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TAXI REFUSAL COMPLAINTS UP BLOOMBERG ADMINISTRATION SEEKS COUNCIL'S SUPPORT IN BEEFING UP PENALTIES BARUCH COLLEGE STUDENTS AID TLC EFFORTS WITH SECRET SHOPPER PROJECT TLC URGES NEW YORKERS TO REPORT ALL INCIDENCES OF SERVICE REFUSAL The Bloomberg Administration has called for a steep increase in penalties for taxicab drivers who refuse to serve passengers based on their destination. Incidences of service refusal reported to the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) have been on the rise over the past year jumping from 1,963 between July and December 2009 to 2,341 during the same period in 2010 – an increase of over 38%. "A core component of taxi service is that the passenger chooses where to go in the five boroughs," said TLC Commissioner and Chair David Yassky. "Unfortunately, it is getting to be like the bad old days when taxis wouldn't go to Brooklyn. "I strongly encourage taxi riders to call 311 each and every time they are denied service." The TLC enforces against refusals with a "secret shopper" program, but most summonses are issued as a result of passenger complaints. When the TLC receives a passenger refusal complaint the facts of the incident and the identity of the driver are confirmed, and a summons is issued to that driver to attend a hearing at the TLC. This hearing is scheduled to the convenience of the complaining consumer who may participate by telephone if they choose, and involves an Administrative Law Judge hearing from both the driver and passenger, and rendering a decision. Current service refusal penalties are set by Local Law, and require City Council authorization to modify. The proposed penalties would be $500 for a first offense, and $750 and a 30 day suspension for a second offense within 24 months. A current refusal conviction carries a fine of $200-$350 for a first offense, and $350-$500 and a possible 30 day license suspension for a second offense. A third offense within 36 months would remain mandatory TLC license revocation as it is today. The TLC recently enhanced its "secret shopper" enforcement efforts by partnering with Baruch College's School of Public Affairs to deploy students to perform field street hail tests in the evening and nighttime. The students receive training and are supervised. "True to the school's mission of service, these students are proving themselves to be a valuable resource in our fight against service refusal," continued Commissioner Yassky. "I hope to use such academic resources again in the future to bolster our efforts." The TLC continues to monitor service refusal complaints closely, and strongly encourages any members of the riding public to report incidences at either 311, or at www.nyc.gov/taxi. "Since the TLC instituted conveniently scheduled telephone hearings," concluded Commissioner Yassky, "it's easier than ever before for passengers to participate in the passenger complaint process." TLC HEADQUARTERS IS RELOCATING! We at the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission are proud to announce that we have moved our Headquarters to the heart of the Financial District. The move was completed on March 21, 2011 Our new address, and some contact numbers will change. All other contact information remains unchanged; i.e. e-mail addresses, web address, etc. New Address: 33 Beaver Street @ Broad Street, New York, NY 10004 • 19th floor – TLC Court & Commission Meetings • 22nd floor – Executive Offices, Legal Affairs, Administration TLC HAS CHANGED SATURDAY DMV INSPECTION APPOINTMENT DATES The TLC has changed the start date for its Saturday appointments. Temporary Saturday appointments for full DMV Inspections at the Woodside facility began on March 12th and will continue for approximately four to six weeks from that date. Appointments will be scheduled between the hours of 7AM and 1PM. These appointments are only for initial DMV inspections of For-Hire Vehicles and only vehicles with TLC issued inspection confirmation forms will be allowed into the facility. No re-inspections or corrections on notice of violations will be done on Saturdays. Please be on time for your appointment! FOR HIRE-VEHICLE BASE OWNERS LIABLE FOR AFFILIATED DRIVER ACCEPTING ILLEGAL STREET HAILS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON PROPOSED RULES What are we proposing? The Taxi and Limousine Commission is considering changing its for-hire vehicle base owners rules. The change would make for-hire vehicle bases responsible for affiliated drivers who engage in "street hails" instead of operating by prearrangement as required. Base owners would be fined $100 for each violation committed by a driver operating a for-hire vehicle affiliated with the base.
The Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed rule. The public hearing will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 21, 2011. The hearing will be in the Commission hearing room at 33 Beaver Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10004.
Anyone can comment on the proposed rules by:
Yes, you must submit written comments by April 20, 2011.
You must tell the Office of Legal Affairs if you need a reasonable accommodation of a disability at the Hearing. You must tell us if you need a sign language interpreter. You can tell us by mail at the address given above. You may also tell us by telephone at 212-676-1135. You must tell us by Thursday, April 14, 2011.
A few days after the hearing, a transcript of the hearing and copies of the written comments will be available to the public at the Office of Legal Affairs at 33 Beaver Street, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10004.
The Taxi and Limousine Commission's rules require for-hire vehicle drivers to pick up passengers only by pre-arrangement through for-hire vehicle bases. For-hire vehicle drivers and for-hire vehicle owners are subject to penalties for accepting illegal "street hails," but for-hire vehicle base owners are not subject to these penalties. In 2009, as part of a comprehensive revision of rules applicable to the for-hire vehicle industry, the TLC proposed fines for vehicle base owners when their drivers accept "street hails." Industry representatives objected to the penalties, and the Commission dropped the fines from its rules proposal. Despite aggressive TLC enforcement against for-hire vehicle drivers and owners, the problem of illegal "street hails" persists. The TLC therefore proposes a $100 fine on a vehicle base owner for each illegal "street hail" accepted by its drivers providing all vehicle base owners with the incentive to prevent their drivers from accepting illegal "street hails" without harming responsible bases.
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