ORLANDO, Fla. – Authorities are implementing stricter measures against illegal vehicle-for-hire drivers operating in and around Orlando International Airport (MCO). These unauthorized drivers, who may lack registration, permits, or insurance, are offering discounted rides to unsuspecting travelers.
News 6 first exposed the issue in September.
An undercover operation conducted by Orlando police at the Denny’s restaurant just outside MCO resulted in two citations and a vehicle being towed.
Orlando police, acting as an MCO passenger seeking transportation, arranged a ride with driver Sherry McGuire.
According to police, McGuire directed officers to the Denny’s for a pickup.
McGuire revealed to News 6 that she had previously received citations and been banned from MCO by law enforcement on March 20 for failing to register with the city of Orlando.
[SEE TRAFFIC CITATION BELOW | STORY THEN CONTINUES]
During a subsequent citation issued to McGuire at a Denny’s location, she informed the police that she was unaware of the requirement to be registered with the city of Orlando in order to transport passengers off airport premises.
[SEE SECOND TRAFFIC CITATION BELOW]
“I’m registered with the state of Florida, he [the officer] just told me I wasn’t and I said, ‘Yes I am,’ and I showed him exactly where I am,” McGuire said. “I didn’t know that I had to be registered with the city of Orlando.”
McGuire said she is properly insured and pays $16,000 per year for commercial vehicle liability insurance.
“I thought he [the officer] was talking about just the airport,” McGuire said. “I didn’t know because he said the airport was the city of Orlando. I didn’t know that it had to be for the whole city of Orlando. I don’t even know where the city limits are exactly.”
Orlando police, however, said McGuire should have known that she needed to register with the city. They towed her car and ticketed her a second time for both driving with intent to pick up passengers within Orlando city limits without a city driver’s permit and without a city vehicle permit, each carrying a $200 fine.
Legitimate Transportation Requirements
Registered Vehicle-for-Hire Operators display city-issued permit stickers proving they’ve been vetted.
City-permitted vehicle-for-hire operators must meet strict standards, including:
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Registration with both City of Orlando and the Orlando International Airport
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Payment of hundreds of dollars in permit fees
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Airport fees up to $13 per pickup
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Mandatory background checks
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Vehicle safety inspections
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Commercial liability insurance, often costing $10,000 annually per vehicle
Court records show Orlando police officers have ticketed more than 60 drivers at MCO this year for failing to obtain a city permit.
[ORLANDO POLICE VEHICLE-FOR-HIRE ACTIVITY LOG]
Public Safety Concerns
The intensified enforcement follows complaints from legitimate operators about unlicensed drivers undercutting their business while potentially putting passengers at risk.
Authorized operators emphasize that while unregistered services might offer significantly lower fares, passengers can lose critical safety protections and/or insurance coverage.
MCO’s website has an entire section dedicated to safe and legitimate ground transportation, including pricing and a list of permitted operators.
[VIDEO BELOW: The risks of riding with unregistered airport driver]
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