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Corrupt Cabbies Slammed Harder

By

Zoe Schlanger

Published May 21, 2010

Modified May 21, 2010

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By

Zoe Schlanger

Published May 21, 2010

Modified May 21, 2010

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The Great Taxi Scandal rages on! The number of taxi drivers who may lose their licenses for overcharging unwitting passengers out-of-town rates has climbed to more than 1,000. The increase, from the previous figure of 633, is due to several hundred scamming drivers being offered the option to pay a heavy fine to retain their licenses, to the tune $5,000.

While 633 of the most fraudulent cabbies—those overcharging on 1,000 trips or more—will have their licenses revoked without the option of paying the fine, hundreds more are expected to forfeit their licenses rather than shell out $5K.

“It’s a sobering thing to begin a process that will result in perhaps upwards of 1,000 people losing their jobs and livelihoods,” notes David Yassky, presiding over his first hearing as commission chairman yesterday. Though he has been sympathetic to the short-term damage to the industry, Yassky has held firm on the prosecution of cab corruption. “Make no mistake: Our obligation is to the riding public. And we will protect the integrity of the fare.”

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taxis

Zoe Schlanger

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