Yesterday the mayor held a press conference about the city’s plans to crack down on cab drivers who refuse fares based on where a passenger wants to go, and they released the video above of what Gothamist calls a ‘secret shopper’ looking out for violations.” (The first fare refused in it is to 3rd Avenue and Union Street.) According to City Room, “complaints of illegal refusals by cabbies are up 36 percent during the eight-month span ending in February, compared with the same period in 2009 and 2010.” Taxi commissioner David Yassky said at the press conference that “his sister had recently failed three times to hail a cab in the rain while walking with her 7-month-old in Park Slope, Brooklyn.” The city is proposing harsher penalties against cabbies for fare refusals: $500 for a first offense and $750 and a 30-day suspension for a second offense.
City Starts To Take Fare-Refusing Cabbies Seriously [Gothamist]
Cabbies Say No as the Camera Is Rolling [City Room]


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  1. DIBS-

    Shouldn’t cabbies be able to determine on their own volition where they drive to? Whatever happened to your commitment to the free market?

    Next thing we know you will be supporting unions!

  2. Dibs – what snaps said. We live closer to the tunnel and while it costs me an extra $6.50 – it actually comes out cheaper b/c of the avoidance of the bridge and Flatbush avenue. However if I am downtown on Bway in the city – then I will just say to use the Manhattan bridge. $20 is NOT bad at all. I have had to take cabs from East 80th to my house in south slope and it’s been costing me with tip AND toll about $30-$35

    Ditto- haaaa, NO! I don’t say “take me to the slope” – haaaa – that’s funny

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