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Q&A
Council Member Ariola questions TLC Commissioner on discriminatory practices and complaint procedures
1:14:40
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3 min
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Council Member Joann Ariola raises concerns about discriminatory practices against wheelchair users by taxi drivers and the difficulty in filing complaints against for-hire vehicles that refuse rides. TLC Commissioner David Do responds, explaining the importance of public reporting, current inspection procedures, and potential consequences for drivers who discriminate.
- Do emphasizes the need for public complaints to supplement TLC's limited enforcement resources
- Ariola highlights the specific issue with app-based services removing driver information after ride cancellations
- Do commits to working with high-volume for-hire vehicle companies to address the complaint filing issue
Joann Ariola
1:14:40
Thank you, chair.
1:14:42
We get a lot of thank you so much for coming to testify.
1:14:45
Thank you for having such, comprehensive answers.
1:14:50
So we get a lot of complaints, I live right outside of JFK, about, taxi drivers, being discriminatory when picking up wheelchair users even though they are fit fitted for wheelchair accessibility.
1:15:05
So what are you doing to prevent this discriminatory illegal practice?
1:15:10
And in addition, for for hire complaints, is the TLC planning to implement a procedure by which customers will be able to make a complaint for a for hire vehicle when they refuse to pick them up after they accepted a ride?
1:15:23
Because currently, as soon as they are no longer they don't accept the ride, their name is taken from the app.
1:15:30
So it makes it very difficult to make a complaint.
1:15:34
And do you think that if someone does do this discriminatory act, should they then be able to pick up another person at the airport?
David Do
1:15:43
Yeah.
1:15:43
Thank you so much, council member Areola, for that.
1:15:47
This is something that is incredibly, important to the mission of the TLC.
1:15:52
And And I thank you, that, you know, it's important to you and your constituents as well.
1:15:59
At the airport, right, I I can't be at every trip, every ride.
1:16:03
And so what I depend on, is from our community.
1:16:07
Consumer complaints, right, is something that is an incredible tool tool for our, our public.
1:16:16
Last year, we had 17,000 consumer complaints from anywhere from refusals to overcharges, to many other things.
1:16:25
And so we would, take that driver into accountability and provide enforcement on that.
1:16:32
But, we also have an inspection station that inspects yellow cabs three times a year to ensure that their ramps work, to ensure that, their lights work, to ensure that everything about that vehicle, is in working order.
1:16:47
And sometimes, right, things change once they leave, our, inspection facility.
1:16:53
And so that's where I need the public.
1:16:56
I have about a hundred enforcement officers, for five boroughs.
1:17:00
And so, you know, we focus a lot on JFK, but we always need the public's help.
1:17:05
And we take these very seriously.
1:17:08
And in the future, if there are refusals, where it's going to hurt, our drivers is, their time.
1:17:17
Right?
1:17:17
And so they would have to take another, education course to ensure, that they are well educated on making sure that they have the proper, seat belts in the vehicles, the proper working ramps in the vehicles, and making sure, that they take people with disabilities.
1:17:40
And if they do not, they're gonna be held to account.
Joann Ariola
1:17:44
And and I get that, and that's with the yellow cabs.
1:17:47
But with the apps, it's just I think you need to work with those for hires that are doing things through apps that they don't take the name out right away so that a complaint can be made.
1:17:58
Thank you so much for your concern.
David Do
1:17:59
And, I'm committed to, working with the high volume for hire vehicles, to making sure that, we know who, is the driver so that they don't counsel on, people with disabilities.
1:18:12
And I I'll work with you as well, council member.
1:18:14
Thank you.
Matthew Daus
1:18:15
Thank
Joann Ariola
1:18:15
you so very much.