NYC cabbies lose court battle over GPS

yahoonews ^ | 9/28/07 | LARRY NEUMEISTER

[ricks_place]

Muslim Cabbies Lose right to Jhiad without GPS

TAXI 'FEAR' HIKE STRIKE CABBIES: GPS TARGETS MUSLIMS

[Gay State Conservative]

Their lawsuit also claims GPS will give away trade secrets by disclosing the cabbies' driving patterns, which they say give them a competitive edge.

A New York City cabbie once too me from Tribeca to the Village via Jersey City.I guess he had that "competitive edge".

[Yo-Yo]

You don’t take the Holland Tunnel from Times Square to the Empire State Building?

[Ken522]

He didn’t charge you full fare, did he??

[Gay State Conservative]

once too = once took

[eyedigress]

GPS will give away trade secrets by disclosing the cabbies' driving patterns

No more unscheduled guided (but silent) tours I take it.

[Gay State Conservative]

He didn’t charge you full fare, did he??

Yup.Demanded a tip too.

[Gay State Conservative]

You don’t take the Holland Tunnel from Times Square to the Empire State Building?

No,usually we do that via Levittown.

[SolitaryMan]

I think their trade secret is driving 75 mph down Broadway.

[EGPWS]

A federal judge refused Friday to block a new city rule that requires taxi drivers to install global positioning systems and credit card machines in their cabs by Monday.

Are the cabbies services in NYC under contract with the city?

If so, chin up bucko's and accept it, if not it's none of the city's business what they put in their vehicles IMO.

[EGPWS]

Demanded a tip too.

Demanded?

He's just trying to smooth you with sweet talk to get a bigger tip! LOL!

[Vigilanteman]

When I fly into either LGA of JFK on business, I inevitably get approached by a number of unlicensed greasy-haired limo drivers offering to take me into the city for $20 or less.

Since the cabbies charge $35 or so and I travel fairly light on business trips, I decided I'd give my first one a try several years ago. The kids that drive these limos at least appear to be American (white or black) and speak English. Yeah, I shared the limo with a couple of other riders and looking to save a buck and, yeah, the driver wasn't too happy when I didn't tip him (our deal was $20, not $20 plus tips I told him), but he actually drove better and was more courteous than your standard third world driver.

I got a receipt on a form that looks like one of those generic forms purchased in an office supply store and I learned (perhaps the driver's version) that NYC taxi licensing system is much like the prostitution trade-- the city has a limited number of medallions (licenses) supposedly sold to individuals, but the big operators (pimps) buy the licenses and hire the drivers as cheaply as possible. So by using an unlicensed limo, I was helping circumvent the system. Plus I get to pick a limo driver which at least looks respectable.

[mewzilla]

After that hearing, dejected driver Beres Ford Simmons said: "Gentlemen, prepare for another strike."

Takes brains....

[Vigilanteman]

When I fly into either LGA ofor JFK on business . . .

Sorry.

[SauronOfMordor]

Are the cabbies services in NYC under contract with the city?

For being allowed to pick up passengers from the street, cabs in NYC must be licensed by the city, which may put whatever conditions on the license that it sees fit. Private limo services, which are called to where their passengers are, would not be so regulated

[ricks_place]

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission regulates service. It limits the number of vehicles by issuing “medallions”, a license to operate in NYC and promulgates rules by law.

[mewzilla]

If anyone's curious...

NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission Medallion Sale Information

[Captain Peter Blood]

No all Cab drivers are independent contractors. They buy a Medallion from the Taxi Commission to do business.

[EGPWS]

For being allowed to pick up passengers from the street, cabs in NYC must be licensed by the city, which may put whatever conditions on the license that it sees fit.

Well, they need to take their services to another city for peace of mind or work to change the municipal requirements politically.

[Logophile]

A federal judge refused Friday to block a new city rule that requires taxi drivers to install global positioning systems and credit card machines in their cabs by Monday. . . . He urged the two sides to negotiate and set the next hearing for Oct. 10.

Can someone explain to me the federal issue involved here?

The only excuse I can see for taking this to federal court is that taxis sometimes cross state lines. Or maybe it is a federal case because NASA was involved in putting GPS in orbit.