No cabs to catch in Healdsburg

The abrupt closing of Healdsburg's sole taxi service is causing inconvenience, especially to bar patrons and frail seniors who can't take the bus.

It's also resulted in some hassles for hotel guests in Santa Rosa who want to take a cab to Healdsburg for an evening of dining, only to find out they can't get a taxi ride back.

That's because other taxi companies are not licensed to pick up fares in Healdsburg, even though they can drop them off.

"Anytime a guest wants to go to Healdsburg, we can get them there. We can't get them home," said Sue Burnet, the manager of the Vintner's Inn at the northern edge of Santa Rosa.

Healdsburg Taxi Cab Co. quit running on Feb. 13 and owner Susan Graf sold her company and its three vehicles to A-C Taxi of Santa Rosa. But it could be another four to six weeks before the new company is cleared to operate in Healdsburg, according to city officials.

"It's left a gap, because the business was a great idea for the community," Police Chief Susan Jones said. "It did serve some of our senior population, as well as people staying here and living here, who want to go out and have a good time and don't want to worry about driving home after having a glass of wine."

She said the new operators and drivers of the Healdsburg taxi service must pass background checks and their application must be reviewed by the city attorney and then approved by the City Council.

For A-C Taxi company owner Kevin Kroh, the wait is frustrating, especially because his company had previously obtained clearance and a license to operate in Healdsburg before it lapsed.

"I hope they can get it expedited," he said Friday. He noted that St. Patrick's Day - a busy day for many bars - is coming in two weeks.

Kroh said bar regulars in Healdsburg have been asking when taxi service will be reinstated. For the time being, "they're getting a ride any way they can, from a friend, or walking. Fortunately, Healdsburg's small enough they can get around."

But he added, "it would be naive to think some people aren't drinking and driving."

Former owner Graf said she started the taxi service in 2005 because the town is so identified with wine.

"I wanted to ensure there would be service in Healdsburg, which promotes drinking, but there was no public transportation, no taxi," she said.

But Graf, who owns a downtown clothing store, said the taxi service was unprofitable from the start. She stopped running cabs two weeks ago.

"I ran out of money," she said.

She said A-C Taxi is better equipped to make a profit than she was. "They're in this business. I'm in the clothing business," Graf said.

For Vintner's Inn manager Burnet, the hiatus makes it tough to send visitors to Healdsburg for wine tasting and restaurants.

That leaves few choices for her guests without cars. They can take a taxi and leave the meter running while they dine or hire a limousine or town car. But that's expensive.

"You're talking a couple hundred dollars, versus $60 or $70," she said of the comparative costs.

Neighboring taxi cab companies know better than to try to pick someone up in Healdsburg.

Chief Jones said companies not cleared to operate in town risk a misdemeanor criminal charge, as well as a separate $5,000 administrative fine, under city ordinance.

"I don't know if we've ever written a ticket," she said.

Kroh said it is not unusual for cities to prohibit outside companies from picking up fares. It is the same situation in Rohnert Park, Petaluma and Sonoma, he said.

What is different in Healdsburg, he said, is the $2 million liability insurance taxi companies are required to carry, which is twice as much as other cities.

But Kroh, who has operated A-C Taxi in Santa Rosa for 14 years, is confident his Healdsburg venture will be profitable.

"I laid the money down for this business. I have the cars ready to go. I had a certificate there before, and the business here is in good standing," he said. "All the drivers are licensed and approved."

You can reach Staff Writer Clark Mason at 521-5214 or clark.mason@pressdemocrat.com.