By Kamal Ahmed
The Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), the agency responsible for licensing and regulating New York City’s yellow medallion taxis and for-hire vehicles, has stepped up joint surveillance with the New York Police Department (NYPD) to crack down on illegal ride activity aimed at enhancing passenger safety and protecting drivers’ earnings.
“Our Uniformed Services Bureau is cracking down on illegal for-hire activity and has been performing joint operations with the NYPD in Brooklyn to cite, inspect, and seize illegal commuter vans – otherwise known as “dollar vans,” according to a social media post made by the TLC on Friday.
TLC licenses 200,000 drivers, who provide one million rides per day… or 600 to 612 trips per minute, according to the latest statistics available.
The Meta post says they pose a big safety risk to passengers and road users. ‘They also take money out of the pockets of licensed drivers who pay by the rules,’ the post reads.
According to the TLC website, “We work hard to ensure all passengers reach their destinations safely in vehicles we license and inspect, with drivers that we train and license.”
“Illegal rides are unsured and unsafe and many illegal drivers don’t even have a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) license.” They also frequently overcharge passengers.”
Talking to this correspondent, Shaheen Hossain, a for-hire driver, welcomed TLC’s initiative, saying it will be beneficial for both the passengers and the hard-working app-based drivers.
“We, as the verified drivers, are being monitored 24/7 and could be held responsible even for a single violation, but the illegal ride operators carry zero liability in the event of a violation, whether small or big,” he said.
“All the time, I see the illegal commuter vans picking up passengers at Jamaica Bus Station, JFK airport, and the Bronx. There is no one to look into it,” he said, and came down heavily on the rampant illegal ride activity.
Shaheen, who has been driving for over 24 years, said, “I carry a million-dollar insurance policy, while monthly $400 for liability insurance while they carry cheap regular insurance with a lump sum amount of money, and some of them have nothing,” said Shaheen.
“Some of the drivers are drug addicts. They are taking our earnings,” he pointed out.
“I drive almost every day but never saw TLC police in my own eyes…the TLC has a limited number of inspectors against the demand in order to crack down on the entire illegal ride operations,” he said, and suggested deploying sufficient manpower (TLC inspectors) to have a vigorous surveillance to thwart the illegal ride operators.
MD Moinul Hossain, another app-based driver, said the illegal ride operations have posed a serious threat to both the passengers and the entire commercial auto industry.
“Their plates are fake. They make money paying no tax nothing, while we can’t even take home $50 out of $100 we make,” he added.
The TLC identified locations – airports, train stations, concert venues, sporting events, tourist attractions, Broadway shows, and hotels – where illegal ride activity could be prevalent.
The regulator also advised to report illegal street hails by calling 311 or going to https://portal.311.nyc.gov/.