Virginia Operators Fight TNC Bill And Unfair Tax

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — More than 50 members, speakers, guests, and industry supplier vendors attended the June 15, meeting of the Virginia Limousine Association (VLA), winner of the 2017 LCT-NLA Association Award Of  Excellence. 

As this year’s winner, the VLA was awarded $1,000 to donate to the charity of its choice. The VLA board of directors granted the money to The Doorways, a Richmond-based organization that provides temporary lodging and non-medical services to patients and families who need to be close to nearby hospitals.

Meeting highlights included updates on legislative and regulatory issues, including a recently passed bill that removes the requirement a transportation network company (TNC) partner register his personal vehicle for use as a TNC partner vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles. The bill allows the Department of State Police to recognize another state’s annual motor vehicle safety inspection in lieu of a Virginia inspection, and clarifies a TNC partner can keep proof of inspection in or on the vehicle.

VLA President Paul Walsh (Superior Executive Transportation, Virginia Beach) said the bill was quickly pushed through the Legislature during its final 2016 session in December and put into effect in April.

“We’re going to fight to have it repealed because this bill was rammed through the legislature with very little discussion. Now, TNCs, which are having a hard time finding drivers, can hire anybody from another state because they don’t have to register in Virginia.”

Further, Walsh said the association is also fighting for relief from the state’s annual business personal property tax on vehicles  because the TNCs only have to pay 20%, while private transportation companies have to pay 100%. “We’re paying 80% more per vehicle than the TNCs and that’s not fair,” Walsh said.

The meeting’s keynote speaker was NLA President Gary Buffo, who updated members on the annual Day On Hhe Hill events that took place June 13-14 in Washington, D.C., and also explained the various initiatives the NLA was working on, as well as new products and services offered to NLA members.

Keywords

Gary Buffo   limo associations   Lyft   Paul Walsh   regulatory enforcement   state regulations   TNCs   Uber   Virginia Limousine Association   Virginia operators   VLA   

 

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