Des Plaines Curbs Issuing New Licenses for Taxis

The Des Plaines City Council voted to implement a moratorium on the issuance of taxi licenses for six months.

The Chicago Tribune reported that the city increased the number of licenses from 170 to 275, believing there would be more demand after Rivers Casino opened. The number of license that have been issued now stands at 254.

The increase in demand, a city official said, did not materialize as Rivers tends to call one cab company and there are shuttles to area hotels. A memo from Des Plaines Police Chief William Kushner to the city manager states that with the increase in taxi licenses, violations by taxi drivers also has risen.

"Since 2010 there have been approximately 600 parking or compliance violations issued to taxicab vehicle licenses," the memo states.

City officials expect that with the moratorium on issuing new licenses, the number to active licenses will eventually dwindle back toward the 170 range.