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The protest marks the start of a two-day strike by some cab drivers, who say the county has not responded to their calls for industry changes in the last year. About 30 drivers took part in the protest today.
"Stop corruption!" cab drivers shouted in front of the County Administration Building while taxis circled the block, blaring their horns.
The protest comes nearly a year after drivers first protested at county headquarters asking for new regulations for the county's taxi industry. Drivers say a few major cab companies hold the rights to the county's 785 licenses for taxis and rent them at high rates to independent drivers.
Drivers say those companies charge drivers about $16,000 per year to use cars though they say the companies only pay $100 per year for each license. Drivers also allege that county inspectors are unable to stop abuse of the license system, including making illegal duplicate licenses to run several taxis at once and selling the licenses to other companies instead of returning them back to the county.
Though council members introduced a bill at the drivers' request in October to add more licenses and change industry practices, the council ultimately dropped the measure and appointed a task force to study the concerns.
At their protest, drivers called the task force a "delay tactic."
"They're just trying to throw this to the next guy," said Brian Holmes, a Mitchellville driver.
Council members did not mention the protest as they began their meeting Tuesday morning and it was not on the agenda. The meeting is the last time the council will convene to vote on legislation until next year.
Drivers also plan to protest tomorrow at the county Department of Environmental Resources, which is in charge of the licensing program, to wrap up the strike.