NEW YORK—New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers President Fernando Mateo on Wednesday brought to the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) 6,000 tickets issued to livery cab drivers and demanded for the TLC Commissioner David Yassky to pardon them.
The summonses were issued to livery cab drivers for picking up street hails. Under the current law, livery cabs are only allowed to pick up passengers by prearrangement, as only yellow taxis are permitted to pick up street hails. Mateo has asked the taxi drivers not to pay the fines, which vary from $350 to $2,000, and plans to take legal action against the TLC.
“They issued about 6,000 summonses in the last two months, whereas in 2010, 2009, and 2008 combined, less than half of these were issued,” Mateo said. “These summonses were issued while the Federation of Taxi Drivers and other industry leaders were negotiating with the TLC and City Hall and the deputy mayor a deal to bring street hails legally to the outer boroughs.”
Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed legislation that would allow some 40,000 livery drivers to get $1,500 permits to pick up street hails outside Manhattan and in certain parts of Upper Manhattan. The measure was approved by the state Senate on Tuesday.
“Under the legislation, the residents of those areas—who make up 80 percent of New Yorkers—would be able to hail a new class of taxi cab in their neighborhoods, free from worries about whether the car is safe, or whether they will have to haggle over the price,” Bloomberg said.
The summonses were issued to livery cab drivers for picking up street hails. Under the current law, livery cabs are only allowed to pick up passengers by prearrangement, as only yellow taxis are permitted to pick up street hails. Mateo has asked the taxi drivers not to pay the fines, which vary from $350 to $2,000, and plans to take legal action against the TLC.
“They issued about 6,000 summonses in the last two months, whereas in 2010, 2009, and 2008 combined, less than half of these were issued,” Mateo said. “These summonses were issued while the Federation of Taxi Drivers and other industry leaders were negotiating with the TLC and City Hall and the deputy mayor a deal to bring street hails legally to the outer boroughs.”
Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed legislation that would allow some 40,000 livery drivers to get $1,500 permits to pick up street hails outside Manhattan and in certain parts of Upper Manhattan. The measure was approved by the state Senate on Tuesday.
“Under the legislation, the residents of those areas—who make up 80 percent of New Yorkers—would be able to hail a new class of taxi cab in their neighborhoods, free from worries about whether the car is safe, or whether they will have to haggle over the price,” Bloomberg said.
