A Senate bill proposing to establish a free taxi license has lost the support of Sen. Anne Golden.
Golden had signed on as cosponsor to Sen. Donald "Ducks" Cole’s proposal to create a new Class B license that would legitimize gypsy cabs, which operate outside the regulations of the V.I. Taxi Commission.
Taxi Commission drivers must purchase medallions and meet certain requirements. Golden said a new license would undermine the medallion system.
"Why would a medallion holder continue to pay the required fees when under the Class B taxi there is no fee?" she asked.
Not enough analysis of the bill's impact on the taxi industry had been done, she said in withdrawing her support. She also noted that legislation already exists that aims to correct the gypsy cab problem.
"We do not need legislation to correct a problem that is already illegal under current regulations," she said. "What we need is enforcement from the Taxi Commission."
While gypsy cabs operate without proper licenses, they aren’t as picky about their fares as many medallioned taxi drivers. Golden said that if the Taxi Commission enforced its regulations, no person could be denied service.
Cole said he understood Golden’s position. Since the bill is still in the Government Operations Committee, with a hearing scheduled for Friday in St. Thomas, it still can be altered, he said.
The idea for a two-tiered system came out of public hearings after people in the community complained about taxi service.
"I’m happy to see the taxi situation is highlighted," Cole said. "If there is no support, there’s no support."
He said taxi regulations are either going to be enforced or not. "In the final analysis what we want is compliance and service to the community."