Metro Taxi Cab Drivers Stripped of Licenses

Twin Cities cab drivers caught breaking the law may lose the very license they depend on.

The St. Paul City Council declined to renew taxi cab licenses for three cab drivers Wednesday night. One has not had a valid driver's license for the last eight months.

Those three drivers are not alone.

Over the last decade St. Paul says it has declined to renew taxi cab licenses for 123 drivers. Some had been convicted of felonies, even drunk driving. Others simply did not have a driver's license.

In Minneapolis, cab company owners perform background checks themselves. Licenses expire every June 30. Cab company owners say the city double checks criminal history checks.

The city says it has never declined to renew a taxi cab license because it roots out problem drivers early.

However, felons and even people convicted of using force, selling drugs, and prostitution can once again become taxi cab drivers after a period of time.

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