Columbus, Georgia

Inter-Office Communication







DATE: July 14, 2005

TO: Tiny Washington, Clerk of Council



FROM: J. F. Ross, Lieutenant, Office of the Chief of Police

SUBJECT: Tracy White, Taxicab Driver?s Permit Issue



On June 16, 2005, the Columbus Police Department denied renewal of the Taxicab

Driver?s Permit for Travis White. The denial was based on a conviction from

Municipal Court dated May 5, 2005 for Deposit Account Fraud (Bad Check). This

denied renewal is dictated per City Ordinance Section 21-5, which states that

no Taxicab Driver Permit may be issued nor renewed to any driver/applicant

within one year of the driver receiving a conviction for bad checks. Mr. White

was informed of this restriction to renewal and the Police Department denied

the renewal of his permit.



Mr. White protested the denial based on the fact that his checkbook was stolen

and the checks were written by someone else. Mr. White indicated that he knew

who stole his checks but opted not to have them charged with forgery. This in

effect, gave his permission for the checks to be written even though there were

insufficient funds in the account to cover them. He accepted responsibility

for the checks and apparently made good on the checks to all the businesses

involved before warrants were issued except for one check to one business. A

warrant was issued. Mr. White was charged and appeared in Judge Turner?s

Court on May 5, 2005. Mr. White again accepted responsibility for the check

and rather than pleading Not Guilty, entered a plea of Nolo and was convicted.

If the Judge?s decision in this case had been to dismiss or to find Mr. White

Not Guilty, the renewal of his permit would never have been an issue. Mr.

White?s conviction is a matter of record which is not subject to removal.



This information was explained to Mr. White on several occasions. He asked

what could be done to change the situation and he was told about the appeal

process and how the appeal could address the interpretation of the law and the

administrative process by the Police Department but could not change the law

itself. The Taxicab Commission completed a review of the entire Taxicab

Ordinance last year and it was approved by Council and made effective on August

10, 2004. During the review of Section 21-5, the Commission recommended

increases in the time restrictions for permitting on several offences. The

issue of Bad Checks was discussed at length and the time restriction was

actually reduced from three years in the old ordinance to one year for a

conviction of a bad check in the new ordinance.



The Police Department does not support a change in the City Ordinance that

would reduce or eliminate the restrictions imposed by a conviction of a bad

check. It is felt that this would set a precedent that would encourage others

to request the removal of restrictions from convictions on other types of

crimes that has or will prevent recently convicted Taxicab Drivers from

interacting and doing business with citizens on the streets of Columbus.





c: R. T. Boren, Chief of Police