~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Scam E-Mail ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The First E-Mail is like the one here;

Chris Frank of, Great Lakes Executive Transportation, with Detroit Tiger’s Pitcher Kenny Rodgers,
moments after his WIN of Game 2 of the 2006 World Series.

A jury convicted Martin Heidgen today of murder for driving drunk the wrong way on a highway, slamming head-on into a wedding limousine and killing the chauffeur, Stanley Rabinowitz, 59, and Kate Flynn, the 7-year-old flower girl. Five other members of the Flynn family were injured.

Prosecutors said Martin Heidgen, 25, drove his pickup truck more than 2 miles on the Long Island highway before ramming head-on into the limousine in July 2005. They contended Heidgen never tried to stop and turned slightly toward the limousine in the seconds before the crash.

Heidgen, of Valley Stream NY, had at least 14 drinks before getting behind the wheel; his blood-alcohol level, 0.28, was more than three times the 0.08 legal limit in New York state, prosecutors said.

A scream echoed through the courtroom as the murder conviction was read, with several of the jurors in tears as the slain girl’s mother collapsed sobbing into her weeping husband’s arms. The verdict followed a gut-wrenching, five-week trial that was filled with gruesome images and testimony.

Jennifer Flynn, who testified about holding her daughter’s decapitated head immediately after the wreck, praised the jury for its decision.

“It was the right verdict,” she said. “I’m happy for that.”

Jurors, who deliberated for five days, saw a horrifying video from the limousine’s “Drive Cam” surveillance camera that showed Heidgen’s pickup truck barreling toward the car moments before the crash. It ended with the metal-on-metal crunch of the two vehicles colliding.

In closing arguments, Heidgen’s defense attorney called the murder charge “extreme” and suggested jurors return a guilty verdict on a lesser count of criminally negligent homicide, which carries a four-year prison term. In closing arguments, Heidgen’s defense attorney called the murder charge “extreme” and suggested jurors return a guilty verdict on a lesser count of criminally negligent homicide, which carries a four-year prison term.

Defense attorney Stephen LaMagna complained that prosecutors held Heidgen to the “same standard as a cold-blooded murderer” but insisted, “this is a kid who drank too much and got lost on the way home.”

Heidgen faces 25 years to life in prison. The jury, which was sequestered on the fourth day of deliberations, had a choice of convicting him on the lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter, which carries up to 15 years in prison.

“Thank God,” said Keith Rabinowitz, son of the dead limo driver. “It’s about time. I’m glad that he was prosecuted and the truth came out.”

Heidgen also was convicted of assault and driving while intoxicated.

“Drive Cam” Video of the crash (Click on Camera below).

More information on “Drive Cam“
Web Site dedicated to “Chauffeur Stanley Rabinowitz”

AP contributed to this story

There has been numerous rumors and speculation over the future of the Lincoln Town Car for the limo/livery industry. On Friday, Ford announced that Town Car will end assembly at Wixom Assembly Plant (Wixom, MI) in 2007. We also announced our intention to then move the production to St. Thomas Assembly Plant (Ontario, CA). The results of this action is that Town Car will continue to serve the needs of the limo/livery industry for the foreseeable future. As I indicated to many of you over the last year, Ford Fleet is committed to providing the products and services to meet the needs of the limo/livery industry. We are the industry leader and remain committed to being your #1 vehicle choice.

Remember - now is the time to buy a new 2007 Town Car livery sedan - get an additional $500 cash incentive for being a NLA member (not a member - no problem - simply join and get the incentive).

Doug Walczak
Limousine & Livery Manager
Ford Motor Company

New limo fees sock travelers

Trade group calls Metro Airport’s increased cost ‘anti-passenger.’

Amy Lee / The Detroit News

ROMULUS — Some limousine services may hike fares for rides to and from Metro Airport because of a new airport rule that will more than triple the fee for picking up travelers.

The policy, which takes effect June 7, raises limo companies’ per-trip pick-up fee to $10 from $3, and also bars drivers from entering the baggage claim or other areas of McNamara and Smith terminals.

The fees, paid to the airport, apply to independent operators, not the company that holds the exclusive airport limo contract.

Unlike independents — which may only pick up fares at the airport by appointment — the contract holder can solicit impromptu customers much as taxis do.

The prospect of steeper fees already has limo provider Carey Detroit planning to lay off two greeters who were stationed at Metro to meet Carey clients. And a trade group that says it represents 53 limo firms in southeast Michigan is threatening to go to court to get it thrown out.

“It’s anti-small business and it’s anti-passenger,” said Tom Constand, spokesman for the Great Lakes Limousine Association, which pleaded Thursday with the seven-member airport board to reverse its decision.

The Wayne County Airport Authority changed the policy to generate more revenue and to ensure the security of the airport, said spokesman Michael Conway.

The airport last year awarded a five-year exclusive contract to Detroit-based Soave Enterprises’ Checker Sedans, which takes over the contract from Metro Cars on July 1. Checker agreed to pay the authority about $15 million over five years. That’s about $2.1 million more than Metro Cars paid the airport for its contract. The new policy ensures that only Checker Sedan representatives will be allowed to greet guests in the terminal and solicit business there.

“It’s bid out and we have to protect our revenue stream,” said Michael Glusac, chairman of the airport authority board.

Noncontracted limo companies were not barred from greeting guests at the terminal when Metro Cars held the contract, as long as they had a prearranged appointment.

Greeting guests inside the airport is a crucial customer service that helps alleviate confusion for arriving passengers, said Richard Morse, manager of Carey Detroit.

“What they don’t understand is, in our business, the client expects their bags to be carried for them, they expect to be met at baggage area,” he said.

“A lot of them aren’t used to fending for themselves.”

The $10 per-passenger pickup fee is well above the national average of $2.08 that other airports charge for noncontracted limo services, according to a 2005 survey conducted by the Airport Ground Transportation Association.

The fees vary widely from airport to airport: Chicago O’Hare charges $2 per trip, Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport charges up to $15 per trip and Toronto’s Pearson airport charges $10 per trip, according to the report.

The Detroit airport sells books of 25 coupons — so the cost of a book will soon jump from $75 to $250 — and drivers must hand over a coupon plus a manifest listing passenger appointments for every trip they make into the airport’s limo staging area.

Metro made about $471,000 from the per-trip fee charge to limo companies in 2005, and expects fee revenue to be about $600,000 in 2007, Conway said. The fee hike and policy change are part of the authority’s ongoing efforts to review contracts and ensure they are making as much money as possible in order to keep airline landing fees low, Conway said.

He said other key concerns addressed by the policy relate to security and harassment. The new policy will cut down on the number of unattended vehicles and ensure limo drives aren’t allowed to idle at the airport in hopes of a fare, he said.

But small business owners such as Nicholas Kokas, chief executive officer of the Novi-based Distinguished Limousines, said the new policy could force him out of business.

Distinguished Limousines has three vehicles and gets about 90 percent of its business from airport runs.

He said he will have to add the increase directly to fares — for example, hiking an average run from Livonia to the airport to $76 from $69.

You can reach Amy Lee at (313) 222-2548 or alee@detnews.com.

Let the limo riders beware

Fewer state inspections put safety in jeopardy

BY CHRIS CHRISTOFF
FREE PRESS LANSING BUREAU CHIEF

May 14, 2006

To make a splash at the prom, nothing less than a limo would do for Geoff Wilson, his date and 22 friends. So they paid $750 in late April to rent a party bus for six hours.

“We figured we had to do it in a big way because it’s our senior year,” said Wilson, 18, a student at St. Mary’s Preparatory school in Orchard Lake.

Wilson said he relied on an Internet ad and the company’s name to pick the firm and ended up with a trouble-free night.

But prom-goers, concert and Pistons fans and brides and grooms should know this: In this busiest season for limousines, the state is doing less to guarantee that your night on the town ends safely.

A Free Press review of state records and limo operators found that Michigan has scaled back its enforcement of safety laws even as the number of limousines in the state has increased.

Unless you know your rights and what to look for, you have no way to know for certain that your limo’s brakes, tires and other parts have been certified as safe, that your medical bills will be covered if the driver wrecks the Hummer or that the license of your limo driver hasn’t been suspended.

In October, citing budget cuts, the Michigan Department of Transportation halted inspectors’ regular, unannounced visits to limo garages, sporting events and concerts where limos show up. Regulators had conducted spot equipment checks and looked for state stickers that prove vehicles passed annual inspection.

A consumer’s best defense is to ask questions about insurance, safety certification and the driver you’ll get before the limo pulls up in front of your home. State laws require large insurance policies and annual safety checks for all commercial limos. They also require limo companies or their insurers to regularly check their drivers’ driving records.

Michigan has more than 600 registered limousine companies, twice as many as in 1997, when the near-fatal crash of three members of the Detroit Red Wings led to tougher laws aimed mainly at drivers.

But even companies registered with the state may be running illegal limos — the registration tells the consumer only that at least one of a firm’s vehicles has passed a safety inspection and has the required insurance coverage.

Nine years after the Wings’ accident, the number of registered limos has jumped from 1,100 to 2,600. That doesn’t include popular limo buses.

Small companies that don’t get safety inspections or carry necessary insurance cause the greatest concern. If someone reports them, the state sends a letter asking that the owner register unlicensed vehicles, said David Sucha, who heads the MDOT’s limousine registration unit.

Only if they’re caught and ticketed by police would they face a fine and state sanction, he said.

“Either the law has to be changed, or 600 law enforcement agencies in the state have to enforce the law,” Sucha said. “We are a regulatory agency; we are not an enforcement agency.”

For police, ticketing limos is not a priority, said Lt. Kevin Sommers, head of Warren’s police patrol division. He said his officers respond only to specific complaints, and those often are about other issues — like when irate parents call when their underage teens are kicked out of limos.

With little police enforcement, Sucha’s office relies heavily on law-abiding limousine operators to turn in companies that don’t follow rules.

State law requires limos seating up to nine people, including the driver, to be insured for at least $1 million for injury and property damage. At least $2 million in coverage is required for limos that seat 10 to 15 people, and $5 million is required for super-sized rides, known as buses, which seat 16 or more.

Limos owned by individuals or companies for internal use do not need a limousine license.

Drivers for legitimate companies often cruise parking areas at events to get license numbers of competitors whose limos don’t display inspection stickers, said Richard Greiner, president of the Great Lakes Limousine Association.

“If that sticker’s not there, I would not even get into the vehicle,” he said.

Steve Pixley, an association member, said he gave state regulators the license numbers of 730 suspected unregistered limousines last year.

“There’s 600 or 700 companies out there who aren’t registered, mostly one- or two-car operations,” said Pixley, owner of Tecumseh Trolley and Limousine Service in Tecumseh.

“We have operators who laugh at that letter from the state, crumple it up and throw it at your feet.”

MDOT’s Sucha praised the limo association for its efforts, but said Pixley exaggerated the number of complaints. Not all tips are valid, and many limo operators do respond to state letters.

Chad Piscitello, 32, of Roseville started American Limousines 18 months ago. He said he paid $110,000 cash for a stretch Hummer and $60,000 for a Chrysler 300 limo that carries 10 passengers. Now, he has five limos and said he pays $2,500 a month for insurance — including $5-million policies for the Hummer and a 22-seat party bus.

“You work one weekend a month for free,” he said. He also said he cleared $40,000 his first year.

Last week, the Free Press visited 10 companies listed as limousine services. Of the limos shown by the owners, only one was without a state sticker.

In that case, the owner said he’d had the required inspection and had paid for the license, but state paperwork errors had delayed his sticker. He said he was using the vehicle nonetheless.

Drivers face tougher penalties

Outrage over the 1997 Wings accident spurred some change.

Thirty-two laws took effect in 1999 amid mounting evidence that thousands of people with suspended or revoked licenses were driving, despite numerous alcohol-related convictions and serious traffic violations.

When the Wings’ limo driver, Richard Gnida, slammed his company’s stretch limo into a tree in Birmingham, he was driving on a suspended license.

Under the old laws, Gnida, who had a history of driving violations — some involving alcohol — faced a maximum 1-year jail term and served seven months. Now, driving with a suspended license and causing injury is a 5-year felony. Driving with a suspended license and causing death is a 15-year-felony.

Other legislative changes require limo companies to check drivers’ records before putting them behind the wheel.

Lavdas Limousine in Warren has 78 drivers who drive 47 limos, said general manager Nevis Male.New drivers, she said, must be at least 25 years old and have no more than two points on their records. They’re subject to random drug tests. Her insurance company checks drivers’ records at least twice a year, Male said.

Only 32 limo companies subscribe to a Secretary of State service that notifies them within 48 hours if their drivers are convicted of drunken driving or other serious violations. Most operators use insurance companies to monitor drivers, said Kelly Chesney, a Secretary of State spokeswoman.

For now, the best advice for limo renters is to ask tough questions.

“It’s amazing. These people think just because I pull up in a big car, I’m alright,” said Greiner, who owns Satisfaction Limousine in Lenox Township.

“In my 18 years in the business, only twice has someone really checked us out.”

Contact CHRIS CHRISTOFF at 517-372-8660 or christoff@freepress.com.

Copyright © 2006 Detroit Free Press Inc.

Always Check Your Height !!!!
And SLOW DOWN !!

Staging for the 2005 All-Star Game, for Limousines, and Shuttle Buses will be on “Madison.” Limousines will Drop-off on “Madison” East of “John R.” Then MUST Leave the Area, No Parking Will Be Allowed on “Madison,” until after the 5th inning. Chauffeurs should give their Clients their Cell Phone Number, so the Client can alert the Chauffeur if they are ready to leave early. The Chauffeur may then return to “Madison” to Pick-up their Client at anytime, but will not be able to stage until the mid-way point of the game.

Shuttle Buses will be Staged on “Madison,” West of “John R.” This area is for continual Shuttles, Parking will Not be Allowed.

Buses will be staged on the West Bound Service Drive of I-75. The East Bound Service Drive will be closed for events for MLB, and the Detroit Police Department.

Handicap Drop-off, and Pick-ups will be allowed on “Montcalm” at “John R.” Enter “Montcalm” from “Woodward” Handicap Permit must be shown to get through the barricades.


Click on the “Logo” above for a Printable Map.

Congressman Andrews addresses the group Steve Pixley, Bob Beutel, Richard Greiner, Robert Hamilton, Nicholas Kokas

The Detroit Host Committee for Super Bowl XL is in need of Your help. The “For Hire Drivers Sub Committee” is putting together a database of “Vehicles for Hire” here in Michigan. This database will be used to get an idea what is available in case they have requests they need to fill, as well as, know what is here. There is also a link to the form for “Emerging Business.” This is an opportunity for Minority, and Female Owners to get some extra business from the Host Committee. Below I am including the E-mail request I received. Please take a moment to full fill this request. Once You get this complete, Please E-mail it to info@glla.org. I will then send it off to the Detroit Host Committee. Thank You for Your Time.

Listed below is the information the Committee would like to obtain:

• Company Name (As listed with the State of Michigan), Complete Contact Information.
• · Inventory for each vehicle (if possible please group)

o Year

o Model

o Available seating (PAX)

o Any special features

o i.e. 2001,Crown Victoria, 3 passengers / PAX

• · Proof of Insurance
  
• · Emerging Business (Optional)

o If you qualify for the emerging business program

1. Please go online to http://www.sbxl.org/emergingbusiness/

2. Read through the information provided

3. Fill out the application and then review the information added before submitting

It gives me Great Pride to announce that on Wednesday, August 24th 2005, Limo-Fest ‘05 Presented by the Great Lakes Limousine Association & Limousine Digest will be held at the New Novi Expo Center. Over 50,000 sq. feet of show floor. The Biggest, and Best Limousine Show ever held in Michigan.

Limo-Fest ‘05 Presented by the Great Lakes Limousine Association & Limousine Digest will have three seminars, Chauffeur Training by Tom Mazza, Marketing to a Retail Market, and Super Bowl. The latter will feature Limousine Operators from past Super Bowl Cities. There will also be MDOT officials on hand to answer questions. Limo-Fest ‘05 is encouraging operators to bring their Chauffeurs. We are including a Driver’s Skills Competition for Cash Prizes. The one thing that sets Limo-Fest ‘05 Presented by the Great Lakes Limousine Association & Limousine Digest above all other Limousine Shows is the affordability. The prices are reasonable to all, Sponsors, Exhibitors, and the Attendees.

Mark Your Calendars, Plan to attend the Biggest, and Best Limousine Show & Conference Ever to happen in Michigan !!!!

Click here for a Brochure

For the 7^th Year in a row, The GLLA has run another Successful Charity Preview Night, of the North American, International Auto Show. There were a few minor problems, but over all everything went well. This Year, the GLLA just about doubled the amount of vehicles we handled. The Larned Ramp went amazingly well, considering the amount of Limo-Coaches that we were surprised with. There will be changes next Year, one being a limit of placards sold. It will be more important than ever to get Your requests in early. A Special Thank You Goes Out To Mark Grabow, and his Incredible Staff at Brentwood Limousines, and to Nick Kokas for ensuring that Everything Ran Smoothly !!!!!

First of All, I would like to Wish You, and Yours A Very Happy, and Prosperous New Year !!!

That being said, I think 2005 will be a Very Good Year for the Legal Limousine Operator !!!! Fred Csaszar (Chair of the Compliance & Ethics Committee) is a member of a Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Chapter in Walled Lake. He was able to get the GLLA on the Agenda to speak at their January 5^th meeting. Bob Beutel of All Star Limousines joined Fred and Richard at the meeting. As soon as the talk about the Limo-Law started, the eyes in the room widen. Not one of the Officers present was aware of the Law. As the talk finished they were asked to speak with representatives of the State Chapter of the FOP at the end of the meeting.

Kevin Sommers, President, Michigan State Lodge of the FOP, and John Kirkpatrick, Vice President were Very interested in our issue. They both were very quick to offer ideas, and assistance in getting the illegal operators busted, as well as getting “Teeth” into the Law. John Kirkpatrick is in charge of getting speakers for their Annual Convention. As the chat turned to getting more Law Enforcement informed about the Limo-Law, John asked Richard if he could fill an hour on this issue. (Any of You that know Richard, You know that it is possible to limit him to an hour !!) Once Mr. Kirkpatrick knew it could be done, the offer of an hour to Speak was given.

Every Chapter of the FOP in the State will be represented at this Convention. This is a Golden Opportunity to get Our message out to the People take can help, the People that can write the tickets !!!! 2005 Will be the Year the Illegal Operators will Dread !!! Much More On This As Time Goes On.

Great Lakes Limousine Association had an incredible evening at the 2004 Limo Digest Show’s Industry Award Ceremony / Make A Wish Auction. This Unbelievable evening started with the Award Ceremony. The Honor of the “2004 - Association Of The Year” was bestowed to the Great Lakes Limousine Association !! Mid-Size, Operator of the Year was awarded to the GLLA’s own, Satisfaction Limousines, Congratulations to Maria & Robert Hamilton !!

That normally would have been considered a Very Success Evening, but the GLLA Was just getting Started. The evening moved to the “Make A Wish” Auction. September was “Make A Wish” month. The Clients of the GLLA Membership, were asked for donations that month for “Make A Wish.” This program was pretty successful. The success spread to the Owner’s Hearts of these companies bring in more money. The officers of the GLLA were somewhat happy with the amount raised, but felt that We could do Better. So, on Monday of the Limo Digest Show, the Executive Board started a phone campaign of the Membership to see if the finial number could be a little better. The campaign lasted till Tuesday afternoon. This brings us to were we left off, Tuesday Evening, the “Make A Wish” auction. Before the “Live Auction,” was the time to collect the Checks from the Associations that took part in the “Make A Wish Month” program. At this point, Only the Executive Board knew the amount of Our Check. We did inform the Ceremony’s producers that the GLLA had a “Sizable” contribution. Richard Greiner, Association’s President was asked to the stage for the presentation. After a few words, Mr. Greiner presented the check in the Amount of $10,000.00 !!! We cannot convey the Pride the Entire Association has over this accomplishment !!! A Very Special Thank You goes out to Every Member that contributed to this Incredible Donation !!!! The evening rapped up with the “Post-Awards Party,” at this party the announcement of the amount of the Total Contribution Raised by the Limo Digest Show for “Make A Wish.” The Total was an Amazing $85,000.00. Great Job, “Limousine Digest” !!!!

Needless to say, November 9th 2004, was an Incredible Night for the Great Lakes Limousine Association !!!!!

Thank You All, Great Work !! Please Keep the Pressure ON !!