CITY HALL \u2013 Continuing efforts to strengthen and improve passenger safety for residents that use livery cabs in New York City, the Council will vote Wednesday on legislation that would make it easier for passengers to know and understand their rights. Council members were also joined by members of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers and the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade representing livery cab drivers and livery cab fleets.<\/p>\n
Specifically, some of the key points of the legislation are:
\n\u00b7 Require to post that the car that is in good condition and has passed all required inspections;
\n\u00b7 Require that a properly licensed driver is in good standing with the commission-issued driver\u2019s license information on display and;
\n\u00b7 Require that taxi cab bases give passengers a pre-approved fare quoted by the dispatcher.<\/p>\n
This bill was created after local council members received complaints from constituents about the conduct of some livery drivers. The livery cab \u2018Bill of Rights\u2019 would for the first time clearly state the rights of car service and \u2018black car\u2019 passengers to include those already guaranteed to taxi drivers. <\/p>\n
\u201cLivery cabs are a staple of life in all five boroughs, and these passengers deserve the assurance that they are in a car that is safe and protected,\u201d said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. \u201cFar too often, these passengers don\u2019t know that they are entitled to a certain standard, and even more often don\u2019t know where to turn when they don\u2019t receive it. This bill will now make livery cabs more accountable and provide passengers with information on where to turn to report and unsafe car or unfair charge.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCar service passengers today have no clue that their ride is governed by the rules of the Taxi and Limousine Commission, and that needs to change,” said Council Member Dan Garodnick. \u201cWhen you get in the back seat of a for-hire vehicle, you should have the comfort of knowing that your basic rights as a passenger are protected by law. Riders need to know where to file a complaint, and that they have recourse if something goes wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m pleased that this legislation has come to the forefront which will protect my constituents in the Bronx and those who live in boroughs where yellow cabs do not frequent,\u201d said Council Member Maria del Carmen Arroyo. \u201cThis bill of rights will clearly be stated in a place where people can see them and now they will have a place to call when they feel that they need a place to issue a complaint.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe TLC has already dragged its feet for years in overhauling for-hire vehicle rules, including better explanation of passengers’ rights,\u201d said Council Member John Liu. \u201cWe’re compelled to take such legislative action on a simple, rather intuitive matter because, unfortunately, if we wait for the TLC, the improvements may very well never get implemented.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Taxi and Limousine Commission estimates that it receives 1,000 complaints per year about issues that will be covered under the legislation. The passenger bill of rights will be posted where riders can see it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CITY HALL \u2013 Continuing efforts to strengthen and improve passenger safety for residents that use livery cabs in New York City, the Council will vote Wednesday on legislation that would make it easier for passengers to know and understand their rights. Council members were also joined by members of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers and the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade representing livery cab drivers and livery cab fleets.<\/p>\n
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