AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY

Consider an Ordinance repealing regulations pertaining to taxicabs, found in Code of Griffin, Georgia, Chapter 102, VEHICLES FOR HIRE, Article III, TAXICABS, at Sections 102-61 - 102-102. City Attorney Drew Whalen will address.

Act 195 (HB 225) of the 2015-2016 Regular Session of the General Assembly preempts all local administration and regulation of vehicles for hire, including taxicabs, and places regulation exclusively in the Department of Public Safety, effective July 1, 2015. Local governments with commercial passenger airports within their jurisdiction may still regulate fares to/from the Airport (only affects 6 jurisdictions at this time). This law is similar to the 2001 law under which cities and counties lost local regulation of limousine services to the PSC. It also picks up regulation of services such as UBER and LYFT.

Approval

The City loses the right to regulate taxicabs and the regulatory fees and charges imposed based thereon. Since taxicabs are now regulated by the DPS, any businesses located within the City now fall within a specific exemption under the Occupation Tax enabling law.