Tim Duckett, owner of Millenium Taxi Cab, told the Chattanooga Transportation Board on Thursday that there have been lots of problems with other taxi companies breaking city ordinances. He said, "Dealing with companies not complying with the ordinance, it gives them an unfair advantage."
The city ordinance he referred to states that all cab companies must operate from a 24-hour dispatch center. They are not supposed to wait at locations, he said.
Mr. Duckett said, "This is not a 'hail a taxi' environment like you would find in a large city."
He said when other cab companies let their drivers sit and wait instead of operating by dispatch, they do not have to pay the same overhead costs as those following the law.
He said, "The laws are there for a reason, and the laws need to be enforced."
Board member Manny Rico agreed. He said it was "frustrating" and that he had seen the same problems for years.
He said, "I've asked the City Council for help and they don't seem like they're interested." He said because it was an issue mostly affecting minorities, it was not getting the attention it needed.
He said he was extremely frustrated, saying, "It's a mess."
The Board agreed to review the practices of each of the five cab companies currently opperating in Chattanooga.