Passenger Vehicle for Hire Board Meeting - August 6, 2026

The Passenger Vehicle for Hire (PVH) Board met on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 3:30 PM (actual start time from transcript). The meeting covered routine approvals, public comments on regulatory enforcement, and the scheduling of a public hearing for a new taxi company. Key issues included concerns about the handling of consumer complaints and the color scheme of taxis.

Consent Calendar

• New driver permits: Timps issued to Alfred Wiley (Mercury Taxi).
• Driver permit renewals: Willy Kitchens (Mercury Cab).
• Updated taxi inspections, vehicle insurance, and fees: Mercury Cab 220, New Good Taxi 911 and 901, and Uptown Taxi (new company).
• Updated tow company inspections: SNH Towing, Forge Garage, Denton's Record, RD Record, Monegro Towing, Reliable Towing, and new company North and South Towing.
• Motion to approve: All items approved unanimously (motion by [member], seconded, all ayes).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Antonio Boston (Mercury Taxi): Expressed frustration that his company had not received inspection notices and that some taxi companies were excluded from the previous round of inspections. He requested that his cars be inspected and that the process be fair.
• Mark Shackleford (Shackleford Towing, Vice President of Tennessee Tow Truck Association): Raised concerns that consumer complaints about overcharging by tow trucks were being handled informally between the inspector and the tow operator ("on the street") without being brought before the board. He argued that this lack of formal citations allows bad actors to continue. He asked whether the board could request complaint records and whether the inspector's role should be to report violations rather than adjudicate.
• Jonathan Easter (Nouga Taxi): Supported Mr. Shackleford's concerns, noting that the same pattern has occurred for years in the taxi industry. He stated that the city ordinance requires the inspector to report all complaints to the board, not resolve them alone. He noted that no recent complaints other than those tied to ongoing litigation have been brought forward.

Discussion Items

• Complaint handling process: The board and city attorney discussed the legal framework. The attorney noted that the ordinance is clear: complaints go to the inspector, who must investigate and report to the board. The board decides on penalties. Inspector Moser stated that he has two current investigations that will be brought to the next meeting. The board agreed to review the relevant ordinance section and requested that Mr. Shackleford email his complaint documentation to Bertha Lawrence for follow-up.
• Uptown Taxi application: Norman Freeman, owner of Uptown Taxi, stated that he has met all requirements (inspections, fees, insurance) and asked for next steps. The board explained that a public hearing is required. Board member Antonio Boston raised concerns about the color scheme of Uptown Taxi's vehicles (white) being similar to Mercury Taxi's, potentially causing confusion. The board agreed to address the color scheme issue at the public hearing.

Key Outcomes

• Public hearing scheduled for Uptown Taxi: Motion made and unanimously approved to set a 30-day public hearing for September 3, 2026, at 3:30 PM. The hearing will consider the need for a new taxi company and the applicant's qualifications, including the color scheme of vehicles.
• Complaint follow-up: Mr. Shackleford will email complaint documentation to Bertha Lawrence for investigation by Inspector Moser. The board will also receive a copy of the relevant ordinance section to review the complaint process.
• Adjournment: Motion carried unanimously.