Fall River committee recommends denial of two taxicab driver licenses after police cite convictions

At a meeting of the Fall River City Committee on Regulations, members voted to recommend denial of taxicab driver license applications for Robert Allen and David Carrero after police officials said each applicant’s criminal convictions made them unsuitable for licensing under the department’s background standards.

The recommendation matters because the committee’s actions will be forwarded to the full City Council for final action; licensing decisions affect driver livelihoods and the city’s public-safety oversight of for-hire transportation.

Deputy Chief JT Horford of the Fall River Police Department told the committee, “The reason for the denial is, the criminal history is concerning, regarding the background that we do on the licensing, so that's why it was denied.” Horford spoke during the committee’s review of Robert Allen’s application after the police chief had denied the license.

Robert Allen, the applicant, said the record considered by the committee had not changed since an earlier approval: “My record hasn't changed in 2 years.” Allen told the committee he is seeking the license to support his family, adding, “I have a 7 year old child I'm trying to help support.” He also said, “I've changed my life around. I've been clean off the drugs for over 30 years.”

Chief Whitmore, speaking for the police department’s background review, said the department’s concern focused on convictions. “It's a pretty lengthy criminal history. So I I'm not gonna go into specific dates and quantity, but I will just say that, in good faith, I could not sign an approval on it,” Whitmore said. The department indicated it could not disclose specific records in open session because of criminal-justice confidentiality.

After discussion, a committee member moved to deny Allen’s application; the motion was seconded and carried. Committee members noted that the subcommittee’s decision will be sent to the full City Council for ratification and that Allen could address the full council during public comment.

The committee then considered David Carrero’s application. Deputy Chief Horford again cited a “lengthy criminal history with convictions that would be of concern.” Carrero told the panel he had prior approvals in other years and described two convictions, one roughly 20–25 years ago and another about eight years ago. Carrero said he has driven taxis for about 10 years and has not previously had issues while driving for New Bedford-area companies: “I've driven taxis since I've been in New Bedford and never had it really had an issue.” He also said he took a plea bargain in the earlier case and completed anger-management counseling.

Committee members initially moved to approve Carrero’s application but then entertained a motion to deny. The committee carried the motion to deny on a roll call in which Councilor Kelly and Councilor Thompson recorded “yes” votes. The committee’s action was described as a recommendation to the full City Council to deny the license; committee members told both applicants they could appear before the full council during the public-input period.

Committee members clarified procedure during both items: the subcommittee makes a recommendation, and the full City Council must ratify the denial at its meeting. Committee staff told applicants that public comment begins at 6:00 p.m. and that the full City Council meeting starts at 7:00 p.m., when the council will consider the subcommittee’s recommendations.

Officials emphasized the difference between arrests and convictions in the department’s review process and said convictions were the basis for the recommendation to deny in these cases. The committee did not release detailed criminal-history records in open session, citing confidentiality and the need for appropriate releases.

The committee adjourned after referring both denials to the full City Council for final action.