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SAN FRANCISCO — The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) participated in four multi-agency strike force operations on passenger carriers (limousine, shuttles, tour buses) during the fourth quarter of 2011. These operations were conducted to ensure that companies are properly licensed with the  CPUC. The operations were conducted at the following locations:

San Diego Strike Force, Oct. 28, 2011: The recent rise in popularity of "party buses" has created an increased nuisance in downtown San Diego. Officers from the California Highway Patrol (CHP), San Diego Police Department (SDPD) Beach Enforcement Team, SDPD C-Squad, SDPD Northern Division JST, University of San Diego, and University of California San Diego joined CPUC staff to conduct a joint strike force from 7 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. at Mission Bay Drive. A total of 33 enforcement personnel attended. Buses (including one double-decker) and stretch limousines were directed into the De Anza parking lot for inspection. The CHP inspected 11 buses and issued seven citations. Ten buses were impounded, four for CPUC violations. The double-decker bus was impounded for operating with an expired authority and a stretch limousine for operating while its application for a permit was still pending.

San Diego International Airport, Nov. 14-15, 2011: CPUC staff, along with personnel from the CHP, San Diego County Sheriff's Department, Department of Licensing, San Diego County Weights and Measurements, and San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, conducted a two-day surprise carrier inspection of airport shuttle vans and taxicabs at the San Diego International Airport. About 60 shuttle vans were pulled over for the inspection. CPUC staff issued two misdemeanor warnings (operations with a revoked authority) and 11 Notices to Correct Violations (vehicles not registered with the CPUC, missing permit identification number on vehicle, and possible workers' compensation violations). Forty-seven had no violations noted. Six carriers may warrant further investigation to determine possible violations of workers' compensation laws and operations with a revoked operating authority.

CPUC Enforcement/Fines Against Limousine, Shuttle and Bus Companies
The CPUC, in its ongoing commitment to consumer protection, in the past few months took actions to protect consumers from illegally operating passenger carriers. During the fourth quarter of 2011, CPUC took the following enforcement actions against limousine, bus, and shuttle companies for violations of the Public Utilities Code and CPUC rules and regulations, including General Orders (GO) 115-F and 157-D.

Administrative Citations
Fifteen companies were cited and fined a total of $41,000 for one or more of these violations:
• Advertised a revoked permit number
• Engaged employees without procuring evidence of workers' compensation insurance
• Failed to enroll and/or pre-employment test drivers in a mandatory drug and alcohol program
• Failed to enroll drivers in DMV Pull Notice program
• General Order 157-D violation (failed to maintain a current equipment list, no sub-carrier agreement, or incomplete waybills)
• Operated without a valid authority (suspended or unlicensed)
• Operated vehicles that are not insured at the required minimum level of public liability and property damage insurance

Companies cited:
1. Abraham's Lincoln Limousine Inc., North Hollywood, (TCP 20401)
2. Tom A. Szarmach, Placerville (TCP 23264)
3. Arias Transportation, LLC, Sacramento (TCP 27089)
4. J&I Transportation, LLC, Riverside (TCP/PSC 16363)
5. Benito Vasquez, Los Angeles (TCP 22636)
6. Robert Amatrone, Concord (TCP 19912)
7. Martin Cortes and Francisco Ornelias, Altadena (TCP 26128)
8. Jet Car Limo, Inc., Burlingame (TCP 26370)
9. Appellation Tours, Inc., Sonoma (TCP 14726)
10. Cathleen and William Cramer, Sacramento (TCP 20857)
11. Warner Stout and Sunshine Carriers LLC, Sacramento (TCP 27311)
12. Juan Carlos Gamez and Mercedes Rodezno, Morgan Hill (TCP 24189)
13. Andrea M. Plackett & Justine S. Plackett, Santa Barbara (TCP 16049)
14. Odmilson Pereira Costa, South San Francisco (TCP 17910)
15. King Limousine Service Inc., Anaheim (TCP 20789)