The livery-cab industry wants to slam the brakes on a high-tech city plan to let yellow cabs be hailed with smartphones.
The pilot program would severely cut business and distract yellow-cab drivers on the road, some cab owners and drivers argue in a Manhattan civil court filing.
“In the rush to appear cutting-edge and tech savvy, the [Taxi and Limousine Commission] passed a program that . . . creates a situation where thousands of yellow-taxi drivers will be crisscrossing New York City in violation of the TLC’s distracted-driver rules,” said Black Car Assistance Corp. President Berj Haroutunian, one of the plaintiffs.
TLC head David Yassky shot back: “Next thing, they’ll be suing restaurants to go back to wood-burning stoves. This suit is wrong.”
The TLC in December OK’d the program, asking app developers to come up with an e-hail system. Approved apps are to be announced next month.