File #: Res 1350-2008    Version: * Name: Condemning the practice of some taxicab drivers in refusing to carry passengers based on race and/or requested destination.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Transportation
On agenda: 4/16/2008
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution condemning the practice of some taxicab drivers in refusing to carry passengers based on race and/or requested destination.
Sponsors: Letitia James, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Lewis A. Fidler, Sara M. Gonzalez, Robert Jackson, G. Oliver Koppell, Darlene Mealy, Michael C. Nelson, Annabel Palma, Alan J. Gerson, Melissa Mark-Viverito
Council Member Sponsors: 11

Res. No. 1350

 

Resolution condemning the practice of some taxicab drivers in refusing to carry passengers based on race and/or requested destination.

 

By Council Members James, Comrie, Fidler, Gonzalez, Jackson, Koppell, Mealy, Nelson, Palma, Gerson and Mark-Viverito

 

Whereas, The rules and regulations of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) state that a driver shall not seek to ascertain the destination of a passenger before such passenger is seated in the taxicab; and

Whereas, The rules and regulations of the TLC also state that a driver shall not refuse, by words, gestures or any other means, without justifiable grounds, to take any passenger to any destination within the City of New York, the counties of Westchester or Nassau or Newark Airport; and

Whereas, The practice of refusing passengers based on their race attracted national attention in 1999, when it was reported that an African-American actor, Danny Glover, was refused service by five taxi drivers, presumably based on his race; and

Whereas, Subsequently, Mr. Glover filed a formal complaint with the TLC, and his public outrage led both the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the TLC to strengthen the enforcement of taxi driver compliance with the rules and regulations of the TLC; and

Whereas, Such enforcement is carried out through the NYPD’s and TLC’s undercover effort called “Operation Refusal,” which monitors taxi drivers for the refusal of service based on race and/or requested destination, and if a taxi driver improperly refuses to take a passenger, he or she is subject to fines or the revocation of a driver’s license issued by the TLC; and

Whereas, According to a 2007 report issued by the TLC, Operation Refusal tested 1,822 cabs to gauge the compliance of taxi drivers and found that 93.8% were in compliance; and

Whereas, Despite the high compliance rate yielded by Operation Refusal, there are still complaints that New Yorkers are refused services presumably because of their race or destination location, and any percentage of refusals for such reasons is unacceptable; and

Whereas, Taxicab service is a major component of the City’s transportation network and all New Yorkers and visitors should have equal access to such service if they choose to use it; and

Whereas, There is no justifiable reason for drivers to refuse service to potential passengers based of race or requested destination; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York condemns the practice of some taxicab drivers in refusing to carry passengers based on race and/or requested destination.

 

LS# 4475

S.O.

4/1/08

2:00PM