Chatty Cabbies Face Tough New Penalties For Cell Phone Use

jglsong's Flickr

It's actually against the rules for cab drivers to use cell phones while driving—even hands-free. But the restriction is routinely shrugged off, so yesterday the Taxi and Limousine Commission Thursday unanimously approved more severe penalties for scofflaws. Hacks who yak will now face fines, a 30-day suspension for two violations and loss of license for three violations in 15 months. The previous rule, passed in 1999, only banned talking on cellphones, but the new restrictions also ban the use of any technology capable of making non-emergency phone calls or texting.

Yesterday the TLC also announced a Request for Proposals for the "Taxi of Tomorrow" project, whose mission is to upgrade its existing taxi fleet with a uniform design for all taxicabs. There are currently 16 makes, none of which were designed by the original manufacturers as taxis, but by 2014, the TLC expects to impose complete uniformity on its fleet. So they're seeking "a highly-qualified original equipment manufacturer... to bring our vision of the next generation of taxicab to fruition."

Among other things, the TLC wants an "iconic design," minimized environmental impact, "universal accessibility for all users with a goal of meeting ADA guidelines," and a smaller size that also has more leg room. There are 13,237 cabs on the road today, but the winning company will be asked to build 26,500, and will have the right to exclusively provide the taxicab for a full ten years. Think you've got what it takes? Check out the Taxi of Tomorrow website. But whatever design you come up with, please make sure we can still turn off those TV screens.

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

By John Del Signore in News on December 18, 2009 10:02 AM

Comments [rss]

OsamaBinCrosby

I, for one, appreciate the fact that we don't have to be subjected to this annoying noise pollution any longer!

So, how's this going to work now, as a passenger? Say you're zipping up 6th Avenue and you hear that old familiar non-stop gibberish coming from the front seat? Do you have the right to tell them to shut the fuck up? Or the right to refuse to pay the fare? Demand to be let out immediately? If you've ever called "311," you'll know it does absolutely NO good, so good luck!

NannyState

I want a cab with 200 carriage horses under the hood.

Spirit of 76

I would think something similar to the Toyota Scion would be good for a cab. Very roomy and you wouldn't mistake that shape for anything else. Or at least a good minivan, preferably with Checker-style or face-to-face seating. And like Noreaster76, I don't think it would be a bad thing to have the top gear give a max speed of 55. I think the highest speed limit in the city is 50 on the Belt, isn't it? Who really needs a taxi that can do 80 or more?

silver

Security theater. If you file a complaint against the driver, its going to be 4 months until the trial, and then in 4 months you get told they are "out of the country" and the TLC will notify you by letter when they are back. They never did for me.

zagoudi

one has to admit that talking while driving is dangerous. However, why the penalties are limited to cabdrivers. Why can't they be extended to the larger population of drivers. Is it part of the negative campaign that has been and continue to be waged against cab-drivers ?

Snoopy

Also this call for new cab designs comes around about every twenty years and nothing comes out of it. I remember there was one in the early seventies and I believe MOMA had something to do with it. I believe there was a catalog printed also.

Obviously the car company would have to start with one of their existing car platforms and then add the goodies necessary to fill in the gaps required for the design. Not a cheap thing to do.

Snoopy

Design a new cab with it's own special look and in a quantity of 26,500. I'm sure there are a lot of auto manufacturers out there that would just love to win that contract. At a price of $100,000 a piece maybe.

If a normal (for public consumption) vehicle could meet the criteria, don't you think it would be out there already.

BTW: I saw an original Checker cab the other day. Still used as a cab. It had Jersey plates on it. Now that was a cab.

Noreaster76

The new cabs should not only have zero emissions, but they should also have low top speeds and poor acceleration. If the NYPD isn't going to enforce traffic laws and make cabbies drive like normal human beings, then at least don't give cabbies any sort of vehicle where they can drive like maniacs and be a danger to others.

Oh, and also, don't put horns in the new cabs, either.

T

It'll be ok, Grandma.

CR

It'll be interesting to see if accidents decline as a result.

brooklynmouthoff

I'll be curious to see that as well. At least the drivers will be more likely to listen to us when we give them directions.

We'll see, I guess.