POCATELLO — When someone in Pocatello or Chubbuck climbs into a taxi cab, they can’t be sure their trip is covered by liability insurance and Yellow Cab Service owner Charlie Potter wants that changed.

Potter attended last Thursday’s Pocatello City Council meeting to pressure the elected officials to strengthen city ordinances governing taxi cab services and make sure everyone who provides the service is carrying the required insurance.

Potter said existing city codes are weak when it comes to liability insurance and this allows some companies to do business without adequate coverage.

“This has given an unfair advantage to those who are breaking the law over those who are following it,” Potter told the council.

Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad said the city was aware of the issue and is currently working on ways to address Potter’s concerns. Following Thursday’s meeting, Blad asked Potter to join a group trying to better codify taxi operations in the city.

“I’m honored to be working with the city to get something done,” Potter said Saturday outside Yellow Cab headquarters on South Third Avenue.

Potter started Yellow Cab in Pocatello three years ago and began doing all the right things to make his operation a legitimate commercial transportation entity. A big part of that is securing commercial liability insurance for his fleet. Yellow Cab operates three or four cabs each day and has three in reserve at its garage on South Third.

The cost to fully insure drivers and passengers runs more than $300 per month for each vehicle.

“They (the city) are allowing companies to not carry the proper insurance,” Potter said.

Smaller cab operations in town are simply securing a standard motor vehicle policy on cars they use as taxis and Potter said paid passengers are not covered under those type of policies.

“Customers don’t know that,” Potter said.

In addition to leaving passengers exposed without coverage, the money saved by not securing true commercial policies gives these smaller operations an economic advantage, according to the Yellow Cab owner.

The minimum automobile insurance coverage for privately owned and operated vehicles in Idaho is a $25,000/$50,000/$15,000 policy which means coverage up to $25,000 for death or injury of one person, $50,000 for two or more; and $25,000 for property damage.

Potter said this type of minimum coverage is not adequate for vehicles used for commercial transport.

“When I started I just assumed everyone was following the rules,” Potter said, adding that average customers sure don’t know.

Potter believes it should be the responsibility of the city when it issues a cab license to make sure commercial insurance is in effect.

“The city should monitor this because it’s such a complex issue,” Potter said. His goal is to level the playing field for taxi service operations and make sure the public is protected.