With prom season approaching, the state regulator of limousine and party bus companies is reminding parents and teens to double-check for proper licenses.
The Maryland Public Service Commission said it’s common for limousine brokers — who do not operate the vehicles and who are not regulated — to act as middlemen between customers and transportation services.
That could lead to unauthorized limousine companies. The PSC licenses all limousines that operate in Maryland with two annual vehicle inspections, driver background checks, insurance verification and set rates. All companies that advertise or offer limousine or party bus services must have a PSC carrier number.
The Commission is encouraging those who hire limo services to ask for the company’s PSC carrier number, inspect the vehicle personally, know the difference between the limo broker and the limo operator and contact the PSC to verify a company is quoting its rates correctly.
Companies can only charge rates that are on file with the PSC.
The PSC also said prom-goers should know that a driver can refuse to drive them home if they appear drunk, “are combative or have tobacco or drugs.”
For more information visit the PSC’s website.
Flickr photo by uscoach2011
