Cab operators have mixed reaction to proposal for deregulation

There’s mixed reactions from cab companies on new legislation in Madison that would remove local regulations for taxis.

On one hand, Linda Davenport, manager of Bullet Cab in La Crosse, can agree that some deregulation wouldn’t be bad in the face of the Uber and Lyft ride-sharing revolution.

“We are governed pretty closely by the city of La Crosse,” Davenport said. “Uber, Lyft came in. They’re not governed by anybody. They can basically do whatever they want. Yeah, it’s definitely not fair.”

Davenport, however, believes local police should still do background checks to insure drivers for hire are trustworthy.
Some cab operators aren’t interested in ending all regulations, like background checks. Davenport says they have to have them but changes in other regulations might be OK.

“I would welcome a few of them but not all of them,” Davenport said of lifting regulations. “Like I said, we need to have background checks on the cab drivers. There needs to be insurance in place. Accidents do happen every day.”

Other cab operators have said that it might be better to increase regulations on Uber and Lyft rather than decrease local regulations on traditional taxi services.