Crackdown on limos creating friction

A city crackdown on so-called “gypsy” limo drivers is catching some properly licensed companies in the crossfire, executives with several luxury transportation companies claim. - Atlanta Business Journal

Atlanta city is finally cracking down on illegal limousine drivers - gypsies, who drive without proper limo licenses and insurances. The gypsies undercut legit companies in prices, willing to do the work for a little more than taxis. Legit companies have insurance to pay (which is considerable for a limo), as well as a mortgage on the limo licence, which is around $100,000 - $300,000 per car, depending on the State. By going illegal gypsies avoid costs and are able to work for far less, than the real companies. The big downside however is the poor quality of service, such as dirty interior, and NO coverage in case of an accident for the passenger.

Spy shots: Mercedes Benz S-Class limousine

Spies have captured photos of the new 2010 Mercedes Benz S-Class limousine. According to the Motor Authority: “Clearly sporting the new 2010 S-Class face, the limo spied is still in the earlier stages of testing, judging by the mismatched character line along the side of the car.”

The magazine also reports that the model is expected to use V8 and V12 engines. The limo is expected to go on sale next years, while the face lifted S Class Sedan is out of the test room soon.

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When a limousine can teach us about press censorship

For $1,375, the limousine took the director about nine miles. According to the reporter’s Friday article, a taxi would have cost $40. Beyond the price, the receipt included the director’s address and other information. - Knight Center

When the journalist spoke about it in the press conference, she was silenced and not allowed to ask another question. In addition, she is no longer permitted on other company’s press conferences in the future.

The incident happened in the movie industry, which is not as vital as politics. Journalist who ask prominent politicians hard questions are banned from future conferences to make sure the sleeping public, keeps sleeping. Its fairly easy to control perceptions - censor press conferences with safe reporters, making sure all the news establishments report the right story. On the upper level, make sure media companies only hire “safe” anchors and “journalists”, that do not ask the hard questions, and you get a pretty tight grip on perceptions of millions of people, considering that a handful of corporations own the worlds media system.

A 14-year-old Newton boy allegedly stole an unoccupied limousine undergoing repairs at a local gas station and took it for a joyride on Tuesday night, police said. - Daily Record

A resident has reported seeing a limousine run over traffic cones, after which the stretch stopped and a person ran out of it. Shortly after a 14 year old teenager has been arrested walking by close to the scene, fitting the description of the suspect. Currently he has been released to the parents, awaiting a lawsuit.

The owner of limousine has purchased it for private use and left the car for repairs and the mechanics shop. Teenager saw an opportunity for a fun ride and took advantage of the open door and keys in the ignition. The ride was not long and limo has not sustained heavy damages. Everything turned out OK, and the teenager got good memories to lack back at when he hits 20s.

The limo was registered to Joseph Luchetti, 45, of Newton, police said. Damage estimates were unavailable, but the limo was operable after the crash and was returned to the service station, police said.

Taxi companies have been caught running illegal operations in Las Vegas, hauling male passengers to strip joints and clubs that pay them money for doing so. According to a PR release by the Jay Edelson (lawyer in charge of the lawsuit):

taxi and limousine drivers demanded payments from the clubs of as much as $100 per male passenger.  If the clubs refused to pay, the  drivers would simply divert passengers to a different club.

The $100 figure is likely very inflated. My guess would be anywhere from $20 to $50 per male passenger. Nevertheless, the scheme is active and it seems to work.

What is funny is that families and females are having a much harder time catching a cab at late hour than males.

As taxi drivers prefer to pick up men who are more likely to go to strip clubs, the suit claims that families and women were snubbed by drivers and found it hard to hail a cab at  night.

The suit has been brought by Theodore Trapp as a nationwide class. There are over 2 dozen defendants, including taxi and limousine companies.

Limousine crime network busted

After a search of several weeks, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) here arrested a gang that used to rob limousine drivers of their money, valuables and cars. The gang used to focus their activity in downtown districts which reported an increased incidents of theft and the mugging of motorists. - Saudi Gazette

A group of youngers lured in limo drivers on their limos into dark valleys, beat them up and sped away on their cars.The ring was busted, and got what was coming to it.

Cops: Limo driver liquored up for prom

Seven teens headed to the Lowell Catholic High School prom Friday night watched their picture-perfect evening become a horror show thanks to an allegedly intoxicated limo driver. “Most often students and their parents hire limos because students may, historically, consume alchohol on prom night,” said Lowell police captain Randall Humphrey. “There was no indication any of these students had consumed alcohol, but the driver had. Now that’s bizarre.” - Boston Herald

Runaway limousine leaves a piece of local heritage in peril

EUREKA - Another portion of Marion County’s pioneer past hangs in danger of being lost forever after a traffic accident rendered a Civil War-era building structurally unsafe. On Mother’s Day evening, a pair of cars collided near the corner of County Road 316 and Northeast 150th Avenue, with one of the cars striking the east side of the small, venerable building. - Ocala.com

New York Wants to Make Taxis Into iPhones

In an age of being connected 24-7 on social sites such as Facebook and Twitter and devices such as the iPhone, it seems NYC wants to turn taxi rides into an online experience. Would it be so terrible for riders to look out the window instead of down at their phone? - The Raleigh Chronicle

LOL they have a very good point. Why bother spending money putting useless stuff into cabs? Or maybe its just the progress and we cant stop it. I’d still rather look out the window.. maybe because I spend too much time in front of a computer…

Limousine Hoax Fools a Few Reporters

A Moscow Times article describing President Dmitry Medvedev’s new armor-plated limousine with caterpillar tracks and “more curtains” than U.S. President Barack Obama’s limo was an April Fool’s joke. - Moscow Times

Niceeee.. Russians need more protection than the American President Russians are more violent.

Limos infringing on taxis’ turf

ABU DHABI // Limousine drivers are taking advantage of visitors to the capital and breaking hire car regulations by collecting passengers from taxi ranks.

The drivers, from the companies Al Ghazal Transport and National Transport, are only allowed to provide limo services at hotels and from Abu Dhabi International Airport or when ordered through a call centre, said Huda al Kaabi, senior communications officer for TransAD, the emirate’s regulator of transport by hire cars. - The National

I personally think regulations are extremely stupid and only stop progress allowing few greedy people to control things, but that’s just me.

It had to happen. If Hummer limousines are okay, why not an open-wheeled race car? And believe it or not, this odd-looking road rocket is street legal. We can’t wait to put on our helmets and go for a ride, hoping for a sunny day — because those raindrops must inflict a fierce sting at 300mph. - Dvice

This exotic limo is made from a real formula 1 vehicle. It was cut in half, stretched and modified to carry six passengers instead of one. With added length there should be a loss in speed, but this car still reaps amazing 300mph (482kmh).

Honor roll students get limo ride, lunch

Long County students were treated like royalty on Jan. 23 for continuing to do well on their report cards. The sixth-eighth grade students at Walker Middle School had maintained A averages in every subject through the first and second semesters of the school year. So the school had a limousine and driver pick the kids up at 11 a.m. and take them to Jesup to eat all their stomachs could hold at the Western Sizzlin lunch buffet. - coastalcourier.com

Lucky kids got to ride in a H2 white Hummer super stretch. Expenses are on school and administration hopes to inspire other kids to perform better in class if they want a free ride and a delicious lunch.

Thousands of limos traveling to D.C.

The National Limousine Association surveyed operators in the 300 mile radius of D.C. — which spans the boundaries of Connecticut, North Carolina and Ohio — and found that about 3,600 sedans and limos are driving to D.C. - Business Journal

The trade group is one of the biggest in the world, with more than 2000 members over the world. Members include limo owners, suppliers, manufacturers and limo associations.

Obama’s High-Tech Defenses: Bullet-Resistant Suit, Tank-Like Limo, and One Huge Gun

What kind of high-tech precautions were taken on inauguration day? Advanced ballistics fabrics, a truck-limo hybrid with bunker-like doors, and a trailing machine gun vehicle were among the latest defenses issued the President, in the face of at least one potential terrorist threat-alert issued to local and federal police, as reported by the AP. - Fast Company

On top of the armored limo and bulletproof vest, over 12,000 police officers, swat soldiers, and secret service agents patrolled the streets and kept a close eye on crowds for potential threats. Crowd numbered at over a million people, so the numbers were a little off balance.

Fire destroyed stretch limo

INVESTIGATIONS are continuing into a fire at Belford on Sunday which destroyed a stretch limousine hire car. Two teams of firefighters managed to stop the flames spreading to a number of other vehicles, kept in a compound on Station Road, although a similar vehicle sustained some damage in the blaze. - Berwick Advertiser

There are no details on the colour of the car, model or company that drove the vehicle. Everyone is OK though, which is the best news we can hear.

President-elect Barack Obama may inherit his predecessors’ wars, deficit and address, but he will not have to ride in George W. Bush’s car. The Detroit News reports during the inauguration, Obama will cruise down Pennsylvania Avenue in an armoured 2009 Cadillac Presidential Limousine.  - NPR

The Cadillac is made by GM and has been in the making for several months. It is covered by armour from top to bottom, with no weak spots. It is literally a tank with windows disguised as a car, without the cannon. It doesn’t need a cannon, because it has thousands of canons at disposal known as the US Army. 

Authorities recover $57,000 limo stolen from Dallas storage unit

A $57,000 stretch limousine that was stolen over the weekend has been located by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department.  - Dallas News

The limo was found by Detective Michael Ortiz of the North Texas Auto Theft Task Force on Monday at 4 p.m. The downside is - limo was stripped of all electronics including audio systems, TV and media players, The damage is worth several thousands dollars, but the owner has the limo back. 

Michael Jackson to sell limo at auction

Interested in riding in Michael Jackson’s limo? How about owning it? In April it could be yours, as the King of Pop is selling a slew of his personal items, including eight to 10 of his cars, at an auction in Beverly Hills, Calif. - Auto Week

The pop star is selling 8 of his 10 cars, and getting rid of other lavish items on Apr 14 - 20 next to Beverly Hilton. Is Michael short for cash? Why would he sell his items? Looks like ressesion is getting at even the wealthiest. Press release mentions that part of the proceeds will go to the Recording Academy, but what are the real motives?

Above is the picture of the interior. One of the readers made a comment: “Where are the booster seats for his mates?” …. :)))

Limo sandwiched between two trains in West Chicago

The limo somehow ventured onto the train tracks near the crossing at Roosevelt and Kautz roads in the west suburb and about 7:30 p.m. it was struck by two trains traveling in opposite directions on separate tracks, according to West Chicago Fire Protection District Lt. Jason Day. - Beacon News

According to Sun-Times News Group, no one was injured when limo got sandwiched between two trains. Article did not mention whether limo had any passengers, but my guess it hade none.

Did the driver get stuck? Was this revenge? A suicide attempt? Drinking and driving? There are no details at this point.

Dallas Police Report: Play fight escalates into fistfight inside limo

THE COMPLAINANT WAS UNSURE HOW HE WAS CUT AND WITH WHAT TYPE OF INSTRUMENT. THE ARRESTED PERSON STATED THE COMPLAINANT THREW THE GLASS AT HIM, AND THE ARRESTED PERSON THREW IT BACK AT THE COMPLAINANT.

NEITHER THE COMPLAINANT OR ARRESTED PERSON KNEW WHAT CUT THE COMPLAINANT OR HOW. THE ARRESTED PERSON STATED THE FIGHT STARTED AS A PLAY FIGHT AND ESCALATED INTO A FIST FIGHT DUE TO THE COMPLAINANTS INTOXICATION. - Dallas News.

Twenty-six 15-year-old kids were abandoned by the limousine that they hired from My Chicago Limousine Inc. for homecoming night. - Sun TImes

Here’s how the story unfolded according to the paper. On Oct 19, a caring mother called My Chicago Limousine to book a limo bus for 25 kids 6:45 to 10:45 p.m for a total of $700 and $140 deposit. On Oct 25 she talked to the rep and got a hold of the driver by the name of Max.

Upon arrival driver was given $700 and a printout of the route. At 8:45, after a school dinner kids were told they will be picked up by another driver to be taken to a party, but that driver never arrived leaving kids out for $700 dollars.

The biggest bummer was for not the waste of money, but the fact that the kids had to work hard and nag their parents to have this special event.

My Chicago Limo had17 complaints in the last 36 months, and will eventually go out of business, as all businesses with such approach do. As for the kids, we wish we could be the ones driving them.

Be sure on the competency of our limo drivers, who will tread you like a close friend. Our culture simply does not allow our drivers to mischief. We treat them as family and they return it to us with utmost care for you, the customer.