Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council raises bodily‑fluid cleanup fee and tour rates for vehicles‑for‑hire; debate over child fare age left unresolved
Summary
The council approved three changes recommended by the Commission on Motor Vehicles for Hire — notably a rise in the bodily‑fluid cleanup fee and increased tour rates — but members declined to adopt a change lowering the age threshold for child fares from six to four without further study.
The New Shoreham Town Council approved multiple fee changes from the Commission on Motor Vehicles for Hire, including a significant increase to the bodily‑fluid cleanup fee and higher tour rates, while pausing on lowering the child‑fare age.
The council voted to raise the fee charged to cover cleanup of bodily fluids in hired vehicles (the commission proposed an increase from $50 to $150) and to adjust tour pricing. Those items drew little dissension. Councilors noted the charge is intended to cover cleanup, insurance and other extraordinary costs.
One proposed change — lowering the age at which a passenger fare applies from six to four years old — prompted more discussion. Some councilors questioned whether younger children should be charged and asked staff to check state regulation and taxi practice elsewhere. A majority declined to adopt that change at this meeting, agreeing instead to proceed with the other fee adjustments.
Why it matters: Fees for vehicles‑for‑hire affect local livery and taxi operators, tour companies and passengers; the bodily‑fluid charge increase is designed to offset infrequent but costly cleanups and the tour‑rate adjustments align local practice with market conditions.
Implementation: The approved fee changes will be implemented by the town clerk and included in the vehicle‑for‑hire regulations; the child‑fare question will be revisited after additional research.
