Q&A
Implementation and effectiveness of the for-hire vehicle license storage program
1:42:23
·
3 min
Council Member Brooks-Powers questions Commissioner Do about the for-hire vehicle license storage program, its implementation, and effectiveness.
- The long-term storage program ended in August of the previous year.
- A new short-term storage program allows licensees to put their license in storage once every 2-year renewal period for up to 90 days.
- The program aims to provide flexibility for drivers who travel abroad, have medical appointments, or other long-term commitments.
- TLC believes the 90-day period over 2 years works for most of the for-hire industry, but they're open to feedback for improvements.
- The exact number of drivers using the program monthly was not immediately available.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:42:23
And in terms of the for hire vehicle license storage program, during the COVID team pandemic, the TLC created a for hire vehicle license storage program to provide relief to license holders who could not afford to maintain their vehicles during the pandemic.
1:42:43
That program ended in August of last year.
1:42:47
The TLC has now established a short term storage program that allows a licensee to put their license in storage once every 2 year renewal period for up to 90 days.
1:42:59
Have you done a retrospective on this long term storage program?
1:43:04
And do you believe that it was successful?
1:43:06
Are there any lessons that we can learn from the implementation of the program?
1:43:11
That we can apply going forward, particularly with respect to the new short term storage program.
David Do
1:43:18
We wanted to ensure that drivers with the 90 day period to have flexibility when they travel abroad.
1:43:27
When they have medical appointments, when they have long term, you know, other commitments that they have the flexibility to put their license and storage.
1:43:39
What we did not want folks to take advantage of this program were the big leasing companies putting their vehicles into storage and not putting them on the road to ensure that drivers not only have options, for those vehicles.
1:43:53
And so that was the intent of the overall roles to ensure that drivers had access to these vehicles and not that the big leasing companies would be able to take advantage of that.
1:44:05
However, we also had the flexibility built in for our drivers so that they could put their licenses in storage.
1:44:15
And I have not heard of many cases where there have been concerns about the new storage program.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:44:23
Thank you for that.
1:44:23
And why was the decision made to limit the short term storage program to only one use per 2 years?
1:44:29
Like, what happens if there's an emergency?
1:44:32
Which we all know happens more frequently at times more than once every 2 years.
David Do
1:44:38
Yeah.
1:44:38
We believe that in a 90 day period over 2 years works for most, if not all of the for higher industry.
1:44:45
Again, I while passage of this rule, I heard some concerns, but I haven't heard additional concerns since the passage of this rule.
1:44:54
We think it strikes the right balance, but we're always welcoming more I think feedback from the community to make any program a little bit better.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:45:04
And how many drivers make use of the short term storage program each month?
1:45:09
What's the average number of licenses in storage?
David Do
1:45:14
I don't have that information right in front of me, council member.
1:45:17
I don't know if no.
1:45:18
But we'll definitely get it, and, hopefully, we can get it at this hearing so we can provide it to you.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:45:22
Thank you.
1:45:23
And so far, do you believe the short term storage program is a success?
1:45:28
Do you have any intention to expand the program or looseness requirements?
David Do
1:45:33
Like I said, we're always looking at our industry's feedback to make our programs, our roles a lot better.
1:45:42
I haven't heard a lot of pushback besides from when we passed the rule, but I'm focused on ensuring that drivers have options, especially when they're traveling abroad.
1:45:54
Or having medical appointments that take them out of service or any other way to assist our drivers in their time of need and provide more flexibility.