LTC 26-2003CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Ma nager
Letter to Commission No.
To:
From:
Subject:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez
City Manager
Police Department Investigation - Buying of the Doors
Date: January 29, 2003
This letter to the Commission is to provide you with an update on the progress of the Police
Department's investigation into the illegal practice of hotel valets and concierges charging
taxi cab drivers a fee in exchange for providing a lucrative fare to distant locations; a
practice known as "buying of the doors."
As way of background, this complaint originated several months ago as a form of extortion
that punishes taxi drivers who do not want to break the rules or pay off the valets or
concierges. Consequently, those taxi drivers were far less likely to receive the more
desirable trips.
In response, the Police Department held several meetings with the Miami-Dade Passenger
Transportation Regulatory Division (PTRD) to determine the best course of action to deal
with this problem. It was decided that a joint effort between the two agencies would be the
most effective means of affecting a change, with PTRD taking the bulk of the enforcement
initiative. The Police Department provided high visibility, accompanying PTRD officers on
their enforcement actions. A two-part plan was initiated to include a monthly sting
operation involving the entire PTRD and all available Miami Beach day shift Motor Units. A
smaller operation was conducted once a week involving fewer personnel from both
agencies.
Since August of 2002, the PTRD has issued (10) ten "buying of the dooF related citations
at various Miami Beach hotels while issuing (134) one hundred thirty-four "otheF taxi
related citations. The Miami Beach Police Department's Motorcycle Squad has also issued
(158) one hundred fifty-eight taxi related citations during this same period.
The practice of "buying of the dooF is indeed a problem and will require the continued
ongoing efforts of both the PTRD and the Miami Beach Police Department. Through the
combined efforts of both agencies and constant enforcement action, I am confident the
problem can be eliminated.
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F:~POLI\TECHSERV~POLICIES\COM_MEMO~Buying Doors Jan 2003 LTC,doc