Order 15692 - Edward T. Gray: Application for Taxi Certificate

 

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS

DIVISION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS

100 ORANGE STREET

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND 02903

DATE OF APPLICATION: June 12, 1998

DATE OF HEARING: July 21, 1998

COMMODITIES: TAXI

ORDER

By application filed with the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers by Edward T. Gray, 135 Burnett Street, Providence, RI, seeks operating authority as a taxicab owner in the transportation of passengers and their baggage in the cities of Providence, Cranston and Warwick, including T. F. Green Airport.

A duly noticed hearing on the application was held on July 21, 1998 at 100 Orange Street, Providence, Rhode Island.

APPEARANCE:          Edward T. Gray, pro se

Mr. Gray testified that he had several other kinds of businesses in the past and he had been driving cabs for about five months for Yellow Cab (Tr. 7/21/98, p. 4).

Mr. Gray proffered one witness, his roommate, to show public convenience and necessity. James H. Noorigan, 135 Burnett Street, Providence, Rhode Island, testified as to the character of Mr. Gray (Tr. 7/21/98, p. 7). However, Mr. Gray testified that he has no personal experience of not being able to obtain cab service. He said, "I own an automobile, so I'm not in the position where I have to be dependent on a cab." (Tr. 7/21/98, pp. 8 & 9).

Joseph V. Andreozzi and Magdalena Andreozzi, owners of Executive Taxi, Inc., testified in opposition to the application. Both testified that there are numerous cabs in the Providence area that are forced to wait at cab stands for hours to get a job. (Tr. 7/21/98, pp. 10 & 12).

FINDINGS

After a review of the record in the proceeding, the Division has determined that Mr. Gray is fit, willing and able to operate a taxicab business, but has not satisfied the burden of proof as to the requirement of public convenience and necessity.

Accordingly, it is

(15692) ORDERED:

That this application is hereby denied without prejudice.

DATED AND EFFECTIVE AT PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND THIS 10th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1998.