Strict new rules went into effect for New York City cab drivers on Friday that ban drivers from using electronic devices while driving. The ban includes hands-free Bluetooth devices.
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) now prohibits the use of all forms of distractive electronic devices by its licensees in the taxicab, livery, black car, luxury limousine, commuter van and paratransit vehicles.
The TLC will mark the effective date by commencing an enforcement “crackdown” on violators of the new regulations by TLC officers.
These new regulations prohibit drivers from even having a Bluetooth device in their ear.
The new rules also cover portable gaming systems, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and portable music players.
The new regulations create a true “three strikes and you’re out” reality for TLC licensed drivers. Licenses would be revoked for three violations within a 15-month period.
The TLC will also now allow passengers to testify via phone at hearings where drivers are accused of using the devices.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
K 01.30.10 at 11:18 am
I don’t understand why we need laws like this. Passing laws like this is a waste of time, and over-regulation of people’s behaviour.
If you don’t want your cabby on the phone. Ask him to get off it.
BABU 01.30.10 at 7:12 pm
About time. My fellow cab drivers are so careless because they are more interested in the phone conversation than the road.
Leela 02.01.10 at 9:20 pm
Why can’t they use gps?
nyc cabbie 02.03.10 at 2:08 am
they went too far with this one and just becoz cabbies are not united. i bet we could and still can reverse this rule. it wud b nice if tlc officials follow the same rule and shud not use cell phones while driving but hey u kno what i c tlc and police all the time talkin while holdin the phone in hand rather using bluethooth.
Mohammad 02.03.10 at 3:09 pm
i live Jackson heights , i need a car full/part time for nights shift. if any one who want driver for night shift pls call ….646-702-3620.
Sherpa 02.03.10 at 8:06 pm
what is the difference between a private car driver on blue-tooth headphone and a cabby in a blue tooth headphone?? Why only implement this rule to cabbies?? It’s because they can do anything to immigrants.. Cabbies need to unite!!
Sherpa 02.03.10 at 8:20 pm
Who is paying the 50 cents MTA surcharge?? It’s the drivers.. what do we get for paying about 30 dollars a day to MTA?? Nothing!!! Just give you a simple example, when the fare was 4.90 we used to get 6.00 now the same fare becomes 5.40 and we’re still paid 6.00.. Each passing year they bring new rules which suck more money out of poor drivers’ pocket. GPS installation was promised to be free but now the medallion lease is over $900($45 per week for gps maintenance) . How are we going to survive in this business which is slower each passing day. sometimes it’s difficult to take home $50 after expenses. Are we the cash cow??? and We’re treated by people and cops like a second class citizens. I’m ready to quit this job if I get a job just enough to make a living.
NY Cabbie 02.04.10 at 7:46 pm
Hall Of SHAME!!
I somehow happened to stay in a Sheraton New York hotel line early morning at 5:00am this morning because there were just 3 taxis. There were two taxis parked in front of the hotel on the hotel loading zone. After a little while I came to know from other drivers that they’re there to take just JFK and Newark Airport fares. And those of us who were patiently waiting on line would only get Laguardia Airport. We tried all we can to fight off these guys and we even argued with the doorman(bell boy) but we lost and they both got the better fares. The first driver (Medallion # 8E79) actually did 2 trips while we were waiting and waiting for our turn. I don’t know who should we beg for help. We’re helpless. The Bell Boy threaten us and warn us he’ll give us PENN Station only. The other Medallion was 9P89.
I wonder if Sheraton New York management should do something about these Bell boys who take money to sell the good fares. It will certainly affect it’s image when cabbies are fighting in front of the hotel everyday. I told about the brawl to one of it’s customer. Hope he’ll think twice before staying in this hotel.
Fed Up 02.05.10 at 9:15 am
Here is a tool to find out more about the taxis you mentioned
http://www.taxihack.com/taxis/8e79
http://www.taxihack.com/taxis/9p89
BRIAN SOLMERS 02.06.10 at 3:19 am
third world countrymen will never form or join a union! the city can do anything to us because of this!
steve from brooklyn 02.06.10 at 9:52 am
THE TAXI INDUSTRY NEEDS MORE MEN LIKE TRAVIS BUCKEL TO GET RESPECT.
Charles Taxi 02.07.10 at 11:26 am
Sherpa, the difference between a Car Service and other services who DO NOT HAVE TO TURN THEIR BLUE TOOTHS AND TELEPHONES OFF with passengers, is that there is not a big Commission of dancing lizards who bit their fingernails to the bone everyday if they cannot put a new edict out in the newspaper headlines. If you are going to be a ruling commission, by golly, you have to RULE RULE RULE by making more RULES RULES RULES that benefit the big taxi fleet garages!!!!
The percentage cuts from the ADVERTISING that everyone wants off. Why not inform customers what is going on so they do not want to USE their credit cards, and do want to stifle the big bankers who bought into taxis, and the advertisers who came in on their coat-tails?
NY Cabbie 02.09.10 at 8:51 pm
Let’s do something to doorman/black cars and taxis who mercilessly steal our fares.. we have a family to feed too and if we don’t fight we’ll keep on loosing.. BTW I saw those two bastards there in Sheraton again.. Is TLC reading my post????
Anonymous 02.19.10 at 9:31 am
law of unintended consequences….
saw my cabbie covertly texting while driving yesterday. now that they aren’t allowed to use hands-free a lot are texting - which is worse!
gennady 02.21.10 at 9:48 pm
Oll taxi drivers,STOP TO PAY doormans 3days.Then will see.
Charles T 02.22.10 at 3:23 am
To NY cabbie your message of 2/4/10. A suggestion how to handle the Sheraton cheats early morning. You say there are other two cabs up by the hotel loading zone (probably doorman’s brothers-in law), who the doorman is going to give airports to, before you guys. And you are the third cab on the stand. A good way to handle it and I’ve seen it before, you get out of your cab, or if you are the first cab in line, ask the second cab to do it, get out of the cab and just casually go up and stand by the guest departure door, and when the guest (with luggage) being guided by the doorman starts to head to one of those “special cabs” you ask, mam, sir, did you request a special cab? And when the guest says NO, you point to the first cab (in line) and say that’s the next cab, and the first cab in line watching you signal, drives up and gets the customer. The doorman who is trying to cheat, cannot cause a ruckus in front of the guest.
This is also used to thwart the idiot cab who pulls up in front of a door in front of the cabs waiting in line. The second cabbie has to go up and stand nearby the idiot cab. When a rider comes out the door and approaches that cab, you calmly ask, did you request a special cab? And the rider says no, so you point and say that is the top cab.
This works and does embarass the cheater who realizes he is not going to succeed at his game, and doesn’t know how long to wait there to pretend he has a pre-arranged rider.