Our History

Our Story

The Virginia Limousine Association (VLA) was founded on April 14, 1987, by Richmond-area operators committed to raising industry standards and promoting trade advocacy. The founding member Randy Throckmorton was honored with lifetime membership after over a decade of service.

Our early efforts included launching the successful “Tacky Light Tours” and developing wine tours to support year-round business for members.

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the VLA shaped industry regulations. In 1990, President Gary Everett joined a DMV task force that led to SCC oversight, later transitioning to DMV regulation in 1995. This resulted in the first legislative win in 1996—a window tint exemption for limousines.

In 1998, the VLA successfully countered harmful proposals from taxi lobbyists, protecting the limo business model. In 1999, it earned the Governor’s Award for Transportation Safety and national recognition from Limo Digest for its Prom Pledge fundraising campaign.

Modern Milestones

In 2000, the VLA worked with the DMV on a six-month task force to rewrite outdated laws, aligning them with federal standards—rules still in use today. Over the next decade, VLA secured key wins:

• Recognized wireless dispatch tech in state code (2004)
• Removed PC&N barriers for contract carriers (2009)
• Reclassified medical transport to reduce fraud (2011)
• Supported unified CPC certification for all vehicle sizes (2012)

With the rise of TNCs, the VLA strengthened its advocacy in 2015 to protect member interests and ensure fair regulation.

In 2016, the VLA partnered with PALM AMAC to grow its industry presence. This led to national recognition in 2017 with the LCT-NLA Association of Excellence Award for outstanding leadership, advocacy, and service.