BOSTON -- A group of high school prom-goers was left stranded earlier this month after their limo driver was arrested.

NewsCenter 5's Susan Wornick reported that prom night began as fun for 14 Easton High School juniors, but it didn't end that way.

"We sat on the floor of the Copley in our prom dresses and our tuxes," said student Brittany Taylor.

They waited for their limo driver, who never returned at 11:30 p.m. as planned. He'd been arrested. Brittany's father got the call.

"I came home around 11 p.m. and there was a message from State Police Milton that they had arrested the limo driver for a suspended license," Patrick Taylor said.

According to the police report, the limousine driver was Peter Kane of Norwood. Though initially approached by a state trooper for being parked in a closed lot, a background check revealed he didn't have a valid driver's license. It had been suspended. A Team 5 investigation discovered he hadn't had a valid license for two years.

According to records obtained from the Registry of Motor Vehicles, Kane's license was suspended after failing to pay for a series of safety violations dating back to 2004, including speeding, failing to stop and causing property damage. Yet, he was the behind the wheel on May 12, driving for L.Z. Limousines of Norwood, and responsible for the safety of 14 high school students.

L.Z. Limousines manager Scott Youman acknowledged Kane was a long-time employee. He said they didn't know about his license, though they check their drivers regularly.

"Our insurance company does check the records, and if there are any issues they make us aware of them. And then sometimes, we'll randomly select someone and do a criminal check in addition to that," Youman said.

This is not the first time Team 5 reported on limo rides gone bad. An investigation shows a pattern of problems with drivers in a mostly unregulated industry. There are no laws requiring companies to do background or driving record checks, and any attempts to pass them have been voted down on Beacon Hill.

"I feel awful about that. Again, punctuality, professionalism and at the very least -- a driver's license, let's at least have that," Patrick Taylor said.

"It's not fair. You hire a limo company thinking you're going to get somewhere safe. You just don't know," Brittany said.

Brittany and her friends got home prom night at about 3 a.m. after L.Z. Limousines sent another limo, and they've apologized but, so far, they've refused to issue a refund.

As for Kane, he's paid all his fines, got his license back, and continues to be one of L.Z. Limousines' drivers.

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