‘Bandit Limo’ Crackdown

One-third of about 450 chauffeur-driven limousines stopped Wednesday in a crackdown on “bandit limos” at Los Angeles International Airport were cited for operating without permits. Each limousine pulled over by officers of the Los Angeles Department of Airports was checked for city and state Public Utilities Commission permits showing that the cars are insured and authorized for access to city airports. Officials said the eight-hour roadblock was the start of an effort to weed out bandit operators who pick up passengers but do not carry insurance. The illegal operators account for as many as 40% of the limousines serving the airport, officials said. Drivers without proper permits were cited for illegally operating a limousine, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $500 fine.