Anchorage cited 36 for-hire drivers for unlicensed operation, denied 9 licenses for barrier crimes

Thirty-six for-hire drivers in Anchorage were cited for operating without a valid chauffeur license between 2025 and July 2026, according to enforcement data submitted to the Anchorage Assembly. Nine additional applicants were denied licenses outright in early 2026 for barrier crime convictions.

Transportation Inspection Division Director Carrie Belden's report said the denials covered sexual assault offenses and sex offender registration requirements, physical assault, driving under the influence, driver's license suspensions or revocations, and serious drug offenses including manufacture and delivery. The division also issued 10 citations for operating without a valid permit, mechanical inspection, or proper insurance during the same period. A February 2026 ordinance that triggered the report updated vehicle-for-hire rules to conform with state law and encourage compliance. A 2017 ordinance established the city's transportation network company licensing framework, which requires drivers to be screened and insured before accepting trips.

In 2026, the municipality issued 130 annual permits and 50 seasonal permits for vehicles for hire, collecting $185,250 in annual permit fees and $35,625 in seasonal permit fees. Belden noted that "the TI office tries to help the companies achieve compliance prior to issuing citations," meaning the 36 cases represent situations where informal correction did not work.

Of 300 completed vehicle inspections, 57 failed, a 19 percent failure rate covering both mechanical and Title 11 compliance issues. The source separately reports a 12 percent safety and mechanical failure rate. Title 11 compliance issues, such as missing permit numbers or company logos, accounted for 22 of those 57 failures. The report noted that two larger companies employ their own licensed mechanics and resolve issues before formal inspection is completed, so their mechanical problems do not appear in the failure data.

The report was submitted to the Assembly by Mayor Suzanne LaFrance and fulfills a requirement built into the February ordinance, which set a submission deadline of August 1, 2026. The Assembly is scheduled to receive it at its July 21, 2026 meeting, ahead of that deadline.