BREVARD COUNTY, Fla.,None — WFTV investigated an exclusive new contract for taxis at Port Canaveral, and many cabbies said the change will drive up rates for passengers. The contract is going to a company whose founder has a history of criminal charges.
Linda Vierk drove a taxi at Port Canaveral for 20 years, but she and dozens of other independent drivers can no longer do regular pickups at the port.
"It just doesn't make any sense to me at all," said Vierk.
The company that received the contract is called Triple-8. The founder and CFO, Larry Mullins, was an investor in a failed casino ship called Liquid Vegas. A judge reprimanded Mullins for hiding his business dealings during the meltdown of the ship.
Officials said Mullins' criminal charges sheet is four pages long, including more than 15 traffic-related charges. He has been charged with domestic violence, use of a firearm under the influence of alcohol, and felony child abuse. The felony charges were dismissed, or not fully prosecuted, according to officials.
"Is this what you have here? Is this the interview, those stupid little things? My wife and me had a fight and my child was in the house," said Mullins.
Mullins' co-worker and Triple-8 CEO, Tim McGrath, also has nine criminal traffic charges in his past. Critics said the port didn't care, and that the port just wanted to profit from any company willing to pay for exclusive rights.
It's not clear on Thursday how much money the company might make off the new contract, but WFTV obtained documents showing that company leaders are required to pay the Port Authority $200,000 a year for the right to operate at the port.
Port officials said they wanted a taxi contract to improve service and consistency, though they didn't provide WFTV with any complaints about the way things were. Only two taxi companies submitted bids, and Triple-8's per-mile rate is .30 cents more than the other company's.
Long-time cabbies said the deal will cost passengers more, and cost them their jobs.
WFTV learned that Mullins' only recent political donation was a $100 contribution last year to a Port Authority candidate who lost the election. Port officials admitted that generating port revenue was one factor in the decision to make this change, but they simply ignored repeated questions by WFTV about whether they were aware of Mullins' background before awarding the contract to him.
WFTV
