate limo services illegally. They are more interested in coming in like a thief in the night, seeing what all they can get away with before they get caught. They are reprobates and lawbreakers in the same category as drug dealers, identity thieves and child pornographers. They are the largest gypsy limo operation in America today. I wonder if someone has bothered to enlighten Avis stockholders as to the extent of Avis’ willful violation of laws and ordinances across the nation? Contrary to what they claim, the vast majority of Avis WeDriveU drivers do not have CDL’s, are not fingerprinted, FBI checked or drug tested. When WeDriveU needs extra drivers on short notice, they simply post it on Craigslist and hire whoever walks in. If you go to Avis’ own website and enter WeDriveU, you will see that they have targeted 28 cities for takeover from legitimate limousine and black car services. They are so brazen as to even put pictures of black towncars and chauffeurs with caps on their website. As has happened many times in the past, one industry attempts to take over another, comes in with low predatory pricing and then once they have put all the other players out of business, they jack up their rates. Avis is in the same boat with Worldcom, Enron and Lehman Brothers, breaking all the rules and thumbing their nose at the law. It is incumbent on all legitimate transportation providers to stringently oppose the Avis WeDriveU system whenever they appear in your area and make local regulators aware of all the rules and laws they are breaking. Schoolyard bullies will continue to run amok until someone stands up to them. That person needs to be you and the time is now.