I never cease to be amazed at the unnecessary regulations imposed by governments at all levels. Today’s example comes from the Asheville Regional Airport, which is owned by the City of Asheville. They’ve imposed a rule that private companies that pick up and drop off passengers must use cars that are no more than nine years old. They’ve also imposed a $300 per car fee. And they are planning to tighten up the age requirement to seven years and increase the fee to $500.
I don’t like either the age requirement or the fee, but let’s just deal with the former for now, because it’s really the bigger problem. While a fee of $500 to conduct your business may well hurt some small businesses, the far bigger issue is the requirement that cars be no older than nine, soon to be seven, years.
Think about that. This is 2015, so a 2005 Lincoln Town Car Limousine is out. Really? Why, exactly, is that car a problem? And if you’re running a one of these transportation businesses and own such a car, then you’re in a really difficult position. We’re talking tens of thousands of dollars to buy a newer car, not to mention that it may be harder to sell your older one, since no one running an airport transportation business will be interested. For many small businesses, that’s not an inconvenience, it’s a death sentence.
Unnecessary government regulations, whether from Washington, Raleigh, or Asheville, can have a detrimental effect on small businesses and the people who own and are employed by them. Asheville should rethink these rules and fees, making their city a more friendly environment for small businesses and the jobs and economic growth they bring with them.
