Airport’s proposed taxi rules rankle many cab drivers

Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport board members this morning will consider new rules guiding the conduct of taxi drivers and other contractors, including limitations on terminal access.

The new rules include a strict dress code for drivers and requirements that they remain within 15 feet of their vehicles, except for short restroom or lunch breaks. The rules prohibit loitering in the airport lobby.

“We reviewed complaints from drivers, passengers and airport employees and tried to address issues,” said Barbara Hutchinson, the airport’s executive director. “There was a lot of input from drivers in making these regulations.”

The final draft is the result of four months of discussions and negotiations between the airport authority and some of the airport’s 42 authorized taxi providers. However, not all of the drivers are satisfied.

“I have issues with it,” said Al Kohn, who operates Wahoo Cab Co. “None of the people who are making these rules and regulations would want to work under these rules and regulations.”

The rules are a big deal to drivers, most of whom rely on airport fares for their livings. Unlike larger airports such as Richmond, the local airport has fewer fares from incoming passenger flights and those flights are often hours apart.

The down time gives drivers a lot of time to kill and the scarcity of customers fosters competition.

Cab drivers have traditionally spent their downtime in conversations, games of backgammon and sometimes disagreements. The airport authority previously has tried to rein in the drivers, from regulating the age of vehicles to limiting access to terminal facilities.

Drivers take the rules seriously because breaking them may result in fines or suspension from working at the airport.

In drafting the newest regulations, airport authorities held meetings with drivers. Drivers submitted comments and questions to the authority regarding many proposed rules and officials changed or dropped several in response, Hutchinson said.

Kohn researched many of the proposed rules, consulting with the Federal Aviation Authority, the Rutherford Institute and members of Congress on several issues. That research led the authority to propose a restrictive dress code describing what insignias may be visible and what type of clothing drivers may wear.

Among the rules is a requirement that operators stay either in the front seat or within 15 feet of their cabs. Driver must “be prepared to conduct business” when waiting in a holding area or at the taxi stand in front of the airport terminal. Drivers are limited in their interactions and are restricted in movement.

“Sometimes you can be out there for two hours without a plane coming in and if it’s freezing cold outside, where are we going to go?” Kohn said. “Ten or 12 cabs running their engines for two hours to stay warm or cool uses a lot of fuel and isn’t good for the air.”

The regulations also require drivers who visit the restrooms or lunch counter in the airport terminal to return immediately to their taxis and not stop “for any unauthorized reason.”

Drivers are concerned about a lack of lobby access and freedom of association.

“I’ve been driving a taxi in this community for 37 years and I’m concerned that means I cannot stop and greet someone and have a conversation, if I’m returning to my cab,” said Ernest Brown of Skyline Taxi. “It bothers me that I’m being told who I can talk to and that I can’t stop and speak to people I know.”

Airport officials said the rules limiting access to the airport lobby are the result of complaints that some cabbies would solicit rides “out of turn.”

“Customers expect that, if they go to the airline counter or the rental car counter, someone is there and ready for business. That’s how we want the taxis to be,” Hutchinson said. “If drivers want to spend an extended amount of time in the terminal they can park for free and come in, but they have to give up their place in line.”

Hutchinson said the rules are not designed to denigrate drivers.

“We want to ensure everyone gets a fair chance,” she said. “We’re not trying to treat them like second-class citizens.”