Hybrid Taxi Law Blocked by Federal Judge

A federal judge has stepped in to block a regulation requiring all new taxis in NYC to meet a minimum fuel-efficient standard of 30 miles per gallon, Reuters reports. Taxi fleet owners had filed a lawsuit last month to stop the mandate, calling it costly and potentially unsafe, and today U.S. District Judge Paul Crotty granted a preliminary injunction, ruling that the owners had "demonstrated a likelihood of success." The hybrid taxi initiative is a major part of Bloomberg's plan to reduce the city's carbon footprint by 30 percent by 2030. In a statement, the mayor unloaded on Crotty: "The decision is not a ruling against hybrids cabs, rather a ruling that archaic Washington regulations are applicable and therefore New York City, and all other cities, are prevented from choosing to create cleaner air and a healthier place to live."

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By John Del Signore in News on October 31, 2008 3:44 PM

Comments [rss]

Jerky

The next time gasoline spikes in the next year or two, guess who's not going to get another rate increase after this?

blablanyc

Because Bloomberg didn't get his way, he wants to punish the non-hybrid taxi owners by taxing them more. He should be giving them an incentive to use the hybrid vehicles instead of taxing them for not using them. Bloomberg's attack on Croty is uimpressive.

glennQNYC

Don't you just hate it when reality smacks you in the face and wakes you up from your dream?

blablanyc

It's trivial which president appointed Croty. Croty interpreted the Federal law correctly. Federal judges need to be impartial with their decisions. If they are not, a competency challenge can occur.

Sean in Brooklyn

Yay! I get to breath more exhaust! Thank you so much Mr. Government!

While we're at it, can we explain why Crown Vics don't get 30mpg already anyway? Jettas do. Oh, I forgot that Mr. Government sleeps with Mr. Ford.

Snoopy

And this is the same mayor that wants to put a giant garbage truck garage next to the Holland tunnel's exhaust vents.

HUGO_MEGO

Good decision. The green hipsters of NYC will have something to flip out over.

jnguy

Sure it will. Probably along with global warming.

ides_of_march

The term "carbon footprint' in few years will get tossed in the same heep as pet rock, 8 track tapes and bell bottom jeans.

tteld

No surprise; Crotty's a Bush appointee http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/nominations/359.html

GOP

I'd say all of the initiatives by Bloomberg more than make up for his non-hybrid limo (assuming it's a non-hybrid limo).

Your thinking prevents ANYONE from doing anything, because he without any sin must cast the first stone. No one is without sin (i.e. carbon footprint), even you, my friend, even you. Do you dry your clothes in a dryer? Have you bought one bottle of water lately? Have you turn on your heat? Did you take a long shower? You probably didn't implement a green initiative in the biggest city in the world... have you?