From Abortion to Transportation, Unnecessary Regulations Cripple Individual Liberty

Julie Crowe wanted to drive a van for hire. It didn’t seem like too much to ask. She figured the small business could serve a niche: Late at night some women might feel more comfortable calling a fellow female for a ride than a strange man. Bar owners in downtown Bloomington signed a petition supporting Crowe’s idea. But when she asked city officials for a permit, they said no.
Three years ago, Bloomington amended its rules governing vehicles for hire. Anyone who wanted to start a taxi or similar service, or expand an existing one, first had to get a “certificate of convenience” – basically, a permission slip from the government. The ordinance said such permission slips could be granted only if the city manager decided additional taxi service was “desirable” and “in the public interest.” Precisely what those words meant was left up to the discretion of the city manager.
Whenever someone applied for a certificate, other taxi companies got to chime in on the merits of the proposal. Not surprisingly, Bloomington’s vehicle-for-hire businesses thought this was a great idea: The amended ordinance all but gave them veto power over the competition.

http://reason.com/archives/2013/09/09/from-abortion-to-transportation-unnecess