By Lookout Staff

December 12, 2011 -- Cab drivers violating the City's taxi franchise law would face stiffer penalties under a measure scheduled to be taken up by the City Council Tuesday.

The measure, which is on the consent calendar, would raise fines for failing to charge the fare rates established by the City from $250 to $1,000, depending on the seriousness of the violation. Fines for attempting to bribe a City employee or agent would rise from $1,000 to between $5,000 and $10,000, or revocation.

The new schedule of fines will make it easier to "create consistency with the fine amount for similar violations, make it easier to determine the applicable fine, and make the amount of the fines more commensurate with the nature of the violation," according to City staff.

Established by the Santa Monica Police Department, the specific rules are related to the administration of the taxicab franchise program and standards of conduct for both drivers and franchisees.

"Through additional experience with the program, staff discovered the need to simplify the penalty structure and to apply penalties based on the enforcement priorities of the City," staff wrote in its report to the council.

Before the franchise law was approved by the council last December, cab companies would set their own rates, according to staff. Charging a rate different than the one posted was considered a violation of the driver's "own established rates, not rates established by public policy."

"Increasing this fine from $250 to $1,000 would make it more consistent with other violations that involve serious misconduct by taxicab companies and drivers and will help to encourage compliance with this section of the Code," staff wrote.

The franchise law was established to reduce the number of cabs in the beachside city, limit the number of franchises and prescribe the behavior of the drivers.