Cabbies, beware: Refuse to take a passenger from Manhattan to the outer boroughs or overcharge on the fare, and you’re going to face steep fines if caught.
The City Council unanimously passed a measure yesterday to up the fines on taxi drivers to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for a second offense within two years. A third offense within three years could cost the cabby their license and $1,000.
“This legislation is designed to send a very specific message, and that message is that no cab driver should refuse a person access to a cab based on where they want to go,” Council Transportation Committee Chairman James Vacca (D-Bronx) said. “These days are coming to an end. People have a right to go where they want to go.”
The council increased the penalties, which had previously been $350 for the first offense and $500 for subsequent violations.
Mayor Bloomberg plans to sign the bill into law in the coming weeks and the fines would go into effect three months later.
The crackdown is also in response to a widespread scam discovered last year involving cabbies cheating passengers out of a total of $1.1 million by charging them a more expensive suburban rate, rather than the city rate.
So far, 45 cabbies have pleaded guilty, and the biggest cheater, Wasim Cheema, was arraigned yesterday after months on the run in the Midwest.
Outer-borough cab service also will be made easier, thanks to a deal that is being worked out to auction off 1,500 new medallions for yellow taxis as long as they run other cabs exclusively outside Manhattan.
Under the proposal, each medallion auctioned would require the purchaser to operate a set number of cabs that would be allowed to legally pick up street hails outside Manhattan, but could not pick up fares in Manhattan, sources told The Post.
The deal is being hashed out between the Bloomberg administration, the City Council, Albany lawmakers and taxi industry bigwigs.
Taxi & Limousine Commissioner David Yassky visited Albany this week in an effort to press state lawmakers — who must approve such an auction — to move before they recess at the end of June, sources said.