CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. -- Concerns of an uneven playing field has left the fate of taxi regulations in the hands of Carolina Beach town council.
- Ebb Tide Taxi owner William S. Connor Jr. says his company is following regulations that other taxi companies on the island seemingly don't have to
- SunFun Rentals' golf-cart taxi services don't have the same permits and insurance policies they do
- Town council will have a public hearing and vote on these taxi regulations at their next meeting
Ebb Tide Taxi owner William S. Connor Jr. says his company is following regulations that other taxi companies on the island seemingly don't have to comply with.
"What's more upsetting is they're being allowed to do it," said Connor. "It's not something that's hidden, they're out in the open like we are."
Connor says SunFun Rentals' golf-cart taxi services don't have the same permits and insurance policies they do. Currently, taxi cabs are required to use a taximeter to charge a fare for passengers, something the SunFun Rentals isn't currently required, instead of charging passengers a flat rate of $5 per person.
"I pay out for the plate. I pay out for the insurance. We pay out for the permits, and we pay out for the taxes," said Simpson. "They're not doing that. Yeah, that's money out of our pocket."
SunFun Rentals employee Dean Embler says the company is following the regulations and requirements set out for them by the town of Carolina Beach.
"We went through the proper procedures," said Embler. "We got our golf card taxi license. We did our background checks, our drug testing, and we've been operating since July 9. The question now to put into council is whether we can continue to operate with or without a meter."
Town council will have a public hearing and vote on these taxi regulations at their next meeting on Tuesday, December 11.
CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. -- Concerns of an uneven playing field has left the fate of taxi regulations is in the hands of Carolina Beach town council.
Ebb Tide Taxi owner William S. Connor Jr. said his company is following regulations that other taxi companies on the island seemingly don't have to comply with.
"It's upsetting, it is," said Connor. "And what's more upsetting is they're being allowed to do it. It's not something that's hidden, they're out in the open like we are."
Connor said SunFun Rentals' golf-cart taxi services don't have the same permits and insurance policies they do.
Currently, taxi cabs are required to used a taximeter to charge a fare for passengers, something the SunFun Rentals isn't currently required to used - charging passengers a flat rate of $5 per person.
"I pay out for the plate. I pay out for the insurance. We pay out for the permits, and we pay out for the taxes," said Simpson. "They're not doing that. Yeah, that's money out of our pocket."
SunFun Rentals employee Dean Embler said the company is following the regulations and requirements set out for them by the town of Carolina Beach.
"We went through the proper procedures," said Embler. "We got our golf card taxi license. We did our background checks, our drug testing, and we've been operating since July 9th. And it's the question now to put into council, whether we can continue to operate with or without a meter."
Town council will have a public hearing and vote on these taxi regulations at their next meeting on Tuesday, December 11th.
CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. -- Concerns of an uneven playing field has left the fate of taxi regulations is in the hands of Carolina Beach town council.
Ebb Tide Taxi owner William S. Connor Jr. said his company is following regulations that other taxi companies on the island seemingly don't have to comply with.
"It's upsetting, it is," said Connor. "And what's more upsetting is they're being allowed to do it. It's not something that's hidden, they're out in the open like we are."
Connor said SunFun Rentals' golf-cart taxi services don't have the same permits and insurance policies they do.
Currently, taxi cabs are required to used a taximeter to charge a fare for passengers, something the SunFun Rentals isn't currently required to used - charging passengers a flat rate of $5 per person.
"I pay out for the plate. I pay out for the insurance. We pay out for the permits, and we pay out for the taxes," said Simpson. "They're not doing that. Yeah, that's money out of our pocket."
SunFun Rentals employee Dean Embler said the company is following the regulations and requirements set out for them by the town of Carolina Beach.
"We went through the proper procedures," said Embler. "We got our golf card taxi license. We did our background checks, our drug testing, and we've been operating since July 9th. And it's the question now to put into council, whether we can continue to operate with or without a meter."
Town council will have a public hearing and vote on these taxi regulations at their next meeting on Tuesday, December 11th.
