New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission voted on May 28 to approve a series of new rules which amount to a ruthless attack on the city's taxi drivers. Fifteen of seventeen proposed changes demanded by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani were adopted by the commission, and the two which were tabled are expected to be approved shortly. Drivers will have their licenses suspended for 30 days if they accumulate 5 points within 18 months, and revoked if they get 8 points within that time period. A yield sign violation would result in 4 points, an unsafe lane change 3 points, speeding 11 miles above the limit would add 4 points, and reckless driving 5 points. Two speeding violations within 18 months would thus result in the revocation of a driver's license.
Some drivers save for years or pool their resources to buy a medallion.
Most are owned by the large fleets. The taxi industry was transformed about 20 years ago when a leasing system was substituted for the earlier commission system of payments to drivers. This has added to the pressure on the drivers, since they do not earn a penny until they have taken in the fares to pay off the daily leasing fee. Each day begins with the fee hanging around the driver's neck. In addition, they have been subject, even before the newly passed rules, to continuous harassment by TLC inspectors and the police.