Are Traffic Cops Tougher On Cabbies?
by Brian Diedrick
Let’s face it: driving in New York City is usually a nightmare. Imagine driving in this burg for a living! So much traffic, so much roadwork, cars blocking the box, crazy pedestrians with death wishes. All that topped off by unsympathetic traffic cops who will ticket for anything… absolutely anything. How harsh are cops on cabbies? Let the drivers tell us themselves.
Jamar
Where I hailed him: East Village
Where he hails from: India
Years as a cabbie: 14
Previous profession: Always a driver
Last year, I made a right-hand turn as the light was turning green. The policeman pulled me over anyway and wrote a ticket. ‘This is not right!’ I said. The policeman just laughed. So I go to court to tell the judge my story, but he doesn’t believe it. He believes the policeman! Those judges — they make the money. Policeman too! Why would they want to believe me anyway, right? Still, I was not at fault.
Vikrant
Where I hailed him: Murray Hill
Where he hails from: India
Years as a cabbie: 9
Previous profession: Construction
My last ticket was almost two years ago. I pulled over to pick up a passenger. I was like twelve inches into the other lane and the police gave me a ticket for blocking traffic and double parking. It cost about $80. Police are hard on us, much too hard on taxi drivers.
Name withheld
Where I hailed him: East Village
Where he hails from: Russia
Years as a cabbie: Long Enough
Previous profession: Journalist
I get tickets very often. For everything. It’s impossible to be a driver in New York without getting tickets. Making a left turn from the right side is a very common one. My last ticket I was taking a very old man to Penn Station. There wasn’t space to stop the car and so I made a violation. I brought him up very close to the entrance because he was very old, very sick. And there was a police waiting there to give me a ticket. He gave me four tickets. For obstructing traffic, for double parking… I paid a lawyer around $500 to fight them. It was very, very expensive.
Muhammed
Where I hailed him: Chelsea
Where he hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 10
Previous profession: Student
Let’s see — it was last month I guess… It was in Brooklyn on Avenue S. That’s S as in speedway! Yeah, I probably get three, four tickets a year in the cab. And then I get two or three in my own car. It’s no big deal. The time I save is worth the cost. So you are writing this for a magazine? Yes? Then would you please give people my message? Yes? O.K. Here it is: You talk nice to me, and I will talk nice to you. You obey the rules and regulations, and we will not have a problem. A cab driver is a man — not an animal! Treat us like men! Please, give them my message. Give the people of New York this message.
Mohammed
Where I hailed him: Gramercy
Where he hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 13
Previous profession: Car service driver
I have one ticket. I got it in November. For a signal. Not signaling. Yes, for a signal. It cost me $65. Yes, the police are always harder on cab drivers than on the others.
Mrhd
Where I hailed him: Midtown East
Where he hails from: Bangladesh
Years as a cabbie: 7
Previous profession: Student
I’ve never gotten a parking ticket in over seven years driving. I don’t drive like a crazy. I think some people get tickets for blocking traffic — picking up or dropping off people you have to pull over to the side of the street, but some drivers, they intentionally let people off in the middle of the street. I don’t think that police are harder on cab drivers.
