Thomas E. Petri: “Mr. Speaker, the Real Interstate Driver Equity Act of 2001, known as H.R. 2546, was introduced by our colleague the…”

“Mr. Speaker, the Real Interstate Driver Equity Act of 2001, known as H.R. 2546, was introduced by our colleague the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt). This legislation is needed to solve a problem that arises when a for-hire vehicle, usually a limousine or sedan, travels across a state line in interstate commerce. As the law is written today, State and local jurisdictions can require for-hire vehicles to be licensed in multiple States. In some cases, if they do not pay for additional licenses, the for-hire vehicle can only drop its passenger in another State. They cannot make incidental stops or return the same passenger to his original departing State. For example, a traveler might arrange to be picked up at an airport. On the way home to another State, a common occurrence in Washington, D.C. and in many other communities, the traveler might wish to stop and have dinner within the State he arrived in. This sounds reasonable. What could be the objection? Unfortunately, that stopover could result in the for-hire car being towed, ticketed and impounded. The traveler would be stranded, the car service is left without a vehicle and faces hundreds or even thousands of dollars in fines and in fees. This is not a fair practice, and H.R. 2546 corrects the problem. For-hire car services providing prearranged ground transportation should be able to engage in interstate commerce.”