Taxi Advisory Council To Discuss 5% Credit Card Fees, Monday, July 11, 2011. By John Han.

A portion of the 5% credit card charges that drivers now
pay includes costs for purchasing, installing and
maintaining rear seat Passenger Information Monitors (PIMs).  

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO SAN FRANCISCO'S TAXI INDUSTRY:

On Monday, July 11, 2011, the SFMTA Taxi Advisory Council (TAC) is expected to discuss whether to continue with 5% credit card fees or lower them to 3%, or whether to have credit card fees at all.  As you may be aware, the credit card fee rate is set at a higher 5% in order to include paying the costs to install and maintain rear seat Passenger Information Monitors (PIMs) that are now being installed in taxis.

Public comment will be available at this meeting.

This is an opportunity for drivers to tell the TAC, and the deputy director of SFMTA Taxi Services, Christiane Hayashi, whether or not drivers want to have rear seat PIMs operating in their taxicabs, and whether rates should be set at 5%.

The Taxi Advisory Council was formed by the SFMTA to provide “diverse representation from all segments of the San Francisco taxi industry to monitor the implementation of the Taxi Medallion Sales Pilot Program and advise the Board on long-term reform.” (SFMTA)  The 15-member Advisory Council is made up of:

·          three representatives from the largest three companies: Yellow, Luxor and DeSoto,

·          three representatives from smaller companies,

·          three medallion holders not employed by a company,

·          three drivers on the waiting list, and 

.     three drivers not on the waiting list.

The TAC meets every 2^nd and 4^th Monday of each month.  Meetings begin at 1pm and usually go on until 4-5pm, at One South Van Ness Avenue, Second Floor Atrium Conference Room. 

Drivers who cannot attend these meetings in person may contact the Taxi Advisory Council at (415) 701-5433, Voice (415) 701-5437, Email:  sftaxi@sfmta.com