Passenger Vehicle for Hire Board Meeting - January 8, 2026
Passenger Vehicle for Hire Board Meeting - January 8, 2026
The Passenger Vehicle for Hire Board met on January 8, 2026, at 3:30 PM. The meeting included approval of minutes, driver permit renewals, a violation case against American Tow and Recovery, and recommendations for taxi rate increases. The board also discussed an ongoing lawsuit and procedural matters.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The board approved the minutes from the previous meeting unanimously.
- Driver Permit Renewals: Inspector Moser reported zero new temporary permits issued. Three renewal requests were received from Mercury Taxi, Nuga Taxi, and AV Taxi. All fees and paperwork were confirmed paid and completed. The board approved the renewals unanimously.
Discussion Items
- Violation Case – American Tow and Recovery: Inspector Moser presented a case involving American Tow and Recovery for failing to report a non-consent tow from private property, as required by Section 35171. The incident occurred in September 2025: a vehicle was towed from a church at 3701 West Avenue on September 17, 2025, at 12:00 PM. The driver did not notify the Hamilton County 911 dispatcher within one hour. The vehicle owner, Linda Coddle, reported her car stolen after returning from out of town and later discovered it at American Tow’s lot. The ignition was broken, and the interior was rummaged. The vehicle was released without charge once the error was discovered. Attorney Dan Ripper, representing American Tow, acknowledged the violation but presented mitigating factors: the driver was terminated, remaining drivers were re-educated on notification requirements, and a new office verification process was implemented to catch future failures. The board discussed the three-strike policy and noted a prior violation in April 2023 (different nature). The board voted to issue a warning, treating this as a first offense under the notification requirement.
- Taxi Rate Increase Recommendation: Jonathan Easter of Nuga Taxi requested the board revisit a recommendation for taxi rate increases, which had been previously discussed. He noted ongoing discussions with Councilman Ron Elliott and Chris Anderson from the mayor’s office, but no response had been received. The board voted to recommend a taxi rate increase to the city council.
- Cost of Living Increase for Toll Rate: The board voted to recommend a 3% increase in the toll rate for January 2026, as previously discussed in October 2025.
- Lawsuit Between Mercury Companies: Jonathan Easter reported an oral ruling in the lawsuit between Mercury companies (court date December 19, 2025) but no written order yet. The board had placed the related public hearing on hold pending legal guidance. A motion was passed to add the case to the February 2026 agenda.
- Procedural Question: Mark Shacklet of Chakra Torn and Recovery asked whether the 3% increase recommendation needed to go through the city attorney’s office. The board noted that Chris Anderson had indicated the process would involve the city attorney’s office to draft an ordinance.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to approve meeting minutes passed unanimously.
- Motion to approve driver permit renewals (Mercury Taxi, Nuga Taxi, AV Taxi) passed unanimously.
- Motion to issue a warning to American Tow and Recovery for failure to report a non-consent tow (second violation overall, but treated as first under notification) passed unanimously.
- Motion to recommend a taxi rate increase to the city council passed unanimously.
- Motion to recommend a 3% cost-of-living increase for toll rates to the city council passed unanimously.
- Motion to add the Mercury CAV vs. Mercury Transportation lawsuit to the February 2026 agenda passed unanimously.
- Meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
It's 330 on January 8th, 2026. I call the passenger vehicle for higher board to order. Want to welcome everyone. Happy New Year. Want to remind everyone that the application of the Sunsign Law is in effect. Do we have a motion to approve the minutes from last meeting? I'll make a motion. All in favor say aye. Motion carries. Did you miss all that? Yeah, we weren't ready. Oh sorry. I saw the time. Yeah. The motion uh carrying to um approve the meetings from the last meeting. The minutes from the last meeting. Inspector Moser. You ready? I do 30. You ready? Okay. Under all fees and paperwork paid and completed. Uh we have I'm sorry, under um new driver permits, temporaries issued. We have zero. Uh all fees of paperwork paid and completed with zero. Uh request for driver's permits, renewals. We had three of them, uh, one for Mercury Taxi, one for Nuga Taxi, and one for AV taxi. And all the fees and paperwork were paid and completed. We have a motion to approve the request for driver permits. I'll make that motion. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Motion carries. And an old business, the something that was passed. Section 35171, non-consent towing from private property for American tow and recovery. According to orders, the tow truck operator shall notify the Chinagan Police Department of any non-consent tow of a motor vehicle from a private property. The notice required by the subsection shall be sent electronically or telephonically within one hour making the non-consent tow of a motor vehicle from private property. Shall send written confirmation of the consent tow of a motor vehicle from private property within two days if the motor vehicles not claimed by the owner of record. Or the owner of records representative. Representative has reclaimed the motor vehicle. So under that, they were cited for uh failed to report non-consent tow or vehicle from private property by electronically or telephone. They did not call in and report the vehicle to Hamlet County 911 dispatcher. And so they were cited for that. Officer Grinninger as 1227. Responded to American Tow at 1625 Shepherd Road for a dispute over a towed vehicle. Initially there was a discrepancy over where the vehicle was towed from. The victim, Linda Coddle, stated she had left her town, left town on 916 around 1900 hours, which is 7 o'clock, if you don't know. And she had parked her Hyundai Lantra, Tennessee Tag at 975 Kroll Street. And when she returned on 928, the vehicle was gone.
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