Blog
08.05 /15
Illegal Airport Cabs Under Fire in New York
8 years ago
The Taxi and Limousine Commission has stepped up enforcement against unlicensed cab drivers. Incidents of fines against cabs drivers believed to be operating illegally at New York airports has increased by 170% over the past two years. Squads patrolling the airports issued 471 tickets in April 2015.
The TLC has increased squads at airports to stop the illegal airport cabs. Some cab companies are not allowed to pick up potential passengers hailing a cab on the street, but many drivers break this rule. The TLC crack-down is making rule breaking more expensive for cab drivers. The executive director the Committee for Taxi Safety has spoken out against the violators, suggesting that repeated offenses should be made a felony, according to the New York Post. Unlicensed operations are considered a threat to public safety. These hacks also undermine legitimate cab companies, breaking the law to take fares away from operations who follow the rules.
The more aggressive enforcement of the law at airports sends a strong message to the unlicensed operations that their tactics won't be tolerated. The fines hit these hacks where it counts, in the wallet, a fitting way to deal with violators who dupe the public and cut into the revenue of law-abiding taxi operations.
In April 2013, suspected illegal operations received 171 summons from the TLC. The sharp increase in 2014 and continued increase in 2015 makes it clear that the TLC considers stopping the unlicensed cabs from operating at airports a priority. The tickets went up by 150% in 2014 and another 20% in 2015. It's getting harder to operate cabs illegally at New York airports and that's the way the TLC wants it.
Cab drivers hustling for airport fares illegally include known companies as well as unknown hustlers. Yellow Cab points to Uber as a rule-breaker, as does executive director of the Committee for Taxi Safety. More visible law-enforcement at airports and the more frequent fines should deter illegal hacks from working New York's airports. This will improve customer safety. Making taxi companies accountable for following the law makes for a better transportation experience for New York's residents and visitors.