I own a small taxicab business in West Des Moines, Iowa. The actual city of Des Moines will not permit me to pick up my customers there. ( two separate cities) Des Moines itself only has one cab company ( disguised as 2 as to give the false perception of competition.) Unfortunately Des Moines is where all the big hotels are located as well as the Airport & Greyhound. The city has a ridiculous amount of rules and regulations pertaining to taxicabs. (over 35 pages) Starting with: I need to own at least 10 cabs with 8 out on the road at all time. Each cab has to be insured for 1.5 million each. (by the way, New York; taxicab capital of the world only requires $80,000 insurance policy per cab) I have to operate a 24/7 staffed facility. The local TV Media did a story on my situation. When they asked a few of the city council members why?, they actually said on film "Why shouldn't we protect our cab company from any competition?" The traffic control member said on film " We have designed this to keep fly by night cab companies out of Des Moines." Well, I'm not a fly by night Cab Company!! Over 90% of my business comes from the telephone, 24 hours a day/ seven days a week. My cabs are new and my drivers and I are English speaking/ hard working Americans. Is there any hope? I have done the research; many have stood in front of city council. None have tried fighting the city council in a court room. Des Moines has not had another taxicab company since the 1940's!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE HELP! This is an unconstitutional infringement of economic liberty, the right for individuals to earn an honest living without arbitrary government interference! Thanks!
2007-11-26 20:20:10 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Fight it. It's the mega corporations that are keeping the little guy from making it big. Greedy bast*rds want all the money for themselves.
Fight him, them. Maybe you'll win and maybe you won't, but I do believe you have a constitutional right infringement case going on here. Look for a big name lawyer and sue for monetary damages if you have to. Most lawyers in such a case will work on a win/percentage basis if they think your case is strong enough. Take it to the surpreme court if you have to.
Good luck.
2007-11-26 21:27:46 · answer #1 · answered by Top Alpha Wolf 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most cities have rules that prevent competition in taxi service, so it probably has been challenged it court before. However if you think about it you will realize the getting rid of all the rules would probably hurt you more than it would help. If anyone with a car could pick up passengers, many people would do this in their spare time to earn extra money, taking part of your business from you and drive down prices.Under these conditions most cab companies would go out of business including yours.
2007-11-26 20:52:05 · answer #2 · answered by meg 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tough situation! It's not easy to fight city hall, and it ain't cheap either! If you can find someone else in the same boat as you, perhaps you can file an antitrust suit in some class action form. Get some legal eagles involved, they may want a piece of the action.
2016-03-15 01:02:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the news stations will keep you alive with media coverage..city council will look ignorant, others will step in and possibly 'help' change their mind. Yeah, sounds like a strange kinda monopoly to me. Good luck.
2007-11-26 23:45:26 · answer #4 · answered by Christina 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you should go for it.we as english speaking american people are losing our business to forieniors .what have you got to lose?
2007-11-26 20:30:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, u can go to court
2007-11-26 20:23:27 · answer #6 · answered by GSH 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no. read "the prince" by machiavelli, and consider moving elsewhere to drive the cab, or if you can't beat it, join it.
welcome to life as we know it.
2007-11-26 20:23:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋