WPCNR THE TAXI NEWS. By John F. Bailey. February 21, 2009: The Common Council was offered a draft of the Recommendations of the White Plains Taxi Industry Review Committee Thursday evening. The Common Council reserved comment with plans to hold considerable discussion on the measures that if adopted will change the ad hoc, loosely administered, and much publicly maligned taxi industry in White Plains.
The Traditional White Plains Taxi Chaos -- Note Taxis in queue (yellow vehicles) -- August 2007. WPCNR News Photo Archive
The measures of key interest recommend taxi stands be established at the Westchester Mall, Fortunoff, Wal-Mart (on Main Street), and City Center with bus shelters as taxi stands when buses end their runs for the day; Parking Officer jurisdiction over non-White Plains taxi drivers’ unauthorized use of taxi stands and a $1,600 fine for each interloping taxi caught using a taxi stand illegally; Sale of medallions at auction to drivers using alternative fuel vehicles; A deadline for all licensed drivers to switch to alternative fuel taxis; An “800” Number dispatch system; and a metered system with base fare beginning at $5, and a "uniform" look to all cabs.
Melissa Lopez, Director of Economic Development and Coordinator of Public Information, Chairperson of the Taxi Industry Review Committee issued a copy of the Committee recommendations to WPCNR:
The White Plains Taxi Industry Advisory Committee was formed in February 2008 to discuss changes to the taxi ordinance in order to create a more customer friendly taxi service. Residents and visitors to the City of White Plains often complained to the Mayor’s Office, Office of Public Safety and the White Plains Business Improvement District about the appearance of taxicabs, the ambiguity of fares, and the treatment received by taxi drivers. Commuters complained of discourteous drivers who often times decline to take their fares and drivers who refuse to leave the station with one passenger as they prefer four passengers in their vehicle. The committee was asked to review current practices by taxi drivers and to review the ordinance which was written in 1969.
Upon review of the ordinance and discussions with taxi drivers, the Public Safety Department, the Traffic Department and the public, the committee has made the following recommendations:
- A review of current taxi stands by the Traffic Commission must take place. The Taxi Industry Review Committee recommends that stands be placed near the Westchester Mall, Fortunoff, Wal-Mart and City Center. Another consideration is to use bus shelters as taxi stands after busses stop running.
- Signage for the various taxicab stands in the city should be visible and easily identifiable to the public.
- Parking Enforcement Officers should be given the authority to fine non-White Plains taxi drivers who use the City of White Plains’ taxi stands. The fine shall also be strictly enforced by the Courts. If possible, explicit language should be written in the ordinance that does not allow for a reduction of fines.
- The Public Safety Department should incorporate training about the taxi industry in regular police officer training.
- The Public Safety Department should have more than one officer as liaison to the taxi drivers.
- Taxicabs without City of White Plains medallions should not be allowed to pick up passengers within city limits or use taxi stands. Fines should be increased for non-White Plains drivers illegally picking up passengers. (ie. $1,600.00 fine if caught using White Plains taxi stand)
- Taxi companies from neighboring communities should be notified of new fines for the violation and compliance regulations.
- The City of White Plains should make a number of medallions available to be sold in an auction to licensed taxi drivers who own alternative fuel vehicles for taxi purposes. The taxi ordinance should be amended to include a section defining alternative fuel vehicles and the auction process.
- The City should set a date for taxi drivers to switch over to alternative fuel vehicles.
- Alternative fuel vehicles that can are appropriate for taxi purposes are the hybrid versions of the Ford Escape, Nissan Altima, and Chevy Malibu. (insert EPA classification)
- All taxicabs should have the rates and medallion numbers on the driver side door and the front passenger door. The taxicab company logo should be on both sides of the vehicle on the back passenger doors and on the hood and trunk of the vehicle. Medallions need to be visible to the public.
- The City of White Plains should create a rider education program and conduct a survey of Metro North passengers who ride on White Plains taxi’s about their experiences with taxicab drivers.
- A “1-800” number should be created for riders to dispatch taxi drivers to their location.
- The City of White Plains taxicab service should switch to a metered system by a specified date. Base fare should start at $5.00.
- Prior to switching to a metered system, the minimum taxi fare should be changed to $5.00
- The City of White Plains Taxi Ordinance should allow for cameras to be placed in taxicabs
- Taxicabs should be outfitted to incorporate the use of brail and/or audio information access in all vehicles
- Taxi drivers should use a standard uniform White Plains taxi receipt approved by the Commissioner of Public Safety.
- Taxi company dispatchers should maintain a log of all calls that come into the office; the log should say when the calls are coming in, to what location and who has the call been dispatched to.
- The proposed fee changes should be made to the ordinance:
- Renewal Fee should include the fee for two random inspections at $250. This should be a yearly fee.
- The transfer fee for anyone purchasing a medallion should change from $70 to $500.
- Taxi hack license fee should be changed to $50.
- The fee for a driver switching companies or vehicle should be changed from $25 to $50.
- The fee for replacing a button or license should be changed from $10 to $25.
- Taxi drivers not in compliance with the taxi ordinance should be fined $250.
- The taxi ordinance should be changed to:
- Clearly state that the Traffic Commission is the authority that decides where taxi stands are placed in the CITY OF WHITE PLAINS and that the commission decides where to place signs and wording of signage
- Define the rates charged under the metered system if and when the system is put into the place
- Explicitly state the repercussions (fines) that will take place if a customer complains about being overcharged.
- Encourage the use of advertising inside vehicles and allow types of advertising used in other communities.
- Emphasize enforcement.
- Establish fines that discourage current abuses in the system.
- Vary the types of vehicles that can be used as cabs such as, sedans, SUV’s and/or minivan’s.
- Specify emissions standards for taxicab vehicles.
- Create a uniform taxi system. All vehicles should be taxis –not cars for hire or liveries.
- Require taxicabs to accept senior citizen rate cards and provide a discount.
- Clearly state that taxi drivers should refrain from using their cell phones while a customer is in the vehicle
- The City of White Plains Taxi Ordinance should adopt components of the WCTLC ordinance.
