As Chicago prepares to celebrate the New Year, a new City ordinance allowing regulators and Chicago police to crack down on illegal party buses while increasing safety requirements for licensed operators is showing promising results – and helping reduce crime. Since June 1, when the city implemented the new rules under an ordinance championed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, regulators have issued 125 tickets and 28 cease and desist orders to noncompliant operators. Police have also made 11 illegal weapons and narcotics arrests under the new rules. At the same time, gun violence and drug crimes related to party buses have dropped throughout the city – making for a safer city and an improved consumer experience. Additionally, the new ordinance requires clearly identifiable signage on licensed large charter/sightseeing vehicles to ensure any buses operating without a license are easy to identify and shut down. The City has imposed nearly $80,000 in penalties to operators found in violation of the party bus ordinance. While Chicago’s new rules have set clear standards for party bus operators in Chicago, a gap still remains for those operating outside the city. In fact, of the 28 cease and desist orders issued to noncompliant vehicles, 18 have yet to comply and are located in the suburbs. Consumers that want to verify if a party bus is lawful can visit the “Public Passenger Vehicle License” database on the City of Chicago data portal at https://data.cityofchicago.org. If the vehicle is not listed on the City’s portal you should request verification from the charter bus company. For more information about public vehicle licensing can be directed toBACPPV@cityofchicago.org.