The Huffington Post 

Investigative journalism stories revealed in the Huffington Post.

Nashville transportation licensing commision admits to using police badges 

Last fall, The Huffington Post reported that the city of Nashville had begun to push new regulations that were driven by big limo companies and aimed at squashing independent competition. The small car companies fought back, filing a lawsuit to overturn the new requirements.

That’s when it got ugly...

How Big Car Services Use Legislation to Drive over competition

In June 2010 the Nashville Metropolitan City Council passed legislation raising the city’s minimum fee for limo and sedan rentals, bumping it from $25 to $45. Drivers were prohibited by law from charging less. Other new regulations forbid limo companies from using leased vehicles, require cars to be dispatched only from the place of business, compel companies to wait 15 minutes before picking up a client, and ban parking in front of hotels and bars to wait for customers. More laws that take effect in January 2012 would also require companies to replace all sedans and SUVs over seven-years-old, and all limos 10-years-old and older. Vehicles older than five years cannot enter into service...

Portland Livery Car companies: portland taxi laws crippling, don't protect customers

Instead of a taxicab across town, you could take a clean, upscale Town car for the same price. But despite car services in many cities ready to take you, new regulations designed to protect big taxi companies are preventing them from doing so...