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Santa Fe – The Santa Fe Police Department and the New Mexico Department of Transportation, Regulation Bureau, partnered on an operation to curtail violations of the Motor Carrier Act.
The agencies received complaints from travelers reporting being overcharged by ride share operators for transportation from Santa Fe Regional Airport to locations in the City of Santa Fe. This included a report of a customer being charged over $100 for a ride from the airport to downtown Santa Fe.
In response to the complaints, an enforcement and education operation was conducted on October 29, 2024, at the Santa Fe Regional Airport. Police Officers and NMDOT Transportation Regulation Bureau Investigators monitored for violations of the Motor Carrier Act. The act establishes the regulations which ride share, taxi and limousine service operators must be in compliance with.
The primary goal of this operation was not only to conduct enforcement, but also educate operators on the violations so corrections can be made.
NMDOT has learned that similar violations are not only occurring in Santa Fe, but also across the state. This operation is a clear message that persons not in compliance or engaging in unlawful practice in violation of with the Motor Carrier Act will be held accountable.
At the conclusion of the operation, 10 citations were issued for violations of the Motor Carrier Act. All operators that were issued citations were cited into Magistrate Court. In addition, operators with violations have to appear for a hearing with NMDOT for the violations. The violations included:
- No operating authority in the vehicle (NMDOT Authority must be in vehicle)
- Magnetic signs applied to taxi (decals are required to be permanently attached to vehicle)
- No fee schedule in vehicle (passengers must be able to see what the ride will cost)
- No PRC/NMDOT number applied to vehicle ( decals must be permanently attached to vehicle)
We want to remind consumers of ride share services, other than Uber and Lyft, that companies are required to display their fee schedule and operating authority document visible in their vehicle. Be sure to ask to see the prices if they are not clearly displayed.
We are encouraged that the enforcement and education conducted will improve the experience for consumers in our community and our guests when receiving these services.
To make a complaint for a violation of the Motor Carrier Act, please contact the NMDOT Transportation Regulation Bureau, Compliance Unit at 505-827-4519 or visit Transportation Regulation Bureau | NMDOT to file a complaint online.
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Motor Carrier Act, Operating Authorities in General
- Other than an entity receiving funding to supplement transportation services through Title III B of the federal Older Americans Act of 1965, no person shall offer or provide a transportation service for hire within the state without first obtaining an appropriate operating authority from the department. Every motor carrier providing a transportation service shall meet and comply with the requirements of the Motor Carrier Act and the lawfully adopted rules and orders of the department.
- A certificate or warrant, or a change in a certificate, shall be effective from the date issued by the department and shall remain in effect until canceled, revoked, suspended or amended.
- A motor carrier shall carry a copy of its operating authority in each motor vehicle it operates in New Mexico.
- A certificated service carrier shall render reasonably continuous and adequate service as the department may by rule prescribe.