I own a small taxicab business in West Des Moines, IA (3 cabs). The actual city of Des Moines will not permit me to pick up my customers there. Des Moines itself only has one cab company. Unfortunatly Des Moines is where all the big hotels are located as well as the Airport & Greyhound. The city's reason is that I need to own at least 10 cabs, each cab has to be insured for 1.5 million each. I have to operate a 24/7 staffed facility. The local news did a story on my situation. When they asked a few of the city council members why, they actually said " it's to protect our cab company from new competition" My cabs are new, updated, english speaking/ hard working Americans. We already operate a 24 hour cab service. 90 % of our business comes in via telephone. The other 10% are flag downs. I have been in business for a year and a half. Is this an illegal monopoly? Are there any loop holes? My hands are tied! PLEASE HELP!
2007-11-26 11:19:09 · 1 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
It bites, but it's legal.
There are many areas where government makes laws not to protect the general public, but to prevent entrenched interests. The Institute for Justice (A public interest law firm I've put a link to below) has litigated a few of these cases, but not very succesfully I'm afraid.
Richard
2007-11-26 11:28:35 · answer #1 · answered by rickinnocal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋