Police commission adopts revised taxi general order after public safety comments

The Police Commission voted to adopt a revised Department General Order on taxicab regulations, described by Capt. O'Neil as largely a language cleanup rather than a substantive rewrite.

"For the most part, it was simplifying and cleaning up some of the language in it," Capt. O'Neil told commissioners, adding there were no real substantive changes to the order.

Commissioners asked about how responsibilities are divided between the department and the taxi commission as the taxicab commission takes on more administrative functions. Capt. O'Neil said administrative duties have been moving toward the taxi commission while the police department still handles violations that require peace officer status; he described efforts to retrain officers and to run joint enforcement operations with the PUC on limousine and out-of-town-cab enforcement.

A public commenter representing the taxi industry urged the commission to retain strong enforcement and education because unauthorized or out-of-town cabs can pose public-safety risks and economic harm to licensed drivers. The commission adopted the revised order without objection after Commissioner Petra de Jesus moved to adopt and Commissioner Theresa Sparks seconded.

The commission also noted ongoing steps to coordinate training and enforcement with the taxi commission, the Public Utilities Commission and district stations, and said some enforcement overtime is funded through taxi-commission resources rather than the department's general budget.