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'Taxi police' have hit the streets

By Marlene Naanes, amNewYork Staff Writer
More stories | MNaanes@am-ny.com

January 24, 2008

Taxi police began posing as passengers yesterday, doling out fines to drivers who chat on their cell phone during trips and refuse fares to outer boroughs.

The effort, coined "Operation: Secret Rider," is the first of its kind and will crack down on cabbies who do not abide by the Taxi Passenger Bill of Rights that prohibits cell phone use and rudeness.

Most drivers follow the rules, taxi officials said, but riders have complained recently that some cabbies refuse credit cards. The taxi commission recently added the right to pay with plastic to the bill rights.

Currently, more than 60 percent of cabs are equipped to take cards, though the entire fleet will carry the necessary technology by year's end. Last year, drivers went on strike against GPS systems and credit card readers they said unfairly charged cabbies a 5 percent fee per transaction.

Fines for violating passengers' rights range from $150 to $350.

In the ongoing enforcement effort, Taxi and Limousine Commission officers, whose job it is to enforce taxi regulations, will also look for exemplary drivers who will be considered for honors at a ceremony later this year.

The commission modeled the operation after similar programs that send out secret shoppers to rate customer service in stores.

"Were going to do the same thing here for our drivers to make sure the passenger benefits," TLC Commissioner Matthew Daus said.