Passenger Bill of Rights for Livery Cars

The City Council was expected to pass a bill of rights for passengers of livery cars today. The NY Post reported that "A placard outlining 11 rules will be installed in the back-seat area of some 40,000 for-hire cars, granting livery passengers similar rights to those already posted in yellow cabs." The rules will prohibit drivers from changing fares, but also allow passengers to be in control of noise/music, climate and cellphone use! Too bad nothing can be done about that cologne scent that permeates most cars. City Councilman Daniel Garodnick noted the importance of the bill, stating "when you get into one of these cars there is absolutely no indication of city regulation in any way and we thought that New Yorkers needed to know that this is regulated by the New York City Taxi Commission and there are rights with every trip."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on February 11, 2009 5:38 PM

Comments [rss]

Art Vandelay

Now how about putting some meters in those damned things so you don't have to play games with them when it comes to the price.

Art Vandelay

Now how about putting some meters in those damned things so you don't have to play games with them when it comes to the price.

KiljoyWasHere

Livery cabs are regulated?

whitecastlerock

Oh that whacky City Council.... They sit around all day wondering what to do next. Yes a passenger bill of rights for livery cabs. How noble. Considering some passengers attack and murder these drivers I think the bill is misdirected.

Politburo

Some people are murderers, so the rest of us have to put with with being treated like shit by a regulated entity?

Yeah, that makes perfect sense.

whitecastlerock

Yep life isn't fair. No one is forcing you to take these cabs either... Sorry pal-go write your city council member to support this bill...

jpeditor

#1 reason to take car service over yellow cabs:

You can pick a service where most (if not all) of the drivers do NOT send their money to hamas, hezbullah and al queda.

Mr Mel

There are 40,000 livery cars? There aren't that many yellow cabs. They need better regulation.

Trilby16

I got in a town car recently with a Sikh gentleman, and nothing against that religion, but man, there was way too much fabric and hair of all kinds for that small enclosed space. I had to breathe through my mouth the whole way. It was too cold to crack a window. There oughta be a law!