CCC PPPPP U U CCC N N EEEEE W W W SSS C C P p U U C C NN N E W W W S S C P P U U C N N N E W W W S C PPPPP U U C N N N EEE W W W W SSS C P U U C N N N E WW WW S C C P U U C C N NN E W W S S COC P UUUU CCC N N EEEEE W W SSS California Public Utilities Commission 505 Van Ness Avenue, Room 5301 San Francisco, CA 94102 CONTACT: Armando Rendon July 17, 1996 CPUC-060 415-703-1366 (I94-12-010) CPUC FINES, PLACES AMBASSADOR LIMO ON PROBATION The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today placed Ambassador Limousine Service under a two-year probation, including suspension of its license for several days and a fine of $24,000 for violations of the Public Utilities Code. The limo service, based in San Diego, is owned and operated by Joseph Perez. CPUC Safety and Enforcement Division investigators found that Perez had operated without a permit, liability and property damage insurance, or workers' compensation insurance; that he had not enrolled his drivers in the DMV pull notice program, had allowed a driver to operate a limo without a valid license, and continued to employ a driver whose license was suspended for driving negligently. Perez' misdeeds came to the attention of the CPUC when a customer complained to the Commission that Perez had failed to pay him $600 in damages to his car; the customer had been a passenger in an Ambassador limo and watched as it crashed into his car which was parked in front of his house. The Commission reached a settlement with Perez that allows the limo owner to earn a living and yet protect the public. Under the settlement, Perez must suspend operations for 152 days during the next two years, but 141 of them can be waived if he otherwise complies with the Commission order. Also, if he complies with the settlement, Perez may pay only half the fine levied against him; the rest will be excused. If he fails, Perez stands to have his permit revoked for good. -###-