Las Vegas, NV -
January 03, 2013Nevada
Department of Business and Industry Director Bruce Breslow yesterday announced
the Nevada Taxicab Authority has been named the Department’s 2012 Agency of the
Year. The award was presented to
Administrator Charles Harvey and agency staff in recognition of the tremendous
strides made by the agency working toward the goal of becoming a model
regulatory agency within the State of Nevada.
“Administrator
Harvey and his staff are working to reinvent the Taxicab Authority by taking a
fresh approach to the way they do business. Through the implementation of
innovative and forward thinking initiatives, they are well positioned to tackle
the challenges of the industry” said Bruce Breslow,
Director of the Department of Business and Industry. “These new
practices will ensure that the interest of the local and tourist-based taxi
riding public is well served."
Administrator
Harvey and his management team have implemented a number of innovative and
progressive initiatives and programs to address the concerns of the taxi riding
public including ongoing targeted enforcement efforts, creation of the Problem
Solving Task Force, Uniformed Bicycle Patrol, and Taxicab Authority Specifics
Academy and putting an order in place to mitigate adverse impacts in the event
of a labor strike.
Proactive
and aggressive enforcement campaigns focused on long hauling and gypsy cab
operations continued in 2012. As a result, a total of 107 gypsy cab citations
and 612 long hauling citations were issued.
The
growing problem of gypsy cabs and clip joint operations, coupled with
long-standing issues such as long hauling and diversion prompted the creation
of a special task force to confront the more complicated, multi-faceted issues
facing the taxi industry. Several top
level investigators were reassigned to this special task force in July to lead
the efforts of this problem solving unit.
The Uniformed Bicycle Patrol
(UBP) was created in October 2012. This unit provides an advanced patrol
technique used to saturate highly congested areas where patrol vehicles have
difficulty maneuvering. The UBP was successfully utilized at several
conventions and events in 2012 and has proved to be highly effective in
conducting clandestine operations as well as those that require a rapid
response. Bicycle Patrol Investigators are required to successfully
complete a 40-hour approved law enforcement bicycle certification course.
The
Taxicab Authority Specifics Academy was developed to provide new
Compliance/Enforcement Investigators an in-depth orientation and on the job
training. During this full-time two week academy, new recruits are
provided specialty training and instruction on methods best suited for the
industry that they will help regulate. After graduation, new
Investigators are assigned to a partner for four months of on the job
training. This program was created to ensure investigators perform their
work to the highest standard.
In October, under the
potential threat of a work stoppage due to stalled contract negotiations, the
Taxicab Authority staff recommended the Taxicab Authority Board take action in
the event that service to the riding public was adversely impacted. Under the agency’s mandate of protecting the
taxi riding public and with a long-view of fostering economic recovery, the
board issued a temporary order providing the Administrator the authority to
allocate temporary medallions in the event he was notified of a formal work
stoppage. The order was reissued during
the December meeting and will be placed on the agenda for consideration at
future meetings.
Under
the leadership of Administrator Charles Harvey since May 2011, the agency has
refocused on core services, embracing a quality improvement mindset and taking
a collaborative approach to address ongoing challenges. In addition, a comprehensive review and
revision of agency policies and procedures in order to ensure efficiency and
integrity of administrative processes has been completed.
“These
collective actions have elevated the agency’s operations to provide a higher
level of service to the industry and the taxi riding public. Administrator
Harvey and his team should be commended for their efforts to think outside of
the box and to move this agency forward.
I look forward to seeing what 2013 brings for the Taxicab Authority,”
said Breslow.
“We
have worked to build a culture that empowers employees to deliver positive
results,” said Taxicab Authority Administrator
Charles Harvey. “The recognition of the Taxicab Authority as Agency of the
Year, represents a significant achievement for each of the hardworking,
dedicated professionals, and speaks to our continued success as a regulatory
agency.”
About the Department of Business &
Industry
The Nevada Department
of Business & Industry is a cabinet level agency in Nevada State
government. The mission of the Department is to protect consumers and promote
commerce. Our objective is to encourage and promote business
development and growth, and to ensure the legal operation of business in order
to protect consumers. These objectives are carried out through
maintaining a fair and competitive regulatory environment and eliminating
unnecessary and burdensome regulations when possible. In addition, Business and
Industry is committed to providing leadership for small businesses in the areas
of advocacy, navigating state government, access to capital and training.
About the Taxicab Authority
Established by the Nevada Legislature in
1969, the Taxicab Authority is mandated to provide for the safety, comfort and
convenience of the taxi riding public through the regulation of the taxicab
industry in Clark County. Today, the
agency regulates 16 taxicab companies, 3,000 taxicabs and over 9,000 permitted
drivers.
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