Ketchum Wants Background Checks on Taxi Drivers

KETCHUM, Idaho (AP) — Officials in the tourist town of Ketchum in central Idaho have voted to change language in an ordinance to specifically authorize police to conduct national background checks on applications for city taxi cab licenses. The Idaho Mountain Express reports that Police Chief Steve Harkins says it's a good tool for police to make sure violent criminal felons aren't driving cabs.

Ketchum resident and former cab driver Mickey Garcia says cab drivers represent the city to visitors and the city should "look into them more." The amendment to the ordinance passed last week. Harkins says police have been conducting background checks all along but the ordinance needed to be amended to authorize the police to conduct the checks with the FBI.