It is an unfortunate consequence of how most municipal governments are set up that many important issues can fall through the cracks.

If you want to get down to the dirty secrets of this industry, then ask about paying under the table, false employee status claims, claiming employees as independant contractors to avoid paying taxes and workers compensation as well as unemployment insurance.

Talk about lost money. Most operators locally pay under the table or 1099 their employees as IC’s illegaly. They are cheating the citizens of Toledo and Ohio by not paying taxes. These are the real costs that create unfair competition.

This is not a new issue and many of the so called “legal” companies that sound off about City licenses are they themselves cheating the citizens of Toledo and Ohio and putting them at risk.

Ask yourself this : would you knowingly contract a limousine service that pays its drivers under the table and does not carry workers compensation insurance ? Many people do, because they are cheaper.( although I doubt that most people have any idea they are supporting the underground economy ) Its easy to charge less when you steal $2,000 – $3,000.00 a month from the honest tax paying citizens.

Just keep this in mind. Even if the company has the legal amount of insurance, if an accident occurs across state lines, the insurance company may not cover the claim if the company does not have proper PUC and USDOT compliance. In either case, no commercial liability insurance covers the employees(drivers)in case of an accident and injury.

All of this is easy to check online through the Ohio BWC, the Ohio PUC, The USDOT(safersys.org)and Ohio Family and Job Services.(unemployment)

I think the people of Toledo would be very surprised to learn who the comapnies are that run in the underground and avoid paying the same taxes that every honest person does.

How about insurance? I would be curious to know that if I see a limo, on the street of Toledo with a Ohio plate, if they are insured or not.

A quick comment to Scott Searle who said: “The biggest problem in citing someone for violating these rules is the police have to catch them doing it,”… Um, recommend you check phone book Scott. Limo services have to advertize to make money; check the ads and then check their books.

Step 1) Send the obligatory letter of warning citing the law, the required actions of alleged violator and then the consequences if alleged violator fails to comply.

Step 2) Then go enforce the law 30 days following the letter.

I bet that Officer Bruce Simon could whip up and mail multiple form letters in a day. I don’t think that is too heavy a lift; what do ya say Officer Simon.

I would hope limo providers could not receive a license from the city if they do not present proof of minimum insurance requirements.

Seems to me failure to enforce laws places those “in the know”, or in a position of responsibility of enforcing those laws, in a situation where one might say they are liable.

Can you say law suit members/representatives of city of Toledo? I am sure an accident victim could find a first year law student willing to drag your name through the press.

Thank you Mark Hensch, Dagwoods Limousine & Limo Toledo for putting the spot light on this issue.

Be careful what you want.

We have a rogue Acting Commissioner, who seems to not hold the qualifications for the position and this could possibly add to her resume, police officer in charge of enforcing Toledo limousine and taxi codes.

“Collins said as the current chair of the Law and Criminal Justice Committee, he oversees all legislation concerning limousine law.”

And say, besides berating the rogue Acting Commissioner, is council going to take any action with regards to the “police powers” that are being misused?

Or are we going to wait for more lawsuits?