A new law reducing the cost to operate a limousine service in Bermuda was passed in the Senate yesterday.

The Motor Car Amendment Act (No. 3) will reduce the limousine permit fee from $100,000 to $50,000 to allow more than the current two companies to have permits.

Since the legislation came into force allowing taxi drivers and others to become limousine providers, Government received only eight applications, none from taxi drivers.

Junior Minister of Transport Marc Bean told the Senate the reason for introducing the legislation was so taxi drivers would operate the way they were supposed to and not linger around waiting for pre-arranged clients.

And out of the two companies that have a limousine permit, there are only three cars.

Sen. Bean said: "Many of these prospective business owners said that a permit fee of $100,000 makes it impossible."

He added he hoped the reduction would see more potential limousine owners apply for the permit.

During the question portion, UBP Senator Michael Dunkley said: "I believe that this is creating an uneven playing field between limo drivers and cab drivers.

"Obviously this amendment is here today because it hasn't worked and people are picking it up and running with it and the Government is doing what it can to make it successful."

Sen. Bean said the two companies would not receive a compensation because they had not paid the $100,000.

The Senate also passed the Law Reform Commission Act 2009 brought forward by Attorney General Kim Wilson.

The Commission will exist to ensure the development and modernisation of Bermuda's laws, to determine which obsolete or unnecessary acts need repealing and to ensure that all legislation complies with the Constitution and international treaties relevant to Bermuda.

It will review all proposals for reform of the law and carry out studies on improving and modernising the statute books.

The Magistrates Amendment Act 2009 was the final law to be passed. It will protect Magistrates from lawsuits.

The Magistrates Amendment Bill stated: "This Bill seeks to modernise the law relating to the judicial immunity of Magistrates and to confer on them the same protection from civil and criminal suit presently enjoyed by superior court judges in respect of decisions made in the exercise of their judicial functions.

"The present law is unsatisfactory in that Magistrates, including lay justices, may be personally sued, albeit that they acted in good faith in the exercise of their judicial functions.

"Their potential criminal liability is unclear. The present state of the law compromises the judicial independence of Magistrates, and is inconsistent with the spirit of Bermuda's Constitution."