May 10--Hundreds of limos, shuttles, and taxi vans at Mineta San Jose International Airport were pulled over for surprise random inspections today by state authorities who examined the drivers' licenses and conducted vehicle safety checks.
Several shuttle vans were impounded in the first two and a half hours.
"We're not out here to interrupt business," said CHP spokesman Les Bishop. "We just want to make sure everyone is safe."
The CHP and the state Public Utilities Commission, which regulates passenger transportation companies, have staged the inspections routinely at various California airports. Today was the first time that the agencies had conducted one at the San Jose airport.
Inspectors for the PUC were out to ensure that the drivers had the proper commercial license as well checking to see if the vehicles had proper permits.
Operating a commercial passenger vehicle without a permit is a misdemeanor offense that carries grave implications for companies. Not only are they cited, but they are also issued a notice to correct the violations. The PUC will then audit the carrier's records and based on those findings could levy administrative citations and impose fines up to $20,000.
In addition to the PUC's examination of documents, highway patrol mechanics were looking under vehicles, checking for problems with brakes, steering mechanisms, the suspension or the frame. Depending on the severity of the mechanical problems, carriers were either given fix-it tickets or the vans were immediately taken off the road.
By 9:30 a.m., several shuttle vans had been either towed or held until their owners could pick them up because of problems with permits, the condition of the vehicles, or because the drivers did not have commercial licenses. The lack of a valid commercial drivers license resulted in citations for the driver as well as their employer, Bishop said.
San Jose police officers were randomly selecting limos, taxis and shuttles and directing them to a paved area south of Terminal C as the drivers left the airport. Drivers who were stopped were cooperative, Bishop said.
"It's no hassle," said a smiling Manjit Singh Gill, 50, who was at the wheel of a taxi van for ABC Airporter Service as a PUC inspector checked the documents on the vehicle.
Gill said the inspections would ensure the safety of the van for not himself but his passengers.
The inspections began at 7 a.m. and will end at 2 p.m.
Contact Rodney Foo at [email protected] or (408) 920-5258.
