Commissioner Maria Guerra Lapacek, Commissioner of the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), will present David Tuffs with the “2014 Taxicab Driver Excellence Award” today at 1:30 pm at Olive-Harvey College, 10001 S. Woodlawn Ave., Chicago. Tuffs is being rewarded based on his outstanding service to the disability community, and will receive a free Chicago taxicab medallion.

“David Tuffs is an example of the outstanding service professionals that the City of Chicago is proud to have helping to keep us on the move,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Our disables and senior community relies on the service that David Provides to maintain their independence and enjoy all that our neighborhoods have to offer.”

“I am honored to reward David Tuffs as he has clearly gone above and beyond to provide quality service to our Chicago residents who rely on wheelchair accessible taxicabs to get to work, run errands, and make scheduled appointments,” said Commissioner Lapacek. “He is a dedicated public chauffeur and his devotion to Chicago residents and visitors is remarkable. The City needs more people like him.”

This is the third medallion give-away since the taxi ordinance was passed by the City Council in January of 2012. The ordinance provides for a free medallion to be awarded each year to a wheelchair accessible taxicab driver who provides extraordinary service to customers with disabilities.

"Accessible taxis are critical to the transportation network for people with disabilities and it is an honor to be able to recognize the exemplary service Mr. Tuffs provides our community," said Karen Tamley, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities.

Tuffs, a Chicago taxicab driver for four years, received 63 nominations from his customers and was chosen for the award by the Taxicab Driver Excellence Committee, which is headed by Commissioner Karen Tamley of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) and Commissioner Maria Guerra Lapacek of the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.

“We often hear about the outstanding service that our WAV drivers provide to the disability community and the City is proud to honor them for their dedication,” said Commissioner Lapacek.

One nominee wrote, “David frequently goes out of his way for my family and I, and makes himself available for service. He is friendly, professional, and punctual. He is a dependable and safe driver.”

In 2014, Tuffs worked 343 days and chauffeured 3,576 passengers who requested a WAV taxi. When he wasn’t driving, Tuffs volunteered 62 hours at Misericordia Home, an organization serving adults and children with disabilities.

The Taxicab Driver Excellence Committee is made up of four City of Chicago employees and four members of local non-profit organizations. In addition to Commissioners Tamley and Guerra Lapacek, committee members include Deputy Commissioner Rupal Bapat of BACP, David Staudacher of BACP, Efrat Stein of Self Help Home, Carrie Kaufman of Access Living, Melissa Hoffmann of the Rehab Institute Chicago, and Melissa Picciola of Equip for Equality.
 
BACP oversees the licensing of Chicago’s public chauffeurs and public vehicles including taxicabs, liveries, charter and site seeing buses, horse drawn carriages, ambulances, water taxis and tour boats. The department also oversees the purchasing of taxicab medallions, vehicle inspections and rates of fare. Learn more about BACP’s Public Vehicle Operations at www.cityofchicago.org/BACP.

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