Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
50-Cent Taxi Surcharge Goes Into Effect Sunday
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 30, 2009
Modified Oct 30, 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
Jen Chung
Published Oct 30, 2009
Modified Oct 30, 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
This Sunday, a 50-cent surcharge will be added to taxi fares, as part of the state's MTA bailout which was approved earlier this year. This surcharge is in addition to the existing surcharges, such as the rush-hour surcharge (Monday-Friday) of $1 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and the night surcharge between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Two taxi metering companies' computers (not the Taxi and Limousine Commission's) jumped the gun with the surcharge—apparently 4,000 taxi riders were overcharged by 50 cents on October 22, 25 and 26, because of a "computer glitch." The Daily News reports that riders can get refunds—call 311— if they can back up their claims with a credit card receipt or taxi receipt: "The TLC said it has made arrangements for the responsible companies to refund the overcharges." More details about the refund after the jump:
From the TLC:
Affected passengers may call 311, to report they were overcharged, or submit a claim for the refund at www.nyc.gov/tlc. GPS technology will allow any affected passenger to be correctly identified and refunded. To request a refund, affected passengers will need to fill out a form that will ask them for several pieces of information to assist in verifying their claim.
· If paid by Credit Card:
o Credit Card Statement
§ block out all but last four digits of card numbero OR Taxi Fare Receipt
o AND Name & Address (for refund payment)
· If paid by Cash
o Taxi Fare Receipt
· OR the following pieces of information:
o Trip Start Date/Time
o Trip End Date/Time
o Trip Start Location
o Trip End Location
o Amount of Trip Cost
o AND Name & Address (for refund payment)Affected passengers will be able to request the refund until December 31, 2009.
Tagged
fare
MTA bailout
surcharge
taxi and limousine commission
taxi fare
tlc
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Central Park birders, others remember 63-year-old woman killed in park
People who said they knew her described her as an artist and a familiar presence in the Ramble.
By
Charles Lane
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 7:04 p.m. ET
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
News
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
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 .