From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for March 7, 1988:

Lawrence Mayor Mike Amyx and taxi operator Bob Forbes were in agreement that it might be a good idea to mandate inspections of vehicles used as taxicabs. “I do feel we should get into the safety aspects and make sure there is some type of inspection,” Amyx said. “I would not be opposed to the idea of the city getting into the inspection business.” Forbes, owner of Corporate Coach of Lawrence, agreed, saying, “I think just for the safety of the citizens of Lawrence, there should be some kind of inspections. Whether it is Yellow Cab or us, there should be spot checks or whatever.” Current city ordinances provided that “the police department is authorized to periodically inspect any vehicle for hire at such intervals as shall be established by the chief of police,” but since the state had eliminated vehicle inspections several years earlier, the city had no process by which a taxi operator could show proof of inspection.