Newly elected Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA) President William Rouse delivered a speech on rogue apps, discussing topics ranging from the locations of its classes, to elections for open positions, to rogue apps at the International Association of Transportation Regulators’ (IATR) recent conference.

In his speech, Rouse detailed key reasons why cities possess regulations regarding the private passenger transportation industry. These reasons include passenger safety, prevention of price-gouging, reducing traffic congestion on the streets by managing supply and demand, and, ultimately, environmental concerns such as city sustainability, said Rouse.

Rouse went on to state that rogue apps are threatening to de-regulate the for-hire ground-transportation industry. He added that, in terms of passenger safety, the TLPA believes that, if a company is procuring a vehicle and a driver, that company should be held accountable for its actions. If such a company is acting to transport passengers, it should also fit within the regulatory structure of the jurisdiction in which it operates, he added.

Rouse noted that the TLPA has members who spend a significant portion
of their resources to comply with local regulations. The TLPA is advocating
for fairness in the taxicab and limousine industries. If rogue apps are providing transportation, they should be compliant with these regulations, also, he said.

The TLPA has issued a media brief regarding rogue apps, and will soon
be releasing updates. The updated media brief will detail numerous legal actions facing rogue apps and identify further serious threats to passenger safety now emerging. The TLPA’s initial media press release can now
be read online, at
www.tlpa.org/docs/TLPA_RogueAppMediaBriefer_09-07-12.pdf.

For more info on the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association, please visit www.tlpa.org. LD02/13