Controversy Simon Garber

1 controversy

1.1 illegal use of salvage vehicles taxis
1.2 improper charging of taxi operators
1.3 employment of taxi drivers history of repeated vehicle citations

controversy
illegal use of salvage vehicles taxis

in 2010 city officials in chicago investigated claims of taxis in city had been categorized salvage vehicles (typically insurance designation meaning vehicles damaged enough cost more fix vehicle intrinsic worth of vehicle). chicago law prohibits operating vehicle taxi once deemed salvage title. chicago investigators found on 340 vehicles, of 183 vehicles belonged garber s chicago carriage cab company. garber had bought salvaged police cars, cleaned titles of salvage designation, , illegally added vehicles fleet. city officials fined garber , business associates $50,000 per vehicle total of $9 million. garber s 183 salvage vehicles represented approximately 20% of entire fleet. prosecutors estimated many of cars had been in service 4 years prior investigation. additionally, chicago sun-times newspaper investigated 100 of garber s taxis other fleets not associated chicago , found 23 had been designated salvage titles. newspaper stated unknown whether vehicles still in circulation. more details of salvage scheme (and further implication of garber s involvement) became available through 2014 trial of 1 of garber s business partners, alexsandr igolnikov, convicted of conspiracy interstate transportation , possession of false automobile titles. igolnikov responsible purchasing salvage vehicles, repairing them, , working through corrupt auto brokers obtain clean titles indiana or illinois. once new titles secured, salvaged vehicles painted maroon , entered garber s taxi fleet other fleets co-owned garber , igolnikov. igolnikov repair , paint vehicles in garage owned garber.

improper charging of taxi operators

on august 12, 2014, attorney general along taxi , limousine commission state of new york announced garber s yellow cab sls jet management corp. had agreed pay approximately $1.6 million in restitution , fines overcharging cab drivers leased vehicles garber. taxi drivers leased through garber required pre-pay lease taxi, did not provide way done. if taxi driver did not pre-pay, driver assessed late fee @ time of payment, ensuring late fee included on every lease agreement. few drivers reported when contacted company explanation of late fees, told fee leasing hybrid fuel car, illegal in state of new york. attorney general estimated garber s practice had overcharged approximately 2,000 taxi drivers. part of settlement, garber agreed pay approximately $1.4 million in restitution taxi drivers , $200,000 in fines , fees.

employment of taxi drivers history of repeated vehicle citations

in 2012 chicago tribune found garber s chicago carriage cab company had repeatedly employed cab drivers history of repeated moving vehicle violations. 1 such driver, rida lemghari, had been given 46 citations, of found liable in 33 cases. 5 of these citations occurred on three-month time period, during lemghari driving garber s company. additionally, 2006 2008, lemghari collected 14 total citations while driving in garber s taxis. lobbying taxi industry enabled inclusion of language in repeat-offender law allowed officials voluntarily not enforce law on case-by-case basis. unenforced regulation of repeat offenders allowed garber continue employ these drivers, , when investigation announced, garber did not face sanctions.