City of Chicago acknowledges cab driver who serves the disabled community : nominations open til Nov 21, 2012

THE 2012 TAXICAB DRIVER EXCELLENCE AWARD

The City of Chicago will award a taxicab medallion to an exemplary cab driver who serves the disabled community with a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

The City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection has launched the nomination period for the 2012 Taxicab Driver Excellence Award. The Driver Excellence Award will focus on drivers who serve the disabled community, drive wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) and provide exemplary customer service to their passengers.

The winner will receive a Chicago taxi medallion, the average market price of a medallion is $320,000. The new taxi ordinance, effective July 1st of this year, re-established the award and is part of Mayor Emanuel’s initiatives to promote and incentivize the growth of wheelchair accessible vehicles in Chicago’s taxi fleet. Through industry incentives offering a longer vehicle life for WAVs and the establishment of a wheelchair accessible fund that will supplement the purchase of WAVs in the new ordinance, the number of WAVs in Chicago has nearly doubled since ordinance passage. “Cleaner, safer and more accessible taxicabs are the Mayor’s main goals for the taxi industry in Chicago. We want to see the number of WAVs continue to grow” said BACP Commissioner Rosemary Krimbel. “Drivers that serve the disabled community are dedicated small businesses that deserve recognition and this award is one way for us to commend these model drivers.”

A nomination form is attached for your convenience and you may download a nomination form at www.cityofchicago.org/bacp

Eligible Drivers MUST:
· Hold a valid City of Chicago Public Chauffeur license.
· Be in compliance with all City laws.
· Have been driving a Chicago licensed taxicab for at least three consecutive years prior to nomination.
· Verify that they have been driving a Chicago licensed WAV Taxicab for at least 250 days within the last 12 consecutive months servicing passengers using wheelchairs at least two times for every twelve hour shift worked.

Nominations will be accepted through 12:00 PM Wednesday, November 21st, 2012 via:
· USPS: “Attn: Taxicab Driver Excellence Award”
BACP – Public Vehicle Operations Division,
2350 W. Ogden, 1st Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60608
· Email BACPPV@cityofchicago.org Subject: Attn: Taxicab Driver
Excellence Award
· By fax 312-746-9406

For questions or to join the BACP mailing list to receive industry notices and other department news, send an email to BACPPV@cityofchicago.org. Rules and Regulations governing City of Chicago licensed public vehicles and public chauffeurs are available at www.cityofchicago.org/bacp. The Municipal Code of Chicago is available at www.amlegal.com.

Public Vehicle Operations Division ● 2350 W. Ogden, First Floor, Chicago, IL 60608
BACPPV@cityofchicago.org ● 312-746-4300
www.cityofchicago.org/bacp

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