Crackdown on chatty hacks
Time to quiet down, cabbies.
Taxi officials approved a sweeping crackdown of cellphone usage for hacks yesterday, promising an end to dangerous chatty drivers once and for all.
After the unanimous vote by the Taxi and Limousine Commission, the regulations will go into effect in mid-January.
Newly forbidden will be the use of any electronic device while cabs are in motion, and drivers who disobey the law will be hit with strict penalties — including license suspension on “strike two” and revocation on the “strike three.”
“This will go a long way in eradicating the problem of distracted driving that exists today among our driver licensees. This was a major victory for the riding and walking public,” said TLC Commissioner Matthew Daus.
Current laws ban only talking on cellphones.
Even the most popular hack trick — keeping a hands-free device in an ear and claiming it’s “turned off” — will now be a no-no.
Hacks and industry advocates claimed the rules will keep drivers in the dark on family matters.
Cabby Razza Abbasi, 47, has been driving for six years.
“I cannot get in touch with my family until the end of my shift,” said Abbasi, a father of four.
“It’s definitely not fair. If there’s an emergency in my family, I can’t get in touch with them.”
Also banned is any device capable of making non-emergency calls, texting, playing music, and taking pictures while the cab is in motion.
Drivers even have to turn off touch-screen GPS devices unless they’re voice-activated.
Hacks have to be fully parked to use a cellphone — and being stopped at a red light doesn’t apply.
And all drivers of all vehicles regulated by the TLC, including taxis, liveries, limousines and commuter vans, have to adhere to the regulations.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
shipon 12.22.09 at 9:55 pm
It’s not fair for cab driver. this rule should be affected for all kinds of drivers including passengers in the back seated.If this rule only cab driver, how they are going to get in touch with their family? To me this is not a fair rule, it’s just against of cab drivers.
shipon 12.22.09 at 10:12 pm
even though taxi drivers are talking on the phone but there is a very quiet incident occured in the past because cab drivers are very careful while they drive. regular drivers made more accidents because they are not used to.every body hates cabbies, why they are not stealing or taking bribes from people.they work hard and their income is 100% pure unless they cheat with unknown or tourists.Now a days their income is getting very low and there are a lot of cabs on the streets.so i think TLC also should be taking care of cabbies because they they all are in the same umbrella.
mr. cabby 12.23.09 at 10:23 am
this is so not fair for the cab drivers. or i rather say this is just unconstitutional beacuse tlc is trying to interfare in privacy of a cab driver. we drvers also have needs. lets face the facts. cell is not only the distraction. how about that stupid tv on the back. even thou we are not watching it but still listen to it. and some idiot cutomers raise the volume to high. what if i have an emergency to call someone or had to receive an important and im enroute to a long trip. how about conditions to use a cell phone. car has to be parked and turned off. guys these conditions just make laugh. how many people can tell that they can park the car in midtown without getting a ticket. well so many things to but as i write its making me more angry. my fellow cab drivers the time has come let the tlc know that we are human and must be treated like one.
mellow 12.24.09 at 6:39 am
my wife is 8 months pregnent..What they think I am not gonna pick up the phone whenever she calls..think again…and YES they don’t give two shits about cab drivers..why should we….
mesbahul hoda 12.30.09 at 12:44 am
I am a yellow cabby myself. I fully support the cell phone crackdown. Cabbies are more attentive to their phone conversation than on the road. I was nearly involved in a very tragic accident exiting Newark Airport because this yellow cabby swerves in the last moment while busy on his phone. Luckily there was no car on the other lane and was able to swerve quick. Just the other day, this driver was talking so loud on his phone that I could hear him and my windows as well as his were closed. Is this professional? We are service provider!
Susan Jonas 01.18.10 at 4:51 pm
This law will only work of passengers demand it be enforced, and it is their right to do so; a cabby talking on a hand-free cell is equivalent in ability to a mildly drunk driver. Would you drive with someone who was drunk? I am tired of hearing cabbies complin, They are paid to drive us safely. That’s the job. Tips are for exceptional service. They can take a break and make or answer a call, but not while driving, and not with a passenger. Inconvenient? hardly. It was not long ago we HAD no cell phones and we survived. Anything can wait an hour. But there is no excuse for putting people at risk for DEATH, because you want the convenivnece of calling while working. Can you iamgine if I did my job while on the cell? I am a teacher. Or your doctor? Cells should be a great convenience and safety device. But people are not using them safely. it’s like that line, “Guns don’t kill people, People kill people.” Yup.
joe 01.24.10 at 1:36 am
SUSAN THEY DONT SPEAK ENGLISH SO THEY CAN’T TALK TO YOU THEY MUST TALK TO THEIR COMRADS 24 HOURS.
Driver 7 01.24.10 at 4:48 pm
Joining a NYTWA - UNION cost less than 50 cents a day, less than a cup of coffee !
Nabila 02.01.10 at 11:03 pm
Joe!!! that was extreamly rude and that just shows how ignorant people can be. If you want your cab driver to stop talking on the phone then maybe you should tip them a bit more then 5% if that!!!!. Look no where in the city is safe, so if you think your cab driving talking to his family is putting you in danger then stay home or take the subway!!!!!. Let people work in peace.!
dude 02.04.10 at 6:59 pm
one time i was in a cab (in chicago) and the driver was chatting away on his cell phone and completely missed our stop. It took an extra 10 minutes to get to our destination and he took the $2.50 tax off. but i’m sure that 10 minutes cost us more than $2.50. he did not get a tip.
ladokha Khateharu 02.04.10 at 8:14 pm
first of all taxi driver’s are not Slave we need a freedom i agree while we driving we should not talk in the phone but what the F……k is Electronic device means ? we are in USA Democratic n Freedom Country so Please stop Kicking our ASS… NO RACISM
Thanks
NY Cabbie 02.04.10 at 8:19 pm
Cabbies are professional drivers and I don’t think most of us talk bullshit on the phone, As we drive 12 hrs a day and talking on the phone is no distraction at all for me, because I’m focused on driving not talking all the time. Most of the time when I’m on the phone is to ask my friends about the traffic to the direction I’m going or letting my friends know where it’s busy or informing them of street closer. This has helped me save money of my passenger by taking them the fastest route or saving them valuable time as well. I really don’t see no harm here. But if an unlucky driver get caught two times while taking emergency call from his family and has his license suspended for 30 days, he’ll become homeless and his family will be out on the street. Does TLC even care about these issues???