Gothamist: Fake Livery Cab Driver Sexually Assaults Woman

newyorkette

Thu, 16 Feb 2006 12:56:34 -0500

I live up in Washington Heights where the black (and sometimes white) town cars are constantly beeping at anyone standing still at a street crossing (to let them know they're available for fare). "Oh, yeah," I always think to myself, "I'd just love to get into a black unmarked car and never be seen again. Remembering the license plate is gonna come in real handy when I'm dead!" Never never never will I get into a town car that I haven't personally called in through a car service. Anything else I call the cab-of-death. (But I may be a liittle on the paranoid side, I'll admit).

Caitlinator

Wed, 15 Feb 2006 10:31:56 -0500

TLC cabs must have TLC plates; I always check the plates first. Usually, town cars also have company information on the window of the cab somewhere. I try to make a mental note of the company before getting in, also. Of course the safest way to know you're getting in a real livery cab is to call one yourself and not get in an unmarked car at all.

your sister's gay boyfriend

Wed, 15 Feb 2006 10:27:36 -0500

Don't Town Cars need to have TLC-issued license plates too?

beth

Wed, 15 Feb 2006 10:27:29 -0500

It's generally a very good idea to look at the license plate of any car claiming to be a car service -- if it starts with a T and has no spaces in the sequence, it's at least registered w/the T&LC. If it's just a regular old plate, don't take your chances.

Eryximachus

Wed, 15 Feb 2006 10:05:28 -0500

You can never know really. What the city should do is have zoned licenses for taxis. The problem we have in this city is taxi drivers are greedy and will always try to go where they will get the shortest rides, so they can get many $2 flag pulls. People in the Boroughs are not going to take a taxi three blocks like some lazy shoppers or Midtown executives. We can eliminate the flag pull fee, but I think the most effective plan would be to have taxis licensed for each Borough. They can drive anywhere, but only pick people up in their licensed Borough. This would ensure every Borough gets service.