RSSLimo News | San Francisco Travel Blog - Part 9
Officials Cut Three Limos in Half to Discourage Illegal Limousine Services
Britain’s Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) is similar to California’s Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in that both government agencies are responsible for issuing licensing and ensuring compliance with regulations to ensure transportation safety for passengers. However, it appears that both agencies have different approaches to discouraging illegal limousine services. The CPUC issues fines and publishes lists of illegal operators to protect Californians. VOSA recently sawed three limousines in half to illustrate what can happen to vehicles owned by illegal operators.
VOSA recently teamed up with a team from the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, who used a Range Rover limo, Porsche Cayenne limo and a Hummer H2 SUV limousine to gain experience with their metal cutting equipment. All three limousines were cut neatly in half, and VOSA invited local media outlets to capture the proceedings on video and help them publicize the message. You may remember a blog we wrote last year about a similar event where VOSA crushed a Ford Excursion SUV limo owned by an illegal limo service.
Neil Barlow, Head of Enforcement at VOSA, told reporters that his agency has seized vehicles destroyed to demonstrate the “dangers to the public” that illegal limousine services present.
"We don’t feel any great need to prove anything here, and I think this demonstration shows there are some issues in terms of getting passengers out of the vehicle," he explained. "It’s also about getting the message back to the industry that if they’re going to operate limousines, they need to operate within the law because I’m sure they don’t want to see this happening to their vehicles."
Here in the Bay Area, we’re fairly certain that our San Francisco limousines, SUV limos, party buses and other vehicles are safe from VOSA’s publicity stunts. Even if the CPUC wanted to stage similar events, we’d still sleep well at night as all our licenses, insurance coverage, vehicle maintenance, inspections and all other requirements are fully in compliance with state regulations. Spending the time, money and energy to ensure CPUC compliance is only one of the many things we do to ensure that all our guests have a safe, fun and very comfortable experience with us. If you’re looking for a Bay Area limousine service that puts the safety of its guests above all other considerations and has the most competitive and affordable rental rates in the area, call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936!
Bus Delays Anger Delegates at Republican Convention
Organizers of this month’s Republican National Convention in Tampa Bay received withering criticism from delegates and other attendees after numerous bus delays kept them from getting to and from area hotels. In an effort to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety around the convention site, delegates were supposed to ride buses from Tampa Bay Times Forum to nearby Raymond James Stadium, where another fleet of buses would take them to their hotels. However, communication and technical glitches combined to make one evening of the convention a nightmare for delegates, many of whom were unable to get back to their hotels until 3 a.m. the following morning.
One of the delegates was John Zajicek from Illinois, who was eager to get back to his hotel room for some rest and relaxation when he left the Forum at 11 p.m. after an evening of speeches and festivities. He and others arrived at the bus staging area, but there were no buses waiting to transport them.
"Nobody knew where they were going to catch the bus," said Zajicek. "You would ask one person one thing and go that way, and then somebody else would tell you to go the other way. There were no signs. Nothing. It took a half-hour just to get to the bus."
The Republican National Committee had reserved more than 400 buses to ferry delegates to more than 100 hotels throughout the sprawling Tampa Bay metropolitan area. Getting delegates to the convention site went smoothly without incident. However, getting them back to their hotels was another matter entirely. After that evening’s final speaker, delegates came pouring out of the arena and began wandering around the facility looking for their assigned buses. When buses eventually arrived and transported passengers to Raymond James Stadium, delegates encountered more delays as buses inched their way along a narrow two-lane road to enter the parking area. Many delegates were forced to move from bus to bus, asking drivers if their bus was designated to take them to their particular hotels.
"It was a disaster," said Karen Dove, a 55-year-old Florida delegate who didn’t get back to her room until after 3 a.m. "It got so bad that people revolted. They actually got off the bus and took a cab."
If you need to transport a large group of people to an event but don’t relish the thought of transportation delays, choose a San Francisco bus rental from us and rest easy! We are one of the Bay Area’s premier luxury coach providers and can handle groups of any size comfortably, reliably and very affordably. Our buses are immaculately clean and very comfortable, and they offer many luxury amenities to make your experience relaxing and fun. If you’re shopping around for best bus rental rates and service in the Bay Area, look no further! Just give us a call at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936 and leave the rest to us!
Vintage Mercedes-Benz Wins Best of Show at Concours d’Elegance
This year’s Concours d’Elegance auto show in Pebble Beach was a huge success, with top honors going to a 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S. The Concours is the premier event of the year in the U.S. for serious classic car owners and fans of these superb vintage automobiles. The Mercedes awarded Best of Show at this year’s event is a gray beauty with maroon trim and custom bodywork by Jacques Saoutchik, a famous French coachbuilder. This year’s event drew 220 contestants from 15 countries and 33 states, who must pass very stringent entrance requirements. Other Best of Show nominees included a 1931 Duesenberg J Derham Tourster, a 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Figoni Coupé and a 1935 Duesenberg J Gurney-Nutting Speedster.
The people who attend this annual event pay top dollar for the privilege of witnessing automotive excellence firsthand, as general admission tickets cost $250 each. The event begins at 5 a.m., with the traditional parade of vintage cars onto the 18th fairway of famed golf course Pebble Beach Golf Links. Festivities continued throughout the day, with competitions in many different automotive classes. Later that afternoon, the owner of the winning Mercedes drove through thick smoke from fireworks to claim the top prize. Prize in hand, the owner shared a brief word with the audience about what helped his classic car stand out from the competition.
“It’s the whole package,” he said. “There’s not a bad line on this car. It was the sports car, the high performance car of its era, and then Saoutchik gave it style and grace. It has power and it has beauty.”
While many attendees only spend one day at the Concours, it is actually a weeklong series of events that include shows, tours, vintage car club meetings, races featuring vintage automobiles and one of the most prestigious classic car auctions in the world. This year’s auction set a record of $262 million in sales for 1,217 different lots on the auction block. The average sale price surged to $343,968 this year, up sharply from last year’s average of $233,950. Industry analysts said that the rise in average sales reflected recent trends in the classic car market, and they expect that trend to continue for the foreseeable future.
If you love riding in classic cars but don’t have the means to buy one for yourself, we have great news! Our San Francisco classic car rentals are very affordable and let you enjoy touring the Bay Area for a fraction of the cost of owning one. If you have been thinking about renting a classic car in the Bay Area for an upcoming birthday, anniversary or other special event, just give us a call at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936 to reserve yours today!
Better Business Bureau Warns That Party Bus Scams Are on the Rise
According to a recent article from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), criminals are taking advantage of the surging popularity of party buses and defrauding customers across the country. In their article, the BBB cited a recent incident in Colorado where University of Colorado students thought they had reserved a party bus for transportation to and from a football game with archrival Colorado State. Their party bus never arrived to take them to the big game, and when they contacted the party bus rental service, the person who answered the phone told them that the bus had broken down. The person told them that they would not receive a refund for the party bus rental but if they caught a cab to the game and got a receipt, they would be reimbursed for the cab ride.
When the students told the man that they doubted the reimbursement offer and demanded a full refund for the party bus, the man refused, saying that he would not give them their money back because they had threatened him. Fortunately, the students had used a credit card to pay for the party bus and were able to cancel the charge after explaining the situation to the provider. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. The BBB warns potential party bus renters that there were problems with other party bus services in Colorado and in other areas across the country. The broken down party bus is a common excuse used by the scammers, and BBB investigators say that many of these criminals use several different business names to prolong their activities.
If you want to rent a San Francisco party bus for an upcoming special event, here are a few tips to avoid falling victim to unethical party bus operators:
- Check out the Bay Area party bus company’s rating with the Better Business Bureau.
- Go to the California Public Utilities Commission’s website at http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/puc/ to see if the operator is licensed in our state.
- Perform a web search to see what others are saying about the operator.
- Make sure the website of the company features the CPUC’s TCP number on each page, and check that against the listing on the CPUC site.
- If something looks or sounds suspicious, contact the CPUC directly. The number for their San Francisco office is 415-703-2782.
Renting a San Francisco party van should be a fun, memorable and very comfortable experience. However, as you can see, not all party bus services have the same dedication to their guests as we do. If you rent one of our party buses, we will go above and beyond to ensure that you and your friends and family have a great time and make your special occasion truly memorable. Call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936 to reserve an affordable San Francisco party bus for your event, and get ready to have a great time!
Rolls-Royce Announces Changes to Ghost Models Including Sport Coupe
Legendary luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce has been making some bold moves recently with their updated Phantom models, and it appears that more developments are in the works for Rolls-Royce motorcars. Rolls recently announced that they are updating their Ghost models as well, with an announced three different versions, one of which will be a coupe with a 600-plus horsepower engine. Rolls-Royce sold 3,538 Ghosts last year, a remarkable 31 percent increase over 2010’s sales. With the new models, they appear to be staking a larger claim on the luxury market in the coming years.
Rolls has not released many details about the upcoming changes but have said that they plan to unveil the sporty two-door Ghost models at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. The new Ghost coupe will be built to hold the road rather than glide atop it, with a lowered suspension, shorter wheelbase and sport-tuned traction control system to get drivers’ adrenaline going in tight turns. Rolls has not yet announced a price for the new Ghost models, but buyers with adequate means will surely be placing orders with their local dealers for this new roadster.
You may need deep pockets to own a Rolls-Royce, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy the classic look, feel and ride of a Rolls limousine. In addition to our San Francisco limos, party buses, limo buses and other luxury vehicles, we also rent Bay Area classic Rolls-Royce limousines for very affordable rates. These timeless classics have been lovingly restored and are very popular choices for the following:
Renting one of our Bay Area Rolls-Royce limos for friends and family is also a great gift idea for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas and other special occasions! To learn more about our affordable rates, availability and to reserve your San Francisco Rolls-Royce rental, call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936!
China Cracking Down on Unlicensed Charter Bus Companies
Chinese transportation safety officials recently announced that they are cracking down on unlicensed charter bus companies after a series of tragic bus accidents involving illegal bus services. Zhao Ruihua, deputy director of road traffic safety for the State Administration of Work Safety, told reporters assembled at a press conference that the Ministry of Transport will issue or renew charter licenses only after a careful screening process that will ensure that a bus charter company screens its drivers properly and has a good safety record. He said that bus companies that operate with forged or blank licenses and bribe officials to look the other way during inspections impede his agency’s efforts to make China’s roadways safer for everyone.
Many tour bus charter companies in China use fake charter licenses or illegally operate in provinces where they have not received licenses. Officials now say that with stepped-up enforcement, illegal charter companies will be subject to steep fines of up to ten times the value of any revenues they obtained illegally. Senior government officials forced the transportation agency to get tough on illegal operators after receiving stern criticism from the public and some media outlets after recent high-profile bus accidents.
So far this year, there have been at least 15 major bus accidents involving illegal bus charter companies that have killed more than 235 people and injured hundreds more. Many of the accident victims are tourists from other countries bringing much-needed revenue to many of China’s impoverished provinces. One transportation official said that new regulations would make it mandatory for official guides to ride on each bus. The guides would be responsible for ensuring that the bus operator was properly licensed and that all safety protocols would be observed.
Here in the Bay Area, we also gets millions of visitors from all over the world, and many tour groups enjoy the comfort and convenience of our San Francisco bus charters for sightseeing trips, airport transportation, sporting events and other destinations. If you’re looking for a Bay Area charter bus company with an exemplary safety record, outstanding customer service, clean, comfortable luxury coaches and very affordable rates, call us today at 800-339-8936. We may be named Nationwide Limousine Service, but we offer luxury tour bus rentals, limousine buses, VIP coaches and many other kinds of luxury group transportation. Call us at NLS Limo today for information about rates, availability and the many options available to you and your group.
New Hyundai Limo Focuses on Security
The Hyundai Equus, the new limousine from the Korean automaker expected to make its debut at the upcoming Moscow International Automobile Salon, features some rather unusual safety features. With their new limo, Hyundai’s marketing is targeting potential buyers in violent parts of the world. Hyundai developed the new limousine in cooperation with ArmorTech-Motors, a company that specializes in taking stock limousines from a wide range of different manufacturers and customizing them with armor panels, bullet-resistant glass and other security equipment.
The Equus is outfitted with several security features designed to withstand projectiles and explosives, such as these:
- An armored shell that protects occupants from ballistic penetration from any angle
- “Labyrinth overlaps” where the limo’s bullet-resistance glass meets body panels to protect occupants from shrapnel during bomb blasts
- Full VR7 protection compliance and ballistic certification, which indicates that the limo resists projectiles from most assault weapons
- Many other undisclosed security features
Weighing nearly 8,500 pounds, the Equus limousine needs a powerful motor capable of moving more than four tons of armored limo at getaway speeds. Hyundai reports that the limo will boast a 5.0-liter Tau V8 engine capable of producing 430 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 375 foot-pounds of torque at 5,000 rpm. All that horsepower is transferred to the rear wheels by a rugged 8-speed automatic transmission designed and built to provide rapid acceleration in case of emergency. Other safety and security equipment includes the following:
- An extra battery
- Reinforced door hinges
- Fire suppressant system for the engine compartment
- Hydraulic window lifters
- Run-flat tires
- A self-sealing fuel tank to prevent leakage and fires if penetrated
We probably won’t be adding a Hyundai Equus limo to our fleet of Bay Area limousines in the foreseeable future. We prefer to focus on rigorously screened and knowledgeable chauffeurs, properly maintained vehicles and other measures to safeguard the safety and security of our guests. If you and your friends and family need a San Francisco limo, party bus, charter bus, limo bus or other luxury ground transportation for an upcoming special event and you want to have a safe, comfortable, luxurious and very fun time, call us at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936 to reserve yours today!
City Planning to Crack Down on Illegal Limos and Parking Scofflaws to Increase Revenue
San Francisco officials, scrambling to cover an expected $17 million shortfall in the city’s Municipal Transportation Agency budget, are planning on cracking down on parking scofflaws and illegal limousine services to help balance the agency’s budget. Ed Reiskin, SFMTA director of transportation, said recently that increasing the city’s taxi medallion program fees, aggressive action on unpaid parking tickets and stepped-up enforcement on illegal San Francisco limos and town car services should help bridge the funding gap for the agency. Reiskin was quick to point out that despite prevailing public opinion that his agency was out to get car owners in the city, his agency wasn’t against all drivers, only drivers who park illegally and ignore parking tickets.
“There is always going to be a concern about that,” said Reiskin. “But everybody benefits, including motorists, when we enforce the laws that we have. We’re not anticipating these revenues from more meters or extending meter hours — it’s enforcing the rules we have.”
We fully support the city’s tougher stance against illegal San Francisco limousine and town car services and applaud any efforts that protect people from these unscrupulous operators. Regular readers of this blog know that we often pass along stories about illegal limo services here in the Bay Area and elsewhere, as we want people to know about the risks of doing business with these outfits. The vast majority of their clients do not know they are doing business with an illegal business, but they are at serious risk due to the following:
- Lack of insurance
Illegal limo services do not have required insurance coverage to protect passengers in case of an accident. Passengers injured while riding in an illegal limo could face many thousands of dollars in medical bills that they would have to pay themselves. - Unlicensed drivers
Lack of proper training, drug screening and criminal background checks is just a few of the many reasons why it is important to have a professional chauffeur from a legitimate San Francisco limo service. - Lack of safety inspections
Unlicensed operators are looking to make as much money as possible as quickly as possible and disregard safety inspections and other measures to safeguard passengers.
Every Bay Area limo, party bus, limo bus, corporate coach and other type of vehicle in our fleet is subject to regular safety inspectors to ensure that they are safe to carry passengers, and we will gladly provide proof of insurance to any of our guests. If you would like to rent a luxury vehicle for a special event from an ethical, legal and affordable San Francisco limo service that puts the safety and satisfaction of their guests above all other considerations, call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936. We look forward to hearing from you!
Smartphone Apps Could Send You to an Illegal Bay Area Limo Service
A recent article in the Sacramento Bee sheds light on a growing problem here in the Bay Area and across the country. Smartphone applications like Uber and ZoneRide that allow users to quickly find limousine service and make reservations may direct users to unethical and illegal limousine services without the user knowing that they lack proper licensing and insurance coverage. The tech companies that market these apps make little distinction between legitimate limo services and independent drivers who illegally transport passengers without required safety inspections, insurance coverage, background checks, licensing requirements and other important consumer protections.
One limousine service owner interviewed for the article made a very accurate assessment of what we and other legitimate limo companies think of these apps and the illegal operators that use them to lure unsuspecting clients.
"No one likes regulations, but we have to work under a broad set of safety requirements that have evolved over decades of operation and are intended to protect the passengers and drivers. Technology companies have recently found ways to bypass those rules, and the result is a growing number of unlicensed cars that are operating with no accountability," he said.
State transportation officials are increasingly concerned about the safety of passengers, as well as chauffeurs who may or may not know that they are driving for an illegal limo company. Officials are quick to point out that the vehicles owned by these illegal operators lack important requirements such as partitions between the passenger cabin and driver, no GPS equipment to quickly locate the limo in case of emergency, no state-issued company identification information to help customers lodge a complaint or other important customer safeguards.
Mathew W. Daus, the former commissioner of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, urged state officials that "regulators should be proactive in understanding smartphone application operations and take steps to ensure the regulatory scheme in each jurisdiction accounts for third-party transportation applications."
We could not agree more. We write often about illegal limousine services here in the Bay Area and around the country to help raise awareness about the scope of the problem and protect people from falling victim to unscrupulous drivers and operators. If you are looking for a San Francisco limousine service that follows and exceeds all California requirements for licensing, insurance coverage, vehicle maintenance and safety standards, call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936.
Study Finds Toyota Prius Preferred By Wealthy Californians
A recent study conducted by car-price-information company TrueCar.com cross-referenced tax data and auto registrations in California’s ten wealthiest zip codes and found some surprising results. The website based its research on more than 1,000 tax returns in each of the ten zip codes and found that Toyota Prius hybrids ranked very favorably with luxury Mercedes-Benz models as the most popular cars with rich buyers.
TrueCar.com analyst Kristen Andersson suggested that a new segment of the car market may be emerging, the eco-luxury segment.
"For affluent buyers who live in places where environmental concerns reign supreme, the Toyota Prius is the ultimate status symbol in eco-luxury," she said in a recent interview.
How popular are Toyota Prius hybrids? Consider that Prius hybrids are the most popular vehicle in Century City, which is California’s fifth-wealthiest zip code, where residents report an average income of $751,000 per year. The next three most popular cars owned by people in that zip code are Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans, C-Class sedans and BMW 328 sedans, respectively. Closer to our base in San Francisco is Ross, CA, the tenth-wealthiest zip code in the state, where residents earn an average of $497,000 annually. The Prius reigns supreme in Ross also, followed by Mercedes E-Class and GL-Class sedans, respectively.
Car buyers from all income levels have turned the Toyota Prius hybrid into one of the best sellers in the country. Through the first seven months of 2012, Toyota has nearly doubled Prius sales over the same period the previous year with nearly 143,000 hybrids sold.
Here at NLS Limo, we understand why Prius hybrids are so popular. They may not be as roomy or comfortable as the luxury vehicles in our fleet, but they are very reliable, consume very little fuel and are perfect for running errands in the Bay Area. If you are one of the many people in the Bay Area who doesn’t own a car but likes to rent one occasionally for day trips, shopping and other uses, call us today at 800-339-8936 to ask about our San Francisco Prius Hybrid rentals. Our Prius rentals are very affordable and are perfect for getting around the city when you need your own transportation for a morning, afternoon or the whole day!
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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.