TRANSPORTATION Jitneys provide unregulated service

Jitneys are critical in black communities, a newspaper reported.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- They're illegal, but even police and state regulators acknowledge that unlicensed taxis, known as jitneys, are increasingly providing a needed -- although sometimes dangerous -- service in Pittsburgh.
Users say jitneys are cheaper than licensed cabs and more convenient than the bus for shopping.
But drivers often lack insurance, and their vehicles aren't subject to the maintenance and inspection standards of licensed cabs, said Eric Levis, a spokesman for the Public Utilities Commission, which regulates taxis.
The job of being a jitney driver can also be dangerous, with at least five having been killed since 1999, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported in Sunday's editions.
Robert Thomas manages Best Car Service and has been a driver since he was 19. Two of his drivers have been killed.
"It was a lot safer back in the day, a lot safer," said Thomas, 50. "There was not too much gun play. Every so often, maybe there were fisticuffs or every so often someone would maybe get stabbed."
The need for jitneys is critical in black communities, where residents often use them to get to shopping centers and jobs, many of which are moving to the suburbs, the Tribune-Review reported.
Nearly half of Pittsburgh's black households have no vehicle, while about three-quarters of white households have vehicles, according to the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Social and Urban Research.
There is no official tally of the exact number of jitneys in Pittsburgh.
Warning letters
People caught operating jitneys get warning letters, then are cited for repeat or serious violations, according to the PUC. The maximum fine is $500. Since 2002, 175 warning letters have been issued to Pittsburgh area drivers, and 17 people were cited in that period.
Sharon Wilmarth of the PUC said she's heard the complaint that licensed taxis aren't a realistic option for some people.
By law, licensed taxi companies are required to send cabs to all areas in their territory. Companies that don't can be punished, but only if someone complains.
The law also allows drivers to refuse calls that they believe could endanger their lives, said Jamie Campolongo, owner of Yellow Cab in Pittsburgh, adding Yellow Cab gets few complaints about unanswered calls.
Police commander RaShall Brackney said she leaves enforcement to the PUC. Police look out for drivers, she said.
"They see everybody. They know everybody, and they're an excellent resource for us as well," Brackney said.
Thomas takes pride in employing people who otherwise might have trouble finding jobs, but he's always aware of the danger.
"When I leave my home, my objective is to come back safely," he said. "I don't know what I'm going out there for or what I'm getting into."