From the NY Post:The city has seized a record number of bogus cabs hustling for customers at JFK through a new enforcement base that was launched at the airport this fall.
Since the base opened in October, Taxi and Limousine Commission inspectors have seized 530 illegal cabs — more than five times the number taken in the same period last year.
“JFK is an exceptionally active transportation hub,” said Taxi and Limousine Commissioner David Yassky. “And for that reason, it is a magnet for illegal for-hire activity.”
In all, 980 illegal cabs have been taken off the streets since July at JFK and La Guardia airports.
A team of plainclothes inspectors from Squad 15 hits the terminals at around 4 a.m., targeting cabbies who prey on business people arriving on red-eye flights.
11 comments:
Good to know. I thought I was going crazy. I; just took a cab from LaGuardia in which the driver had no license posted and used Siri to get to my house.
I hope the seizures also resulted in deportations.
That's a shitload of cabs!!
So what's the difference between a "bogus" cab and an "illegal" cab?
Firstly, there are approximately 35,000 "gypsy cabs" on the street. These are cars that may or may not be associated with a car service of some kind behaving as though they are yellow taxis. Some have no insurance and there is a possibility the driver borrows a friend's license.
TLC could very well impound thousands of cars every month if they wanted.
The gypsy cabs drive up and down lefferts in queens honking at people waiting for the bus hoping to pick up a fare.
What do these "bogus" cabs charge for a trip to JFK to Midtown Manhattan, or to Flushing, vs a "legit" cab?
The "bogus" cabs in North Flushing deliver illegal cigarettes to your door as well. I see them making deliveries to my ever increasing Korean neighbors then picking up illegal fares on the way to downtown Flushing. They drive very expensive
late model luxury cars with no TLC plates.
A team of plainclothes inspectors from Squad 15 hits the terminals at around 4 a.m., targeting cabbies who prey on business people arriving on red-eye flights.
The fake cabbies try to hustle arriving passengers all day long, not just as 4am.
Big part of the problem is you cant get a TLC cab in most parts of Queens.
These guys only want to work the airports, or go into Manhattan and blow you off despite the TLCs own regulation's.
The Gypsy cabs are the only choice unless you want to call, wait and freeze to death waiting for a legit car service.
Try hailing a yellow TLC at Woodside station, you CANT they all switch the "out of service' lights on.
Can I buy one of them at auction? At least I won't have to deal with Al Gore's engine restrictions
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