Las Vegas Taxi Driver Blog and Forum

RJ Letters to Editor

source link: RJ Letters to Editor

Dear Editor,

The Taxicab Authority, whose responsibility is to protect the interests of the general public, has once again proven that the only interests they are interested in protecting are those of the 16 existing cab companies. At the June meeting the TA Board approved a 25 cents per mile fuel surcharge on top of a 20 cents per mile permanent increase. Taxi fares went from $2.20 per mile to $2.65 per mile. At the time this was reasonable as gasoline was approaching $4.25 per gallon. In the order issued by the TA Board the TA Administrator, Mr. Gordon Walker, was given authority to remove the fuel surcharge if gasoline prices fell below $4.00 for 20 consecutive days. On or about July 28 the price of gasoline fell below $4.00 per gallon and has steadily fallen to where it is now at $3.50 per gallon. We are now at 60 days below $4.00 per gallon and Mr. Walker, at the request of the cab companies, has not yet removed the fuel surcharge.

Governor Gibbons has been adamant about no new taxes since taking office and during the current and ongoing state budget crisis.The Governor has vowed to veto any bill that raises taxes on businesses or individuals in these tough economic times. So where does the Governor stand on this ongoing fleecing of the public for the benefit of the existing cab companies? If the Governor has any integrity, he will fire Mr. Walker and appoint an administrator that will not bend over backwards to fulfill the wishes of the cab companies. Don’t hold your breath waiting for that to happen, as 12 of the existing cab companies donated from $5,000 - $10,000 to the Governor’s 2006 election campaign. Will Gov. Gibbons look out for the interests of the public or his friends with deep pockets?

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Barack Obama to visit Las Vegas

Please join us Wednesday, September 17th, for a rally with Barack Obama in Las Vegas, Nevada:

Change We Need Rally
with Barack Obama

The Baseball Stadium at Cashman Center
850 Las Vegas Blvd. North
Las Vegas

Wednesday, September 17th
Doors Open: 2:30 p.m.
Program Begins: 5:00 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public; tickets are not required but an RSVP is encouraged. Space is available on a first come, first served basis. Please RSVP using the form to the right.

For security reasons, do not bring bags and please limit personal items. No signs or banners permitted.

Barrack Obama for President 2008 Nevada

Obama interviewed for YouTube about Tech Issues

With the passage of the Constitutional Amendment changing Nevada’s minimum wage law, Nevada Labor Commissioner Michael Tanchek announced changes in requirements for minimum wage and overtime affecting Nevada employers.

“With the new law going into effect on November 28th, it is essential to get information concerning the changes out to employers as soon as possible,” Tanchek said.

The amendment sets up a two-tiered minimum wage system for Nevada. Employer’s who make a qualified health insurance plan available to their employees can pay a minimum wage of $5 .15 per hour.

Employers who don’t make a qualified plan available will have to pay at least $6.15 per hour. A qualified plan has to provide coverage for the employees and their dependents and the cost to the employee cannot exceed 10% of the employees gross taxable income.

The amendment increases the number of employees who are entitled to be paid minimum wage. According to Tanchek, the only exemption allowed under the new amendment is for employees who are under the age of eighteen who are employed by nonprofit organizations for after school or summer employment or employed as trainees for a period not longer than 90 days. Employers who hire employees who were previously exempt under the statutes will need to make the necessary payroll adjustments. Domestic service employees, outside salespersons, agricultural employees, taxicab and limousine drivers, and casual baby sitters will no longer be exempt from the minimum wage. In addition, the special minimum wage for severely handicapped persons with certificates issued by the Rehabilitation Division of the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation was not included among the exemptions.

“While that amendment didn’t set any minimum wage for the after school, summer employment, or trainee exemption, the federal government does have such a rate and employers will still need to follow the federal guidelines for those employees,” Tanchek said.

Another significant change resulting from the new amendment is to increase the coverage of Nevada’s daily overtime requirement. Employee’s who are paid less than one and a half times the minimum wage must be paid overtime when they work more than eight hours in a work day.

Employees who are offered a qualifying health insurance plan will be entitled to daily overtime if they make $7.725 or less per hour. However, employees who are not offered a qualifying plan will have to be paid overtime on a daily basis if their hourly rate is less than $9.225 per hour.

“Now that the minimum wage is set by the people under the Constitution rather than the Labor Commissioner under the statutes, we need to follow the Constitution,” Tanchek said.

For more information, log on to www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS- 608.html

This article was originally published in the December 2006 edition of the Las vegas Taxicab trade magazine “Trip Sheet”.

Here are most of the rules you should know about Las Vegas Taxicabs.

• Taxi drivers must obey the passenger’s directions as it relates to route taken. “Long Hauling” occurs when a taxi driver takes the least direct route without the passenger’s permission.
• Use of the I-215 tunnel ( The TUNNEL) from McCarran airport is NEVER the shortest route to ANY Las Vegas Strip hotel. It maybe quicker, but it is never shorter to use the tunnel. If your driver asks if you would like the quick route, and you agree, he is in the right to use the tunnel, otherwise you are being long hauled without consent.
• All taxicab companies are required to maintain a lost-and-found Department for items left in taxicabs. Always make note of the Cab number when using a taxi in case you leave something behind.
• All passengers must wear a seat belt while in a taxicab.
• The maximum number of passengers permitted in a Las Vegas taxicab is five (5). Many cabs cannot hold more than 4 so let your Hotel doorman know your party’s size when requesting service.
• Nevada law requires Las Vegas taxicabs to have air conditioning and heat.
• Las Vegas taxi drivers are NEVER permitted to smoke if there are passengers in the taxicab. If you want to smoke in a taxi the driver must agree. You are allowed to take your open beer or cocktail on your ride in a taxi. Passengers who marinate in perfume should not use taxis, thank you.
• Taxi passengers can only be charged the amount shown on the taxi meter. Fares must be paid in US Currency. Two cab companies in Las Vegas accept credit cards (Desert and A Cab). If using one of the other 14 companies you will need cash to pay your fare and tip.
• Taxicab passengers CANNOT be charged for the loading/unloading or transporting of their luggage. However remember we are not a moving service and if you have excessive luggage or cargo from a Trade Show, seek the assistance of multiple cabs if possible. Tip extra and you should have no issues.
• Tips or gratuities to taxi drivers in Las Vegas are optional and NOT required. However the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) by agreement with Cab Companies taxes drivers on Tips and assumes the average patron is tipping 23% of the fare. For good service on the typical ride, tip between $3 and $5 and you will never have a pissed off cabbie. Drivers depend on Tips for upwards of 50% of their income so it is very important to us. For more on tipping refer to this article  “How much to tip a cab driver?”.
• “High Flagging” occurs when a taxi driver transports a passenger without engaging the taxi meter. These side deals may seem attractive, but doing so voids vehicle insurance coverage. Thus you are making taking the Biggest Gamble of your trip by agreeing to pay the driver off the meter. Don’t do it, it is not worth it and illegal.
• It is a crime to enter a Las Vegas taxicab without sufficient funds to pay the fare. This would also mean it is illegal to use a Taxi and expect to pay the meter by obtaining funds from a friend at the end of your trip. Your driver must agree to those terms at the start of the ride. If you do not tell your driver and he does not agree to these payment terms, you are committing a crime using a taxi without funds to pay the meter in your pocket.
• A Las Vegas taxi driver may refuse service, if a passenger gives no specific address or destination, is intoxicated to the point of being sick, or the person seeking transport appears to be a potential safety risk. A driver is in the wrong to deny transport based on excuses like, “they do not go there”, or “they are waiting on a legal taxi stand for a “personal”. If you feel the driver is discriminating against you, take note of the cab number and other details and file a complaint with Taxicab Authority. Nevada Taxicab Authority enforcement personnel are on duty 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year. TA Cops are sworn officers and carry guns.
• A taxi passenger in Las Vegas must be given a completed receipt if they request one from the driver. The driver is only required to write the fare amount, date and cab number on a receipt.
• Baby seats are not required in Las Vegas taxicabs, but can be used if the passengers bring their own. It is against the Law for a child to ride in the front seat of a taxicab. Kids go in the back always.
• All Las Vegas taxis charge the same amount regardless of how many people are in the cab up to five passengers. The fare is for all. There is no by the head charges for taxis. If the taxi is being shared, the driver can reset the meter if different drop-offs result. This is unusual and parties usually work out payment and tip between themselves and the driver accepts one final commingled fare at the final destination.
• All fares originating from McCarran Airport pay an additional County Tax, currently between $1.20 and $1.80.
• For details on taxi rates refer to Las Vegas Taxi Fares.

There are approximately 7,800 licensed taxi drivers in Las Vegas. On a typical evening there are close to 2,000 taxis working Las Vegas, 95% of them working the four mile stretch known as the Strip.

There are approximately 3,100 vehicles in the Las Vegas taxi fleet. The Nevada Taxicab Authority has been in existence since 1969. TA is separate State Agency which does nothing but else but watch over the Las Vegas taxi Industry.

It’s that time of the Year again for MAGIC! one huge clothing show.Every August and February the fashion industry converges on Las Vegas for the most influential event in the business – the MAGIC Marketplace.

MAGIC International is a subsidiary of Advanstar Communications, the world’s largest and most widely recognized organizer of trade shows for the apparel industry producing the MAGIC Marketplace in Las Vegas featuring MAGIC, WWDMAGIC, MAGIC kids and Sourcing at MAGIC as well as sister shows PROJECT and POOL.

MAGIC Marketplace

Monday - Wednesday
August 25 - August 27, 2008
Sourcing begins Sunday, August 24th at 10:00 AM
Hours:  8:00 AM-6:00 PM

Las Vegas Convention Center

3150 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Las Vegas Hilton
3000 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV 89109

The MAGIC Marketplace consists of:
MAGIC
Men’s Apparel, Footwear and Accessories
Central and South Halls, Las Vegas Convention Center

WWDMAGIC
Women’s Apparel, Footwear and Accessories
North Hall, Las Vegas Convention Center & the Las Vegas Hilton

MAGIC kids
Children’s Apparel, Footwear and Accessories
North Hall, Las Vegas Convention Center

Sourcing at MAGIC
International Apparel Contract Manufacturers,
Fabric & Trim Manufacturers, and Service Providers
South Hall, First Level, Las Vegas Convention Center

The August MAGIC Convention is the first in the new 3 day format. Sister shows Project and Pool run concurrently. In addition to moving to a more efficient three-day format, this year MAGIC also implemented a number of other show improvements, including:

• Organizing three market-specific (women’s, men’s and streetwear) events on show site for targeted networking opportunities.
• Offering new exhibitor seminars in 2008 to help them maximize the MAGIC experience;
• Presenting an on-show-site new buyer seminar to help retailers navigate the show floor and introduce them to MAGIC’s retail relations team; and
• Hosting regional meet and greet events for exhibitors and retailers.
• MAGIC will continue to attract retailers with existing services that no other trade show matches, including: a strong Retail Relations team, a President’s Club and a Buyer’s Suite.

Nevada Taxicab Authority has allocated an extra 150 or so taxis to service the show.