ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Police Department is looking to hire more officers to help deal with a backlog of vehicle-for-hire permit renewals and requests.
At a meeting on Monday, the Orlando City Council will consider adding two vehicle-for-hire officers at an annual cost of $153,268.
According to the request, the officers would be used to enforce city ordinances, permit companies and drivers, and investigate complaints.
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Marawan Eladawi is the owner of Pegasus Luxury Transportation and would like to see more officers to help process permits.
“If I don’t have the permits, I cannot work,” Eladawi said. “It takes four to eight weeks just to get an appointment to register a new vehicle or renew the permits.”
The request for additional officers comes as there has been a crackdown on unpermitted vehicle-for-hire drivers.
In May, News 6 reported that more than 60 unpermitted drivers were ticketed at Orlando International Airport.
[WATCH: Police continue crackdown on unpermitted drivers at Orlando International Airport]
Natalia Petrosyn is the owner of Bravo Travel and supports the plan to add more vehicle-for-hire officers.
“The permit protects the consumer, and it actually protects our businesses as well,” Petrosyn said. “There are a lot of people working for Uber right now and, of course, it’s going to create an overwhelming volume here for people who work for the police department.”
The Orlando City Council is expected to decide on the request to add vehicle-for-hire officers during its meeting on Monday at 2 p.m.