Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Chatty Cabbies Using Cell Phones with Impunity
By
John Del Signore
Published Aug 4, 2009
Modified Aug 4, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Aug 4, 2009
Modified Aug 4, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
You'll be forgiven for not realizing that it's actually illegal for NYC cab drivers to use cell phones—even hands-free—because they all do it. This morning the Times takes a look at chatty cabbies as part of an ongoing series of articles called "Driven to Distraction." Surprisingly, a reporter assigned to ride in cabs as research found that only about one third of his 20 taxi rides featured a driver using his or her cell phone. Almost all of them terminated the call when asked—except for one hack who pulled over and grumbled about a stalled engine.
Cabbies caught using cell phones (even for text messaging) can theoretically get hit by a $200 fine, but it's rarely enforced. Only 411 summonses were issued for the offense in 2008, and in the first six months of this year just 232 summonses for cellphone use were issued, or one ticket for every 517,241 cab rides during that period. Another fun fact in the article: The Taxi and Limousine Commission doesn't bother keeping track of any taxicab accidents, so it's hard to say how many are caused by cellphone-distracted drivers. But earlier this year the TLC expressed interest in cell phone blocking technology (for drivers while engaged, but not passengers).
And the online version of the Driven to Distraction series comes with an interactive game to test your driving-while-texting skills. It involves changing lanes while responding to text messages from NYTimes.com, asking you Suzy Homemaker questions such as, "What kind of pie do you want? Do you want whipped cream on that?" While the "game" is so dull it makes Orbitz beach volleyball seem like World of Warcraft, we're excited to see the Times company diversifying into baked goods, and we can't wait to, uh, aggregate some pies from their windowsill.
Tagged
cab
cabbie
cell phone
driven to distraction
driving
law
summons
taxi
times
tlc
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Plainclothes ICE agent with long gun looked like mass shooter, Mayor Mamdani says
The mayor said his administration would review ICE and NYPD actions surrounding Thursday’s shooting.
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published Oct 11, 2026
NJ Transit riders face 5 weeks of schedule disruptions starting Sunday
NJ Transit and Amtrak riders should prepare for cancellations, schedule changes and longer commutes as work continues on the new Portal North Bridge.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
NJ Transit riders face 5 weeks of schedule disruptions starting Sunday
NJ Transit and Amtrak riders should prepare for cancellations, schedule changes and longer commutes as work continues on the new Portal North Bridge.
By
Giulia Heyward
For a Democrat in a traditionally red NJ district, how to woo Republican voters
By
Mike Hayes
2 pedestrians killed in Bronx crash after driver ran red light, police say
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Ann Givens
Rain could put a damper on NYC’s long weekend. Here’s when it will clear.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .