CPUC Investigations Result in Enforcement Actions and Fines Imposed on Limousines, Shuttles, and Bus Companies

SAN FRANCISCO, June 12 -- The California Public Utilities Commission issued the following news release:

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), in its ongoing commitment to consumer protection, has recently taken a number of actions to protect consumers from illegally operating passenger carriers.

During the first quarter of 2014, the CPUC took the following enforcement actions against limousine, bus, and shuttle companies for violations of the Public Utilities (PU) Code and CPUC rules and regulations, including General Orders (GO) 115-F and 157-D.

Administrative Citation

Eighteen companies were cited and fined a total of $ 39,000 for one or more of these violations:

1. Advertised a revoked permit number

2. Failed to enroll and/or pre-employment test drivers in a mandatory drug and alcohol program

3. Failed to enroll drivers in DMV Pull Notice program

4. General Order 157-D violation (failed to maintain a current equipment list, no sub-carrier agreement, or incomplete waybills)

5. Operated without a valid authority (suspended or unlicensed)

6. Operated vehicles that are not insured at the required minimum level of public liability and property damage insurance

7. Failed to properly report gross revenue earned

8. Failing to respond to consumer complaints

Companies cited:

1. Alternative Business Enterprise, Inc., dba ATLS, Los Angeles (TCP 22143)

2. Solymar Tours LLC, Los Angeles (TCP 30175)

3. Banyer Travel West, LLC, Cathedral City (TCP 25594)

4. Golden Star Express LLC, La Habra (TCP 27733)

5. Donald Wayne Franks, dba Aye Southern Style Transportation, Palm Desert (TCP 26361)

6. Liberty Launch Inc., Orange (TCP 27722)

7. Starlite Limo LLC, Sacramento (TCP 17044)

8. Nidal Issam Shurieh, dba AAA City Limo, Millbrae (TCP 28425)

9. City Sightseeing Corporation, San Francisco (TCP 21558)

10. Premiere Limousine Company, Inc., Foster City (PSG 3587)

11. Anderson Davis and Delbara Smith, dba Starquest Limo Bus, Berkeley (unlicensed)

12. Cabanas Express LLC, El Monte (PSC 26634)

13. Brenda Saunders, dba A Car 4 Kids (PSC/TCP 16609)

14. Jammin International Inc., dba Limozone, Orange (TCP 19124)

15. Luxe Transportation Company LLC, San Diego (TCP 28472)

16. Naghi Eslami, dba Del Mar Shuttle, San Diego (TCP 18713)

17. Stealth Limousine Service Inc., Los Angeles (TCP21795)

18. Andres Lara, dba Ace Tours, National City (TCP 19884)

Criminal Actions

Jesus Beltran, dba Lorena's Limousine, Oxnard, (TCP 22340 Revoked): The Ventura County District Attorney's Office filed a misdemeanor complaint for violations of PU Code, which included operating and advertising after revocation of CPUC authority. The comapny pled guilty to operating after revocation of authority. The comapny is subject to penalty of $500, 12 months of probation, and court fees and fines totaling $908.

Phone Disconnections

As part of its ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal transportation companies, the CPUC had telephone service shut off to charter party carriers operating in California without authority. These companies continued to advertise and hold themselves out to engage in the business of transporting passenger, notwithstanding CPUC staff directives to immediately cease and desist unlawful acts and to obtain a transportation charter party permit:

1) Johnny Gutierrez, dba Shindigs/A Party Bus for You, Fresno (Unlicensed): This company advertised and offered transportation services on the Internet and Fresno/Clovis Yellow Pages. Notwithstanding CPUC staff Cease and Desist letters directing the company to immediately cease all unlawful advertisements and operations, the company continued to violate the law. On January 9, 2014, CPUC staff obtained a Finding of Probable Cause signed by a Fresno County Superior Court judge ordering the disconnection of telephone service to the number advertised and used by the company to violate criminal laws in California.

2) Steve Du, dba Pick up & Drop Off Service (Unlicensed): This company advertised and offered transportation services without a permit. The advertisement listed a phone number. Notwithstanding a CPUC staff Cease and Desist letter directing the company to immediately cease all unlawful advertisement and operations, the company continued to violate the law. On March 5, 2014, CPUC staff obtained a Finding of Probable Cause signed by an Orange County Superior Court judge ordering the disconnection of telephone service to the number advertised and used by the company to violate criminal laws in California.

Enforcement Actions at Los Angeles World Airport (LAWA):

Number of citations issued by LAWA police (unlicensed operations only) - 27

Number of vehicles impounded - 22

Refunds and Settlement Claims

Five companies agreed to refund money to consumers for service related complaints:

1. Roaming With Roman, Inc., San Diego (TCP23503)

2. Supershuttle Sacramento (TCP15260)

3. 24-7 Ride 25014, Santa Ana (TCP 25014)

4. Rideshare Port Management LLC, Inglewood (TCP 11415)

5. Greyhound Lines, Inc. 1, Cincinnati, OH (TCP 001)

6. Carrillo Holdings, Inc., dba Platinum Express Limo, Garden Grove

7. First Class Transportation SVC LLC, dba Prime Time Shuttle, Inglewood

8. Social Trends, Inc., dba Social Limousine, Burlingame

Cease and Desist Notices

Twenty-eight companies were issued a Cease and Desist notice for the violation of operating and/or advertising without a valid charter-party authority (unlicensed, suspended, revoked, denied, or expired):

1. Vargas Transportation LLC, San Diego (TCP 28385)

2. Mary Yslas, dba Saturn Limousine Services LLC, Peyton, Colorado (TCP 20260)

3. Deandre Montgomery, dba A Better Way to Party Bus, Stockton (Unlicensed)

4. Leones Tours LLC, Santa Ana (TCP 26019)

5. Luxe Transportation Company LLC, San Diego (TCP 28472)

6. Alex Bermudez, dba AB Limousine, San Francisco (TCP 8799)

7. Cabanas Xpress LLC, dba Cabanas Xpress, El Monte (PSC 26634)

8. Brasher's Sacramento Auto Auction, Rio Linda (Unlicensed)

9. Chapin-Tolley-Brown Enterprises, Inc., dba Child Shuttle, Anaheim (PSC 13064)

10. Gustavo Medina, dba Golden Star Limo, Anaheim (Unlicensed)

11. Cotijas Transportation LLC, El Monte (PSC 24807)

12. Reginald Rumagui, dba Golden State Limo and Preferred Image Limousine, El Dorado (TCP 31655)

13. Carlos Alberto Baez, dba Elite by C Baez, National City (TCP 22706)

14. Southern California Dune Tours, Brawley (Unlicensed)

15. Christopher Demetrius Pselos, dba Integrity Transportation Service, Temecula (TCP 31822)

16. Blessed Transportation, Inc., Moreno Valley (TCP 19913)

17. Elite Group Limousines, Costa Mesa (Unlicensed)

18. Angelica Espindola, dba A & E Concierge Service, Aliso Viejo (Unlicensed).

19. Fox Express LLC, Lynwood (PSC 21536)

20. Golden Star Express LLC, La Habra (PSC 27733)

21. Solymar Tours LLC, Los Angeles (TCP 30175)

22. Beyenne Awet and Abraham Yosief, dba City Captain Limo, San Diego (TCP 25038)

23. Numero Uno Shuttle Inc., Calexico (TCP 9917)

24. Benjamin Epstein, dba Finest City Transportation, San Diego (TCP 12307).

25. ABC Charter Services LLC, Calexico (TCP 19977)

26. Andrew Spinoso, dba San Diego Hot Limos, San Diego (TCP 26628).

27. Ernest Eugene Wright, dba Wright Transportation, Huntington Beach (TCP 28310)

28. Lux Bus America Co., Anaheim (TCP 22650)

For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.

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