The Los Angeles City Council approved a special motion asking the Department of Transportation (DOT) to report to the Transportation Committee on enforcement against unlicensed transportation providers — often called "bandit" or "gypsy" cabs — and to examine whether temporary jitney‑type operations could provide legal alternatives during transit disruptions.

Councilmember (speaker identified in transcript as) Miskowski introduced the item and said the MTA strike had left hundreds of thousands of residents without public transit alternatives. She asked DOT to outline how it is enforcing licensing and safety standards and to consider options for short‑ and long‑term interim services.

Tom Drishler and James Lefton of DOT described enforcement challenges. Drishler said DOT enforces vehicle, insurance and driver‑background requirements and that investigators have been placed at locations during the strike to address illegal operators. He told the council investigators had been placed in harm’s way while attempting arrests where crowds had gathered to block enforcement, and cautioned that riders using unlicensed vehicles face safety and consumer‑protection risks.

DOT said it had four full‑time transportation investigators focused on unlicensed operator enforcement and had recently hired clerical staff to free five more investigators for fieldwork, but that the number of illegal operators — "hundreds" or potentially 400–500 — overwhelmed current enforcement capacity.

James Lefton described DOT transit operations being expanded where possible (later hours for DASH, Sunday service, commuter express adjustments) and noted past strike responses (1994) where MTA used administrative staff and private contractors to increase service; he said those measures were not fully available this strike and that the department needed to consider new strategies for legal temporary services.

Councilmember Mark Ridley‑Thomas and others argued the council should not abandon enforcement because illegal operations reduce city revenue and can put riders at risk. Several members also urged DOT to work with Spanish‑language media and community groups to communicate safety guidance.

The council voted to approve the special motion; the findings and the motion each passed with recorded votes of 11 ayes.