Gothamist: Dollar Van Smoke Out

FlatbushGurl

Sun, 29 Oct 2006 19:15:19 -0500

Yeh Ok They do Drive a little Reckless sometimes and it sometimes isnt call for but what most of these people dont understand is everybodies tryin to get a dollar n these police the main reason they crack down on the van drivers is because there head officers tell them go harass these drivers because there not making any tax money off these vans ... i firmly believe that the issue they should be cracking down on is the reckless driving but they are all competing for a dollar n all these people should let these dollar vans breathe .

jt

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 11:22:46 -0500

Way too many of those vans on drive dangerously on Flatbush Ave. They clearly fill an important need, but there needs to be more safety enforcement and ticketing of dangerous driving. JT

dug

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 17:44:41 -0500

this is great! i've been waiting on this crackdown for years. those vans have got to be the most dangerous thing on flatbush.

e

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 15:54:12 -0500

FYI- dollar vans should be referred to as 'jitneys'

Jason Gooljar

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 14:43:33 -0500

Dollar vans ( or cabs ) have been around for a very long time. When I lived in the Bronx you'd find them all over. They even stretched into neighborhing Mount Vernon, NY. Need a ride from Pathmark to your house? There was always a dollar van ( cab ) around. Even some cab companies have unlicensed cars and drivers. You'll know you're in one when the cab driver asks you to sit in the front of the cab. This was still the case back in 02 ( I don't know what it's like now ). I feel that those who skirt the law make it hard on those who are licensed and are trying to comply. I firmly believe that while these businesses should exist, they must be regulated and licensed. There's a reason for wanting these sort of things under regulation. There's all sorts of insurance issues at stake. Either get legal, or get out!

Kojak

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 14:16:57 -0500

"The way those guys drive down Flatbush is criminal!" Maybe so, but they are indeed efficient and fast. I’d pick them over the regular buses anyday.

Adam

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 14:07:58 -0500

I see a future L&O script!

bthirsch

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 13:54:49 -0500

Finally! I was wondering how long it would take the cops to crack down on this. The way those guys drive down Flatbush is criminal! Speeding, running red lights, swerving recklessly, and cutting through several lanes of traffic to pull up to the curb. It's too bad one of those guys mangled a woman before the cops started to crack down. On the other hand, like so much in NYC, the cops will crack down for a few days, and then things will go back to normal (well, until the next person gets maimed or killed by a reckless van).