The Transportation Licensing Commission on Tuesday approved a series of permit applications and changes of ownership for passenger and entertainment transportation companies, and voted to defer a review of emergency towing services to the Commission's December meeting.

The panel approved new other-passenger-vehicles-for-hire (OPVH) company applications, accepted an OPVH reapplication filed after a missed renewal, granted a vehicle/company address change and approved a corporate name change, and cleared two requests to add partners to existing permits. Commissioners also moved a separate towing-services review and a new zone application to December at the request of staff.

Why it matters: The votes maintain day-to-day operations for dozens of small transportation businesses and leave broader policy questions open. Commissioners discussed whether the Commission's rules sufficiently guard against informal transfer of permits via ownership modifications; staff told the panel that code and rule changes would require broader notice and, in some cases, Council action.

Key actions and outcomes
- Deferred: Review and investigation of Dad's Towing/Wrecker Service and the new zone application from STR Towing and Recovery LLC to the December meeting. (Motion to defer approved.)

- Approved (consent): New OPVH company applications for Nashville 24 LLC; Aziza Royal Suburban; JM Executive Transport LLC; Vera Veras Verascoo LLC (name read aloud by staff); Nashville Dive Bar Shuttle LLC; Totally Bridal On Black; and Nassib Luxury Limo. (Motion approved.)

- Approved: OPVH existing-company reapplication filed after a failure to timely renew (applicant: Kyrillos Naruse Naruse). Staff noted the paperwork was in order and that the applicant pays the original application fee rather than a renewal fee ($200 company fee; $35 per vehicle). (Motion approved.)

- Approved: OPVH request to change a company address (Ricky Duke to 4000 Hillsborough Pike). (Motion approved.)

- Approved with one abstention: OPVH request to change a company name from Levine Industry to Levine Transportation LLC. Staff said the owner remains the same and no new owner was added; one commissioner abstained, citing unfamiliarity with the Commission's decision process. (Motion approved; one abstention recorded.)

- Removed from consent and approved (after discussion): OPVH modification-of-ownership requests for Orchid Luxury Transportation (adding a partner tied to Merrill Company LLC) and for Merrell/Merrill Company LLC (adding the partner Felix Junior Dela Rosa Baloney as read into the record). Staff explained the agency's practice: when no new owner appears for background checks, the filing is treated as a modification; code requires MTLC approval and permits denial only if a reason is provided and "not unreasonably withheld." (Motion approved.)

- Approved: Entertainment-transportation (ETV) modification-of-ownership for Hell on Wheels LLC to add partner Michael Winters (owner testified that the partner will take a 10% stake and provide access to a private pickup location and operational support). The owner said the change does not transfer control (less than 50%), and called the filing an attempt to grow operational capacity. (Motion approved.)

What was not decided: Commissioners discussed whether the Commission should tighten rules to prevent the effective sale or transfer of certificates via "modify ownership" filings. Staff and legal advised that any ordinance change would require Council action and public notice; the Commission can consider rule clarifications in the interim but cannot change the code without that process.

Context and next steps: Staff reiterated the statutory limit in Metro code that prevents assignment or transfer of certificates without MTLC approval and noted that a future rulemaking or Council action could clarify required documentation (for example, adopting a requirement that entities be incorporated when adding partners). The deferred towing items will return in December for further review.

Ending: The Commission moved on to other agenda items after completing the votes; staff said they will continue work on policy clarifications and will bring rule language or recommendations back to the Commission as appropriate.