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PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Testimony by Richard Chow, Member of New York Taxi Workers Alliance

1:51:57

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125 sec

Richard Chow, a taxi driver and member of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, testified against lowering the personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage from $200,000 to $50,000. He shared personal experiences to illustrate the risks drivers face and argued that the proposed bill is dangerous for drivers.

Chow described a past accident where he was sued, emphasizing the potential financial risks of lowering insurance coverage.
He expressed concern about the inadequacy of $50,000 coverage for serious accidents, citing potential hospital bills and loss of income.
Chow argued that saving $600 per year in premiums is not worth the increased risk to drivers' livelihoods and assets.

Richard Cho

1:51:57

Hi.

1:51:58

Good morning, madam chair and everyone.

1:52:01

My name is Richard Chow.

1:52:02

I'm driving the taxi for nineteen year.

1:52:05

I'm an owner driver, member of the New York Taxi Walk Out Loud Union.

1:52:09

In 02/2001, me and a lot of driver, fifteen day hang up strike to win the MRP program.

1:52:17

In 02/2013, I had an accident.

1:52:19

Someone hit my cab.

1:52:21

The guy hit me.

1:52:22

TSA plate license 2.

1:52:24

The other side insurance paid me the the the damage by but by the young lady sitting in my cab and she sue she said she pregnant.

1:52:36

She lost a baby.

1:52:37

She sued me and she sued the American Transit, also sued the other side of the insurance.

1:52:42

Few months later, they negotiate and close the case.

1:52:45

And, you can imagine the how risky the lower the coverage of 50,000.

1:52:51

If the serious big accident, I have to stay in the hospital one to two weeks.

1:52:56

I don't have a work on compensation.

1:52:58

I cannot walk.

1:52:59

I cannot pay the expensive hospital bill.

1:53:01

I can walk.

1:53:04

And then now yesterday, I saw the news.

1:53:08

I had a news that the snow the Super Bowl make 22 crash yesterday.

1:53:14

You can imagine the dangerous how dangerous is the, because I cannot walk yesterday.

1:53:20

I I stay home.

1:53:21

The c city council bay, no fault insurance to lower the coverage from 200,000 to 50,000, saving a premium only $600 per year, give hundred 50,000 in coverage to the save $50 a month.

1:53:38

It's a dangerous bill.

1:53:40

The bill is very risky for the driver, person access medallion my medallion, home, area, and poverty.

1:53:50

Driver need more extra coverage to protect the driver without loss of job, and the driver can get the peace of mind to taking care of the family and then let the driver survive.

1:54:02

Thank you.

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Testimony by Wen Chen, Medallion Owner/Taxi Driver

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Testimony by Carmen Cruz, Member of New York Taxi Workers Alliance on Insurance Requirements for Ride-Hailing Drivers