Diane Aldred

Chicago limo driver arrested for drunk driving after taking 23 teens to prom | Fox News

The three Hawks in question are Patrick Kane, Kris Versteeg, and John Madden. Apparently the Hawks felt a need to hit the streets of Vancouver for a little pregame or postgame fun. Maybe they felt a need to mingle with the locals before the upcoming winter games that Vancouver will be hosting. No matter the reason these pictures have raised some eyebrows in Chicago, and perhaps for good reason. It's undetermined at this point when the pictures were taken, but one would hope it wasn't the night before the Canucks put a whooping on the boys wearing the Indian head. The pictures themselves really don't bother me. Young rich athletes having a good time with some attractive females doesn't seem to far fetched in my opinion. If it factored into the Hawks losing 5-1 to Vancouver though, it's a different story. Haven't we come to expect this kind of thing? Sure we would like to think our athletes would be a bit more cautious, but let's get real. They are human too. In a world where your picture is being snapped more times then we even realize anymore, I'm surprised incidents like this don't blow up in the face of an athlete more often. Just ask Greg Oden or maybe even Tiger Woods. Rumors surrounding the pictures began to fly almost as soon as they hit the web. Ranging from talks of a possible orgy to the pictures perhaps being photo shopped. One of the rumors can be put to bed though, and unfortunately for the players involved it's not the one referencing the orgy. The Chicago Blackhawks organization has felt a need to address the issue, or NON-issue in my opinion, by confirming that the pictures are indeed authentic. What a shock that is. What these guys want to do on their own time is honestly up to them. However, if what they are doing on their own time starts to affect their performance on a professional level; this is where the real problem lies. I look at the statement the organization made as them wanting to slam the door on this issue and stop it from becoming a bigger distraction then it's already become. They should just be happy Patrick Kane wasn't photographed beating up the driver of the limo. This is the price you pay to be a professional athlete. When you reach a certain point, your privacy is thrown out the window. In this case it was thrown out the window of a limo. These players know that. Judging by the pictures they didn't seem to mind what was taking place, and I'm not sure we should either. This will eventually blow over in Chicago, as did the Patrick Kane cab incident. As a fan of the Hawks, and of hockey in general, I hope the Hawks are able to weather this storm. All this does is momentarily over shadow the real story behind this club, the only story of any relevance to any Hawk fan. That being the quest to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup when it's all said and done. See the Hawks have been missing in action for the better part of the past decade in the city of Chicago. It wasn't until last year before they became relevant once again. It's hard to believe that relevancy will be stripped just because some pictures have surfaced of a few professional athletes being well, professional athletes!

In Search for a New Limo - Chicago Limousine | Examiner.com

In April, the San Francisco startup expanded its service in Chicago from black cars to include taxis as well. (Ubers recent attempt to expand from black cars to yellow taxis in New York City were swatted down last month by the Taxi and Limousine Commission.) Although Ubers brash tactics and outspoken CEO, Travis Kalanick, have rankled city governments and competitorsthe complaint even features a screengrab of a contentious tweet from Mr. Kalanick and references his open criticism of of any regulation in generalthis marks the first time a taxi or limousine company has filed a suit against Uber. The complaint was filed in theNorthern District of Illinois, on behalf ofthe following companies: Yellow Group, Yellow Cab Affiliation, Taxi Affiliation Services, YC1, 5 Star Flash, Chicago Medallion One and Your Private Limousine. Itaccuses Uber ofviolating numerous local and state laws regarding public safety, consumer protection, and fair practices. Twitter really has made it! Mr. Kalanick had not yet seen the lawsuit when Betabeat reached him this afternoon, and said he would respond with a full statement once his attorneys had looked over the document, although he did offer clarification on a couple matters below. The most noteworthy claim in the suit, at least where consumers are concerned, is related to pricing. In Chicago, Uber charges consumers a20 percent gratuity as the only charge associated with its e-hail and payment service.When Betabeat spoke to Uber last month, they hoped to be able to use the same 20 percent payment structure in New Yorks yellow cabs . The lawsuit, however,alleges that only half of that gratuity goes to the driver, with the other half going to Uber. It also saysthe practice violates Chicago ordinances by charging more that the meters set rate and that its illegal to pass on the credit card processing fees to passengers. Mr. Kalanick responded that the 20 percent tip passes through the driver and that Drivers pay a service fee to Uber for bringing them the additionalbusiness, similar to many radio dispatches in the Chicago area. The unlawful practice allegations seem to rests on the argument that Uber does not have the knowledge or consent of cab and limo companies, but rather contracts directly with drivers driving the taxi and livery cars.Its worth noting that while Uber develops relationships with black car companies (only one is named in the suit), itreaches out to taxi drivers directly. Thats partially a function of the fact that it has a dispatch license in Chicago for taxis. We connect riders with taxi drivers directly, weve never claimed otherwise Mr. Kalanick told Betabeat in regards to the lawsuit. In fact,Uberis currently trying to recruit taxi drivers in both Chicago and New York. However, the suit also calls that dispatch license into question, stating that mischaracterized its true methods of operation in order to fraudulently acquire a dispatch license and failed to disclose that it had no taxi affiliations. According to the complaint, thisfalse impression of association with transportation companies gives Uber the aura of legitimacy, with the public, while avoiding the costs and time necessitated by compliance with the laws and regulations. The suit then goes on toaccuse Uber of outright violations of the laws and regulations governing legally operating transportation companies, for example, the liability for checking whether vehicles are inspected and licensed. Chicago taxi drivers, the suit also notes, are prohibited from using cellphones whether or not hands-free, while operating a cab. Todays lawsuit is hardly the only legal morass Uber will have to climb out of in Chicago. Earlier this week, a Chicago attorney filed a class action lawsuit in theCircuit Court of Cook County on behalf of local passengers for false price advertising and deceptive use of wording in communicating how Uber makes a profit from each booking. Looks like the New York City Councils objections to e-hailing might be the least of their concerns. This is a breaking story and we will update the post as we learn more.

Chicago Limousine Company Now Offers White Dove Release for Wedding Service.

Although there are a few options available that seem like a good fit, limousine companies want something more contemporary that would renew the demand for town cars. Thus, in order to achieve a more modern look, limo service firms are looking into luxury SUVs, particularly Lincoln MKT and Mercedes R350. Both Lincoln MKT and Mercedes R350 are more fuel efficient alternatives to the Lincoln Town Car. The interiors are spacious and comfortable, seating as many people as your typical town car would, and the prices fit the limo service business model. It also seems like the SUV limousine look would serve as a much needed change to the chauffeur world. Although the newly selected models are truly gorgeous cars, they are no limousines. Savvier limousine companies are quickly adapting to the change and are pushing the new models via their marketing campaigns, but customers are slow to take the bait. Theres something about an SUV type look that is reminiscent of a family car, and does not bode well in a business environment. Thus the traditional luxury limousine is all but gone. Limo companies in Chicago are sticking to their beloved Lincoln town car for a number of reasons. Aesthetics and culture are important, but the sudden change to the limousine business model has the entire auto repair and enhancement industries scrambling as well. Most of the shops were set up and tailored to the Lincoln Town Car series, where a Town Car could be up and running within minutes of being brought into the repair shop. Stretching the car was also made into an assembly-like process that is now in desperate change mode. The fact is that regardless of the vehicle that is chosen as the next limousine, the entire industry will have to adapt to the change for the better or for worse. So if drastic change is to come, why not select a vehicle that will truly revolutionize the limousine business? When it comes to fuel efficiency and drastic change, theres nothing more modern and out of the ordinary than a fully electric car! Tesla S series town car would set the ground for the entire automotive industry if it were marketed as a luxury limousine. Teslas amazing sedan is not only classy and contemporary, but it also paves the way for our future. In the initial adoption phase Town Car limousine service prices would probably be similar to those today, but as the price of the vehicle drops, the lack of fuel surcharges would make for a convenient and inexpensive mode of transportation. There are, of course, concerns of how easily attainable the parts are for Teslas repair, and how accessible the recharging stations will be. The battery also stands in the way of eventually stretching the car and making it into a luxury stretch limousine. But theres nothing standing in the way that some brilliant automotive engineering minds cant solve and time wont fix.

Madison was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless conduct.Cook County Sheriff's office/myfoxchicago.com May 12, 2013: Kelly Dano speaks with MyFoxChicago.com about her ordeal.myfoxchicago.com Previous Next Parents say they are shaken and outraged after a Chicago limo driver was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol while taking 23 teenagers to their high school prom. MyFoxChicago.com reports the teens noticed red flags while they were being driven to the dance at Oswego East High School by 54-year-old Richard Madison Saturday night. Student Kelly Dano tells the station the driver seemed "sketchy" from the beginning, but got worse as the ride went on. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT "He hopped over a median and cut off 3 cars and then...he took us to the wrong hotel, he took us to the Hyatt hotel instead of Abbington Place so we had 5 more miles to go," she said. Authorities say some of the students called their parents over the erratic driving, and two off-duty police officers controlled the situation once the limo arrived at the prom venue. DuPage County Sheriff's deputies then arrived and arrested Madisonfor driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless conduct. Kelly Dano's mother Lori says the situation left her shaken. "That's why us parents provide limos so that they're safe and don't have to worry about them driving an hour away by themselves and then this happens," she told MyFoxChicago.com. Madison claims he is innocent of the charges, claiming the limo had mechanical issues that caused him to drive erratically. "You know, if I was guilty, I would still be in jail," Madison told MyFoxChicago.com after posting bail. "That's my thought. I would not be at home right now." The limo company which employs Madison did not return MyFoxChicago.com's requests for comment.

Uber Sued for Consumer Fraud and Unlawful Practices by Chicago Taxi and Limo Companies | Betabeat

Recently, however, an exploding trend in the Chicago party scene has shifted the crowds more towards larger vehicles, for more magnanimous and colossal events. If you had stepped out on Michigan Avenue 8 years ago, one of the busiest and liveliest streets in Chicago, you would have encountered yellow cabs, Lincoln town car limousines, and an occasional stretch limousine. Today, you are lucky to turn into a corner street without noticing a luxurious yacht-of-a-mobile Hummer H2 or a gigantic Limo Party Bus. So what has driven the people crazy towards these enormous party limousines and why are they indeed so popular? To say that the citizens have become more social and have a larger group of friends to be accommodated for would be to underestimate the true advantages of renting a limo bus in Chicago. While they may be indeed true due to the social networking aspects of our lives due to Facebook that help connect more people in a timely fashion, the real component of this amazing evolution is price, convenience, and style. When party buses first stepped out into the streets of Chicago, they went for double the premium of renting a similar size shuttle bus. Thus, for this reason, only the very select few parties could afford to spend the night of their lives in one. But as more companies began converting shuttle buses into party limousines, in addition to the lack of appeal for weekday trips and corporate events (imagine conducting a business meeting in a flashy limo near a stripper pole!), limousine companies drove the prices down to match those of shuttle buses. As demand for the limo buses rose, so did the supply of conversions, and most recently, a party could rent a limo bus at a discount to the shuttle bus! The price drop also led to an increase in wedding limo bus service and casual pick drop offs, simply due to the convenience for larger parties. The days where a big group of friends was confined to renting multiple stretch limousines in Chicago to celebrate their special occasion are over. All it takes now is a single vehicle to transport a party of up to 35 people anywhere in Chicago. The most important factor that has led to the dominance of limo buses is none other than the increased demand for custom style. With all of the reality shows that focus on the lives of celebrities such as P.Diddy, Ray J, Jessica Simpson, Pimp My Rides Xzibit and the likes, the public has become more aware of the eye candy that the celebrities get to enjoy seeing. The conversion companies have identified this trend and have done a tremendous job at turning your average bus into a club on wheels! Chicago clubs and bars have also adapted and are now offering additional perks to renting a limo bus. Chicago club managers view this party monster as a representation of style and trendiness, which helps them attract more clients if the bus is seen near their club. For this reason, they work with the limousine service companies to provide VIP service for parties that book a limo bus. The ability to enter one or even a bundle the best Chicago lounges provides an extra incentive to all the party goers. Thus, when weighing all the factors, it is no surprise that the preferred choice in Chicago is the illustrious Party Limo Bus. On Friday and Saturday nights, these amazing vehicles traverse through the busy streets of Chicago, illuminating the sidewalks with their revolving lasers, disco ceilings, and strobe lights escaping from the glorious interior. And during the day, the local chapel parking lots are oftentimes filled with not one but a couple of limo buses that are ready to transport the newlyweds and their entourage to their party location in style.

How limo bus service took over Chicago - Chicago Limousine | Examiner.com

Then we thought, why not offer white dove release by our self." said Mr. Gary Moore of Limo Chicago. Fall and spring - the traditional wedding season.