Yellow Lab Cab license suspended in Ketchum
By GREG MOORE
Express Staff Writer
A decision on whether to revoke the operating privileges of a local taxi
cab operator by the city of Ketchum has been postponed after he failed to show at a
hearing on the subject Friday.
However, the cab firms license has been temporarily suspended.
The city of Ketchum is considering revoking the franchise of Geoffery P.
Schultz, owner of Yellow Lab Cab and Taxi Company. According to a notice of revocation
hearing delivered to Schultz, he is alleged to have violated the provisions of his
franchise through reckless driving, overcharging fares, violating speeding laws, verbally
soliciting business, not operating the required three vehicles and altering business
records.
After Schultz failed to show up at Fridays noon hearing before the
Ketchum City Council, the council voted unanimously to suspend his license temporarily
pending a rehearing on June 2.
City attorney Margaret Simms said the city received no word from Schultz
explaining his absence.
Schultz obtained his one-year franchise from the city in July.
The proceeding against Yellow Lab Cab is based on information contained in
a packet of documents collected by the city of Ketchums legal staff and given to
city council members. Those documents contain statements by former Yellow Lab employees
and customers, a report by the Ketchum Police Department and letters from Schultz
competitors and Schultz himself.
Neither Schultz nor his lawyer could be reached for comment yesterday.
However, in a Feb. 17 letter to the city of Ketchum Schultz contended that
allegations of improper behavior made by his competitors were motivated by an attempt
"to drive me out of the business."
Schultz contended that allegations of improper behavior made by his
competitors were motivated by an attempt "to drive me out of the business."
Another Yellow Lab franchise, to operate at Friedman Memorial Airport, was
suspended in late March.
The airport authority found Schultz to have violated his franchise there
by handling baggage without the consent of the owners, soliciting business at the terminal
and engaging in profane shouting matches with drivers of other cab companies.
A hearing has been tentatively scheduled for May 18 before the Hailey City
Council to rule on a possible revocation of Yellow Labs license to operate there.
Bellevue and Sun Valley require no such operating permits.