Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
663 Taxi Drivers Will Lose Licenses For Taxi Scam
By
Ben Yakas
Published May 14, 2010
Modified May 14, 2010
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
Ben Yakas
Published May 14, 2010
Modified May 14, 2010
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
Today, the Taxi and Limousine Commission revealed the final statistics related to the Great Taxi Scandal, and said as a result they plan to revoke 663 drivers of their licenses. Altogether, 21,819 taxicab drivers overcharged passengers a total of 286,000 times, resulting in $1.1 million in overcharges for passengers.
When the taxi scandal of 2010 first broke, it was estimated that 35,000 drivers overcharged passengers a total of $8.3 million, but those initial estimates were soon deflated as over-the-top when more information was revealed about how the overcharges occurred. The majority of those 21,000+ drivers, 13,315, only overcharged passengers once or twice. But the 663 who will lose their licenses did so 50 or more times.
Even though the overall numbers were diminished from what they were first thought to be, City Council member and transportation chair James Vacca justified passengers anger: “Riders have a right to pay the appropriate fare and not a penny more. While the number of cabbies accused of repeated overcharging is relatively small, that in no way limits how outraged we should be by those who nickel-and-dimed riders.”
Tagged
cab
overcharge
scam
taxi
taxi scandal
tlc
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Staten Island fire injures two, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 10:34 a.m. ET
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
News
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD searching for 'person of interest' in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
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 .