IN FOCUS

FEBRUARY 2013 INDEX

	IN FOCUS
by Matthew W. Daus, Esq. President, International Association of Transportation Regulators Distinguished Lecturer, University Transportation Research Center, Region 2 Contact: mdaus@windelsmarx.com • 156 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019 T. 212.237.1106 • F. 212.262.1215

IATR 25TH ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE RECAP– “APP-SOLUTELY FANTASTIC”

MODEL SMARTPHONE REGULATION COMMENT DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MARCH 15TH

This past November, the 25th year anniversary conference of the International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR) was held in our corporate birthplace of Washington, D.C. There is no doubt that this conference was the best and most well attended conference we ever held. The IATR welcomed regulators from the Middle East, Australia, Europe, the United States, Canada and Asia. Instead of our anniversary being a retrospective on how far we have come as an organization, it was very “app-ropos” that we focused entirely on the future – technology, advocacy, getting things done in a way never realized or expected by the group’s founding members.

Unfortunately, I started the conference by losing my cell phone in a taxicab while on my way to our opening reception at the House of Sweden.

I had been complaining to my driver about the lack of credit card service in the District . When I realized I had left my phone in the taxicab, I assumed that it had already been tossed into the Potomac River. I then realized that I was about to introduce our conference host, D.C. Taxicab Commission Chairman Ron Linton at the reception moments after losing my phone. Due to the combined, valiant efforts of his D.C. Taxi Commission staff, my iPhone tracker, a thoughtful passenger, cab driver and dispatch company, I had my phone delivered to me within the hour.

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray enjoyed our mini-success story the next day as he highlighted the many technology and other reforms he and Chairman Linton are putting into place. Their changes will make the lost property process much easier in D.C. once GPS is in every taxicab. D.C. passengers will be “connected” and able to retrieve their lost phones or other personal items.

Left to right: District of Columbia Taxicab Chairman and IATR conference host, Ron Linton, DC Mayor Vincent Gray and IATR President Matthew Daus following Mayor Gray’s keynote speech on DC taxi reform. Photo: Wim Faber.

IATR President Matthew Daus (left) presents United States Department of Transportation General Counsel Robert S. Rivkin with commemorative IATR taxi cufflinks following Mr. Rivkin’s Keynote Luncheon Speech. Photo: Wim Faber.

IATR prides itself on its cutting edge educational programs that are lively and informative, but also on just having a good time as well. Letting one’s hair down helps to foster good working relationships and friendships, and those connections help all of us do our jobs better. There was no shortage of fun and entertainment, including the fantastic opening reception at the House of Sweden where live jazz and cocktails mixed with vehicle and other sponsor displays for the first time.

The conference included several breakout sessions on technology where sponsors demonstrated their products and services in small settings. We were also honored to receive the General Counsel of the United States Department of Transportation, Robert S. Rivkin, as our keynote luncheon speaker.

Our gala event at the Four Seasons Hotel also included an awards presentation to the first ever recipient of the “Regulator of the Year Award,” the international driver of the year award, dinner and dancing to a live and kickin’ R&B band, and a special performance by the “Rocking Regulators.” I would like to thank my regulatory band mates who joined me onstage for renditions of “Play that Funky Music,” “Proud Mary,” “Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll” and other classics, namely, Tom Drischler from Los Angeles on keyboards, and Christiane Hayashi from San Francisco on vocals.

Left to right: IATR President Matt Daus, New Orleans regulator and board member Malachi Hull, IATR's International Driver of the Year award recipient, Adam Woldemariam, and his employer, Mark James of Frias Taxicabs in Las Vegas.

IATR President Matt Daus (center) and the IATR's Board of Directors presents Malachi Hull of New Orleans (left of center) with its first-ever annual International "Regulator of the Year Award."

The "Rocking Regulators" perform at the IATR's 25th Anniversary Gala Event, Matt Daus of NYC on lead guitar (far left), Chris Hayashi of San Francisco on vocals (far right) and Tom Drischler of Los Angeles (second from right) on keyboards.

The evening’s awards ceremony was fantastic. Adam Woldemariam, a taxicab driver employed by Frias Transportation Management, received the driver of the year award for returning $221,510 in cash that he found in his taxicab to its grateful owner. The evening finale was not just about the band’s music, but the regulatory music created by all of our finalists for the regulator of the year award – Chicago’s Rosemary Krimbel, San Francisco’s Christiane Hayashi, D.C.’s Ron Linton, and Philadelphia’s Jim Ney – all of whom were very deserving candidates.

The IATR Board had a tough decision to make but chose our Past President, Malachi Hull of the City of New Orleans, as our first Regulator of the Year. The basis for the decision was recognition for his forward thinking. He gave the IATR a “shot in the arm” to deliver many industry reforms over the goal line against a tough industry defense. Congratulations to Malachi, and all of our finalists, for a job well done this past year!

For the first time ever, over one hundred members of the IATR descended upon Capitol Hill meeting with lawmakers and their staffs to confer about numerous issues. Among the issues was the group’s pending legislation to allow regulators to obtain national criminal background check records of their licensees in the U.S. The feedback was incredibly positive from both Congress and our attendees, and I am happy to report that the bill will be introduced by Representatives Robert E. Andrews, Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy Committee; Peter Roskam, Chief Deputy Whip; Peter T. King, Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee; and Michael Grimm, a former Special Agent with the FBI.

The bill will be introduced in the Judiciary Committee. This legislation will be known as the Passenger Safety and Security (PASS) Act, and provides a unique opportunity for bipartisan cooperation following the most recent turmoil involving the Fiscal Cliff. If the law passes, large and small jurisdictions around the country can immediately and automatically access criminal conviction histories for their drivers and other licensees without needing to change state laws that are sometimes burdensome tasks to accomplish. Working with our lobbyist, Barry Lefkowitz, we have pledged to do everything within our power to get this law passed, and we need your help and support in doing so – whether it’s through meetings, calls and/or a letter writing campaign. You will be hearing much about this in 2013.

Most of the sessions held throughout the conference centered on technology, including the standing room only sessions for the “There’s an App for That” program. This session included the IATR’s first ever international public hearing for attendees to provide public comment and testimony on the IATR’s model regulations. Many comments were received by regulators, tech companies, and industry stakeholders and organizations before, during, and after the hearing. The draft model regulations that the IATR’s multi-jurisdiction App committee released can be accessed at the following link: http://www.windelsmarx.com/news_detail.cfm?id=185.

Due to the high level of interest, the IATR App committee has decided to extend the written comment period until March 15, 2013. Comments on the proposed rules can be emailed to crinaldi@windelmarx.com. The IATR App committee anticipates that the final set of rules will be completed around April 2013. Thereafter, the IATR intends to facilitate implementation of the model rules around the world.

I have already visited several cities to advise regulators on managing apps including a recent meeting with the leadership of the California Public Utilities Commission. The California Public Utilities Commission is considering our model regulations as part of its current rulemaking process involving shared and group ride services and dispatch apps.

A tremendous amount of thanks goes out to all of our IATR staff who worked tirelessly to make this conference a success including, of course, our talented Membership Services Director Karen Cameron, Board Chairman John Scott, our Board Secretary Carolyn Rinaldi, Hina Brinkworth of e-Designz, Ira Goldstein and Nichole Polyak who volunteered from the NY Black Car Fund, Doctor James Cooper of Taxi Research Partners, as well as Brook Taye and Pat Russo from Windels Marx.

There is a newly revamped website that is already live with all of the conference YouTube Videos and presentations, www.iatr.org. We are already planning our next conference to be held in Saint Louis, Missouri. There is so much in store for this coming year, including more frequent Webinars, more “best practices” consulting work, App support work, as well as the commencement of work on the IATR’s first ever Fact Book. Stay tuned in 2013. It will be another year to remember.

IATR President Matthew Daus (second from left) thanks IATR staff and volunteers for their work on the 25th Anniversary DC Conference. Left to right, Brooke Taye, Windels Marx, Hina Binkworth, e-Designz and Karen Cameron, IATR Membership Director. Photo: Wim Faber.

Barry Lefkowitz, IATR’s Legislative Affairs Director (far left), IATR President Matthew Daus (second from left) and John Scott, San Diego regulator and IATR Board Chair (far right), join Congressman and Deputy Majority Leader Peter Roskam (second from right), who delivered a keynote speech and briefing in preparation for the IATR’s first ever “Day on the Hill.” Photo: Wim Faber.

Congress Member Yvette Clarke from Brooklyn, NY with IATR President Matthew Daus and IATR members.

Congresman Turner with IATR President Matthew Daus and IATR members.

New York Congressman Tim Bishop with IATR President Matthew Daus and IATR members.

Left to right: former TLPA President Robert McBride, current TLPA President Bill Rouse, New York Congressman Peter King, IATR President Matt Daus, and IATR lobbyist Barry Lefkowitz.