RSSDecember, 2011 | San Francisco Travel Blog Archive
Chauffeur Faces Fines After Buying Alcohol for Teens
A party bus chauffeur in Issaquah, WA is facing charges in connection with an incident where she purchased alcohol for underage patrons riding in her bus. The 49-year-old chauffeur, who works for an area limousine service, is facing charges in Issaquah Municipal Court for reckless endangerment and purchasing alcohol for minors. Both charges are gross misdemeanors, and, if convicted, the chauffeur could spend up to a year in prison and pay a fine up to $5,000. The owner of the party bus company that employs the woman called the violation of company rules an “isolated incident” and ensured police and parents that the woman has been terminated.
School administrators suspended nine of the Issaquah High School students on the party bus for alcohol-related infractions in connection with this incident. Administrators launched their investigation after the students arrived intoxicated for an October 22 homecoming dance.
The owner of the party bus company issued a statement after the incident was published in a local newspaper. He said, “We do not provide alcohol in any way, shape or form. We can’t even take it from their house or their apartment to the bus. They bring it to the limo or whatever, we can’t touch it. Our company policy is that we cannot touch it.”
He said that it is not uncommon for underage guests to ask chauffeurs to purchase alcohol for them to enjoy while riding on the party bus, but he said his company has strict policies against it. “This is totally against all of our policies and most other party bus companies,” he said. “It’s not tolerated and it’s an isolated incident that’s going to be dealt with accordingly. Buying alcohol is absolutely no. That is for anybody.”
That statement pretty much sums up our position on buying alcohol for minors as well. We don’t do it under any circumstances. Ever. We want our underage guests to have a great time when they rent our San Francisco party buses and limos for proms, homecomings, concerts and other special events, but we will not allow them to drink alcohol or use any other illegal substances while under our care. Their safety is too important to us. It’s that simple. If you are underage and need a Bay Area limousine or party bus for an upcoming event or you’re a parent looking for an ethical limo service to transport your kids, you can rely on NLS Limo to get your loved ones to and from their destination in safety and comfort. For more information about our alcohol policy for minors and to reserve a limo or party bus for an upcoming event, please call us today at 1-800-339-8936.
Man Suffers Injuries When He Falls From California Party Bus
A man fell out of an unlocked door on a party bus recently and suffered serious injuries while enjoying a Halloween outing with friends. According to the investigation, which is still underway, the man fell from the party bus while it was traveling on Interstate 15 just south of Indian Truck Trail near Lake Elsinore. California Highway Patrol officers say the party bus was traveling in the far right lane when the inebriated passenger fell through the door and landed on the roadway. When he realized that one of his passengers had fallen from the party bus, the chauffeur immediately stopped the bus, called 911 and did what he could to help the injured passenger. The injured man was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment for undisclosed injuries.
Here at NLS Limo, we want all our guests to have a fun, wonderful and very memorable experience, but we take the safety of each of our guests very seriously. We do our best to ensure that guests have fun and are free to celebrate special occasions as long as their actions do not endanger themselves or other guests. If they observe behavior that is reckless or risky, our chauffeurs are trained to issue a stern but polite warning to the guest(s), admonishing them that if they continue the behavior, their party bus experience will be terminated and everyone returned to pick-up locations.
This is a drastic step that we have had to enforce on very few occasions. Still, we won’t hesitate to enforce this rule if we feel that it will prevent the sort of tragedy that happened to this young man recently. Our “tough love” approach to protecting our guests is part of our business philosophy and our sense of responsibility to our clients. If you’re looking for a San Francisco limousine or party bus service for an upcoming special event and prefer to do business with local, ethical businesspeople who put the safety of guests above all other considerations, please give us a call at 1-800-339-8936. We’d love to hear from you, and we love to help our guests enjoy the special moments in their lives! Call us today, and find out why we are the Bay Area’s premier limousine service.
More Details About Presidential Limo Revealed
We have written about President Obama’s new limousine in previous posts, but some new information about this very customized limo has come to light recently, and we thought our readers might appreciate a bit more information about what is affectionately known as “The Beast.” Unlike our San Francisco limos, the presidential limo is built to withstand a bomb blast and chemical attack, is bullet-proof (naturally), features a mobile office in the rear and is powered by a very thirsty 6.6-liter engine. How thirsty is The Beast? Gas mileage is estimated at slightly under eight miles to the gallon, or around seven times thirstier than a Toyota Prius.
During the planning phase of the new presidential limo, Mr. Obama had requested that the limo be a hybrid. However, the logistics of creating a hybrid limo complete with armored plate panels up to eight inches thick on the doors proved too problematic, and the President had to make a concession. During an early meeting about the limo, President Obama said, “I asked can we make these cars hybrids. Secret Service said no. Now the reason is not because Secret Service are bad guys. It’s because these cars that I’m in are like tanks.”
In addition to the armored plate, the limo also features a mixture of protective materials including high-strength steel, aluminum, ceramics, titanium and other materials that remain classified. There is an oxygen system, fire-fighting equipment, bulletproof tires, night vision cameras and other security equipment the Secret Service is loath to disclose. For weaponry, details are still sketchy, but we did learn that the limo features at least one tear gas cannon and shotguns strategically stashed in the door panels. The limo also contains an indeterminate amount of the President’s own blood in case a transfusion becomes necessary.
The Beast is a truly remarkable limousine, and we are ever on the lookout for more information about the President’s ride. If you’re looking for a fun and affordable San Francisco limo experience, we have good news for you! You don’t have to be the President to enjoy first-class service and accommodations. Simply call us at NLS Limo today at 1-800-339-8936 to make a reservation! Our Bay Area limousine may not feature any armaments, but they do feature wet bars and many other luxury amenities. Call us today to learn more about our affordable rates and your rental options.
New Experimental Limo Could Be a Glimpse of Future Luxury Transportation
A new kind of limousine recently made its debut in the Netherlands and created quite a stir for its looks, composition, low carbon footprint and luxury amenities. The new limo more closely resembles a centipede than a luxury limousine and features 16 gullwing doors that add to its unusual appearance when opened. Developed jointly by the University of Technology of Delft and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, the as-yet unnamed limo is the product of a design team that wanted to create an environmentally responsible but luxurious mode of transportation for large groups of people.
The new limousine features most of the amenities you would expect in luxury ground transportation, such as HD televisions, climate control, internet connectivity, premium audio system, room for up to 23 passengers and other creature comforts. Among the many remarkable features of this new limo are the facts that it is an electric vehicle with zero carbon dioxide emissions, yet it has a top speed of 155 mph. It features an ultra-light but very strong carbon fiber frame that supports its nearly 50-foot length, and the Lexan composite windows that comprise most of each gullwing door are also strong but quite light.
Prominent members of the new limo’s design team include the first Dutchman in space, Dr. Wubbo Ockels, an Italian designer with a Formula One racing background, Dr. Antonio Terzi, and a Dutch aerospace engineer named Joris Melkert. The production team has not yet announced whether or not they plan to produce more of these next-generation limousines, but they hinted that we might see more on the road, at least in Europe, in 2015.
Regular readers of our blog know that we are always on the lookout for the new and unusual in the luxury ground transportation world, and love to pass along information about these automotive oddities whenever we can. It might be a while before we offer a zero-emission limousine in our fleet of San Francisco limos, but we like to offer as much variety as possible to our guests! To get an idea of the Bay Area limousines we currently offer in our fleet, please browse the pages of our site, and call us at 1-800-339-8936 for more information. If you need a San Francisco limousine or party bus for an upcoming event, please give us a call at NLS Limo for rates and availability.
California Limo Driver Leads Police on Chase
California Highway Patrol officers shut down Highway 12 in Santa Rosa for a short time recently after a chauffeur driving a limousine led them and members of other law enforcement agencies on a chase that lasted at least ten miles. Officers say the pursuit began around 11:30 a.m. when the chauffeur failed to obey an order to pull his limo over. Shortly after officers ordered the 31-year-old driver to pull over, the man rolled down his window, stuck his arm out, made a fist and extended his index finger toward the sky as he sped away.
A spokesman with the Sonoma County sheriff’s office said the driver took a detour through several side streets in Kenwood in an attempt to elude officers and eventually headed back onto Highway 12, where he fled from his pursuers. Strangely, even though he refused to pull over, officers said that the driver appeared to follow all traffic laws and did not exceed the posted 65 mph speed limit on Highway 12. Eventually, officers cleared Highway 12 ahead of the chauffeur’s path and deployed spike strips to puncture the limo’s tires. A helicopter joined the pursuit, and officers watched as the driver continued to leave his left arm hanging out the window.
“He was driving with one arm out the window and his index finger extended the whole time,” one said.
The limo ran over the spike strip shortly before noon, and officers apprehended the shirtless driver. The investigation is ongoing, but officers said the chauffeur did not appear to be intoxicated. They discovered that the man lives in the limo and does not use it to transport passengers. Police did not know why the man did not pull over as ordered and had his index finger pointed skyward throughout the pursuit.
We hear a lot of strange limo stories, but they generally involve guests’ behavior in the back of a limousine rather than a chauffeur’s antics in the front of the vehicle. If you’re looking for a San Francisco limousine experience for a special event that doesn’t involve fleeing and eluding police, chauffeurs driving with one hand and other unorthodox goings-on, you’re in luck! Our chauffeurs obey all traffic laws, don’t live in our limousines and rarely get pulled over. If this is the kind of San Francisco limo experience you prefer, please give us a call at NLS Limo today at 1-800-339-8936 to make a reservation.
British Automaker Announces Debut of Super SUV Limo
Luxury British automaker Eterniti has announced that they will debut the world’s first “super sport utility vehicle limo” at the upcoming Frankfurt Auto Show. Eterniti officials say that the vehicle is entirely hand-made and they expect production to begin sometime in spring 2012. The super SUV is called the Hemera and features a limousine-style luxury cabin with electric reclining seats, a drink chiller, iPads and many other luxury appointments intended to set the automaker apart from other limo manufacturers and grow market share.
Eterniti says the Hemera is passed on the Porsche Cayenne platform and features four-wheel drive and a performance package that offers handling and road manners that more closely resemble a European coupe than a SUV. Eterniti officials are being cagey about what is under the Hemera’s hood, but they do say that this luxury SUV limo is capable of reaching speeds of 180 mph and offers incredible braking power of 620 bhp, or braking horsepower.
We do not currently offer any Eterniti luxury vehicles in our fleet of Bay Area limousines, party buses, antique vehicles and other luxury vehicles, but we do offer a wide range of SUV limos, including these:
- 16 Passenger 2007 H2 Hummer Limos
- 16 Passenger H2 Hummer Limos
- 18 Passenger 2007 H2 Hummer Limos
- 18 Passenger H2 Hummer Limos
- 20 Passenger 2007 H2 Hummer Limos
- 20 Passenger H2 Hummer Limos
- 14 Passenger Expedition
- 14 Passenger Expedition (White & Black)
- 16 Passenger Expedition
- 16 Passenger Expedition (White & Black)
- 10 Passenger Black Lincoln Navigator Limo
- 12 Passenger Black Lincoln Navigator Limo
- 12 Passenger Stretch Excursion Limo
- 14 Passenger White & Black Excursion Limo
- 14 Passenger Excursion Limo (White or Black)
- 18 Passenger White & Black Excursion Limo
- 20 Passenger Tuxedo Excursion Limo
- 22 Passenger Excursion Limo
As you can see, there are plenty of San Francisco SUV limos for our guests for weddings, bachelor/bachelorette parties, sporting events and other special occasions. The spacious interiors and higher profile of our SUV limousines also make them a great choice for sightseeing tours! For more information about our Bay Area SUV limo rates and availability, please call us at NLS Limo today at 1-800-339-8936 to speak with one of our reservation specialists. For more information on the amenities available in each model, please visit our luxury SUV limo page!
Daimler Announces Plan to Discontinue Maybach Line of Luxury Vehicles
Daimler, owner of the venerable Mercedes-Benz line of luxury automobiles and the Maybach line of ultra-luxury vehicles has announced that they will discontinue producing Maybachs sometime in 2013. Daimler revived the Maybach brand around 11 years ago in an attempt to gain market share against the undisputed leader in the ultra-luxury auto segment, Rolls-Royce. Since its debut, Maybach sales have been disappointing, and there has been widespread speculation that Daimler would have to shelve the brand due to economic losses. Daimler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche confirmed the company’s plans recently in an interview with a German newspaper, claiming that the company will focus more of its attention and resources on the Mercedes-Benz brand.
“We held extensive discussions internally about which way would promise the greatest success in the luxury segment, and we came to the conclusion that the sales chances for the Mercedes brand were better than that of Maybach. It would not be sensible to develop a successor model for the current Maybach,” Zetsche told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper.
It’s easy to forget that Daimler reintroduced Maybach after missing an opportunity to purchase Rolls-Royce and Bentley a few years ago. BMW and Volkswagen bought these automakers, respectively. Maybach limousines sold for around $1 million each, and sales over the last several years have been a disappointing 200 or so units sold annually, insufficient volume for Daimler to keep the brand in production. The automotive press had received word that Daimler was in talks with Aston Martin to collaborate on keeping the Maybach brand alive, but talks between the two automakers were not successful.
We mourn the passing of the Maybach as it is truly one of the world’s great luxury automobiles. These vehicles are beautiful pieces of machinery inside and out, and, despite the fact that very few of us will ever own one, we hate to see the clean lines and striking profiles of these cars come to an end. We don’t offer any Maybach in our fleet of San Francisco limousines and other luxury vehicles, but we do offer a wide selection of vintage Rolls-Royce limos, contemporary Mercedes-Benz sedans and other luxury vehicles. For information on each model, rates and availability, please call us at NLS Limo today at 1-800-339-8936 to speak with one of our reservation specialists.
Rolls-Royce Recalls Ghost Models Due to Overheating Problem
In a most unexpected and unlikely move from an automaker known for its superb craftsmanship and unparalleled quality, Rolls-Royce recently announced a recall of some of its 2010 Ghost models for a potential heating problem in the cooling systems. Rolls is recalling 589 Ghost models built between September 2009 and September 2010 and equipped with turbochargers due to a circuit board on an auxiliary water pump that can overheat, smolder and potentially catch fire in the engine compartment. It is very, very rare that Rolls-Royce has a problem with any component of its luxury vehicles, but Rolls told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the smallest potential for fire was enough to voluntarily issue the recall.
Rolls said that the auxiliary pump cools the turbocharger on some motors during operation and continues to operate when the car is turned off. In some Ghost models, the overheated circuit board can cause the pump to fail, creating the potential for fire as the heat builds up. Rolls admits that it has not heard of any fires due to overheating pumps but is proactively addressing the problem. Ghost owners can return their autos to the dealer to have the pump replaced for free and can contact the automaker at 877-877-3735 for more information.
We suspect that one of Rolls’ parts suppliers has some serious explaining to do, as this automaker will not look kindly on a vendor that makes the brand look bad under any circumstances. Any company wishing to do business with Rolls must endure a very thorough vetting process to ensure that their standards for quality are consistent with Rolls’ decades-long reputation for excellence.
We do not currently have any of the recalled Rolls-Royce Ghost models in our fleet of luxury vehicles, but we do offer a few vintage Rolls limousines that are in no danger of having their circuit boards recalled! These beauties from the 40s are short on electronic gadgets, but very long on style, luxury and an unmistakable sense of elegance. If you would like to rent a San Francisco vintage Rolls-Royce from our selection for a wedding, anniversary, birthday, sightseeing tour or another special occasion, please call us at NLS Limo today at 1-800-339-8936! We promise the only recalls you’ll have to endure with our antique Rolls limos will be recalling what a wonderful time you had riding in them!
Make Your San Francisco Limo Reservations for This Holiday Season!
The holiday season is fast approaching, and some of the most popular San Francisco limousines, party buses and other luxury vehicles are being reserved for what are some of the traditionally busiest dates of the year for us. Forward-thinking guests are making their reservations now to ensure that they get their first choice of limo, party bus, luxury coach, limo bus and other luxury group transportation for the following:
- Entertaining visiting friends and family
- Sightseeing tours
- Wine tours
- Sporting events
- Concerts
- Weddings
- Birthdays
- Anniversaries
- Other special occasions
While each Bay Area luxury rental is slightly different in terms of layout, color scheme, lighting and amenities, you can be sure that no matter which model you prefer, you and your friends will enjoy luxury amenities such as these:
- Flat panel TVs
- High-end audio systems
- Wet bars
- Mood lighting
- Privacy windows
- Plush, comfortable seating
- Starlight ceilings
- Other luxurious appointments to make your special occasion extra special!
Depending on which limo or party bus tickles your fancy, you can also enjoy special amenities such as stripper poles, hot tubs, moon roofs, iPod docking capabilities, dance floors, laser light shows, custom aquariums and much more!
If you’re thinking about making the holiday season extra festive with a Bay Area limousine rental, please browse the pages of our site and make a list of your preferred models. Then, give us a call at NLS Limo at 1-800-339-8936, speak with one of our reservation specialists and reserve your first choices now for the best availability. Some of the most popular models and dates are filling up quickly, so don’t delay! While we’re on the subject, we would like to wish our guests and their families a very safe and happy holiday season. Thanks for helping us enjoy another year as the premier San Francisco limousine service! It’s our pleasure to serve you, and we look forward to many more years of helping you celebrate the special moments of your lives.
Bentley Announces Next Generation of Luxury Limousine Amenities
Bentley’s flagship Mulsanne models will begin featuring some remarkable amenities in the very near future. The luxury automaker already sets the standard for handcrafted luxury cabins in all its models, but Mulsanne buyers have some very high-tech appointments to look forward to in the coming model years.
Alasdair Stewart from Bentley Motors said that the next generation of Bentley buyers is made up of multitaskers who need to be able to work while on the go. Stewart said, “Many customers use their time in the Mulsanne to keep on top of their business commitments or simply take a few moments to relax. This fully functioning concept highlights the Mulsanne’s potential to help busy executives to communicate effectively and quickly whilst traveling. As you would expect from Bentley, all these features work in harmony with the handcrafted cabin and can be displayed or hidden at the user’s discretion.”
Some of these comforts and productivity appointments include the following:
- Two electric-powered, foldable wood veneer tables, each sporting an Apple iPad and Apple Bluetooth keyboard
- Internet connectivity for the iPads and other devices via a W-LAN
- Apple Mini Mac stored in the trunk for LAN integration and easy access to expanded data storage, Bluetooth-enabled, naturally
- 15.6-inch High Definition LED dropdown monitor in roof console with DVD changer
- Lighted center console with individual armrests for spacious four-seat configuration
- Rear console equipped with iPod and iPod control panel
- Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) and audio system for integrated entertainment options
- Two USB connectors provided for the Apple system and one Apple interface connector for the iPod
- Control panel on rear console to operate picnic tables, reading lights, control HD LED screen and select video and audio options
- Armrest containing Tibaldi fountain pen and privacy telephone handset
- Bottle cooler in center console, complete with illuminated, double-glazed frosted glass door
- Apple device-controlled, multi-directional reading lights for each rear passenger
- Many other luxury appointments
That impressive list is a glimpse into the future of luxury limousine amenities, and all we can say is, “Wow!” With list prices beginning at around $300,000, it could be a while before we add a Bentley Mulsanne to our fleet of San Francisco limousines, but it won’t be long before some of these entertainment/productivity amenities are standard features in the “regular” limousine world. Indeed, many are already available in the newer Bay Area limos in our fleet. For more information on these models and their amenities, please explore the pages of our site and/or call us today at NLS Limo at 1-800-339-8936 for more information.
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Great customer service, great prices, and always a lot of fun.
I've used Nationwide 3 or 4 times now and have not once been disappointed. Great customer service, great prices, and always a lot of fun. Staff always helps me pick the best option for my group and our budget.