July 11, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Taxicab Kickbacks Outlawed In Santa Monica:

Customers of taxi drivers and hired drivers at local businesses, such as hotels, in Santa Monica may not have known the vehicle they were accessing may have bribed someone for their business.

That will change after the city council’s meeting at Santa Monica City Hall on Sept. 27., as Santa Monica businesses may no longer accept money from hired drivers and allow them preferential access to potential customers in return.

The commonly affected businesses include hotels, night clubs, and restaurants.

A few taxi drivers pleaded with council members at the Sept. 27 meeting to end graft-like conditions at the various establishments they serve in Santa Monica. The taxi drivers alleged doormen, bellhops, or other associate accepted cash from a hired driver in order to gain access to traveling customers ahead of Santa Monica-licensed taxicabs, many of whom apparently awaited those same customers.

“When patrons of a hotel, restaurant, night club, or other business establishment need a taxicab or other vehicle-for-hire, they frequently will request the service through a doorman, bellhop, bartender or other employee of the establishment,” Taxi Franchise Program Coordinator Salvador M. Valles said.

“What the customers do not know is that in some instances the employee of the business is, in effect, selling their trip to the taxicab or other vehicle-for-hire driver in return for monetary compensation. Such practices cause business to go to the companies and drivers that are willing to pay for access to customers, instead of to those that deliver the best service.”

One taxi driver put the situation in simpler terms.

He said many honest taxi drivers, whom are licensed to operate in Santa Monica, are the victims of unfair competition, claiming corruption favoring unlicensed vehicles-for-hire.

“If you don’t pay, you get skipped (for someone who will),” Metro Cab Company driver David Foster told council members. “They (will) call in another company or someone from your company who will pay (money).”

Foster and other taxi drivers outlined a situation where taxicabs are essentially going toe-to-toe with town car-style hired drivers for customers.

At Santa Monica area hotels, for example, taxi drivers customarily line up by the main entrance area to potentially serve guests who seek transportation. When a hotel guest requests a bellhop for taxicab service to the airport, taxi drivers claim the bellhop will pass on them and instead direct the guest to a town car driver. Apparently, the town car drivers are willing to kick back some cash to the bellhops – colloquially referred to as “cookies” – for the privilege to bypass the taxicabs already waiting in front of the hotel.

Foster told council members that, at times, the situation had become rough and taxi drivers had to “run off” the town car drivers, many of whom operate as “de facto taxicabs.” There have been occasions where a taxi driver has waited in a taxi line for as much as an hour for a potential customer, only to be passed up for a town car-style driver who provided a “cookie” to the bellhop or concierge.

“I have every right to be on that property servicing the guests of Santa Monica,” Foster said. “So when the doorman excuses me and gives somebody else a ride because I don’t participate in the crime of giving the bribe, I’m being punished for doing the right thing.

“The people who are doing the wrong thing are being rewarded.”

Taxicabs must be permitted to operate in any given city; the permit allows taxi drivers to wait for customers in taxi lines, be hailed by customers walking on a sidewalk, or be set up by a bellhop or concierge to meet a hotel guest.

De facto taxicabs, or hired town car-style drivers, are not authorized to do any of the above; instead, hired drivers are generally solicited directly from individual customers.

The council hoped by passing the ordinance, regulating the taxicab space in Santa Monica would be a little easier.

“By changing the law in the ways that are recommended here tonight, we’ll be making it illegal on both sides and making this a much easier thing to enforce,” Council member Kevin McKeown said in response to the alleged kickbacks.

Prior to the passage of the ordinance, it was illegal to make the bribe, but not illegal to take the bribe.

Follow The Mirror on Twitter: twitter.com/SMMirror

Follow The Mirror on Facebook: facebook.com/SMMirror

in News
<>Related Posts

L.A. Louver Marks David Hockney’s 88th with Exhibit

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

Hockney, a British artist born in 1937, gained fame with the British Pop Art movement and later became known for...

Suspect Arrested in Shoe Retail Theft Spree Across LA County

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

During the search, police recovered two firearms and a significant quantity of merchandise The Los Angeles Police Department’s Organized Retail...

Suspect Arrested in Santa Monica Pier Arson Incidents

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

The suspect, matching video footage from an arcade, was taken into custody Santa Monica Police Department officers arrested a suspect...

SMPD Launch New Recruitment Website Amid High Vacancy Rates

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

The site features multimedia content, including day-in-the-life videos and officer profiles, highlighting the impact of serving the community The Santa...

Father-Daughter Authors to Host Book Signing to Aid Fire-Affected Women

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

Ten percent of proceeds from book and art sales will benefit the Pacific Palisades Rebuilding Fund, a nonprofit initiative created...

Metro Reports Crime Drop, Higher Rider Satisfaction, and Progress on Major Projects

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The Authority said the drop in violent incidents—down to the lowest level since May 2019—coincided with more uniformed personnel and...

Santa Monica Joins Regional Lawsuit to Halt Unconstitutional ICE Raids

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The motion to intervene seeks to ensure that Santa Monica and other plaintiff-intervenors can advocate for their residents’ rights in...

Promenade Restaurant Introduces Lunch Menu Set at $18 Per Person

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The fixed $18 price point targets commuters and those seeking a power lunch or a change of scenery The restaurant...

Santa Monica Council Votes in Support of Park-Centric Future at Airport Site

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The decision followed a contentious meeting with over 140 public speakers and more than 1,000 emails received by the council...

Housing for Health Chief Appointed to Lead Unified Homeless Services Department

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

Veteran Housing Advocate to Oversee Streamlined LA County Services The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday confirmed the...

‘Adoptapalooza’ Pet Adoption Festival Returns to Main Street This Weekend

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The free, family-friendly event aims to connect adoptable animals with new owners Green Dog Dental & Veterinary Center will host...

Virtual Town Hall to Discuss Proposed Resilient Rebuilding Authority

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The agency, to be run by political appointees, would manage permitting, development, zoning, and funding, modeled after post-disaster recoveries Los...

New Agenda Coaching: Changing Lives in LA

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Students Work Toward Applied Success with Executive Function Coaching Services The demands of daily routines and studies sometimes bear weight...

Saint Monica Prep Students Win Award for Anti-Street Racing PSA Video

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

The winning public service announcement, titled “Not Worth It,” was highlighted in a post on X by @LADOTofficial  Students from...

Anti-Drunk Driving Resolution Introduced as City Council Honors Late Palisades Teen Killed in Crash

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Levi, who was set to attend the University of Virginia this fall, was killed by a drunk driver on May...