18 JFK-LaG Taxi Hustlers Nabbed
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown (at podium) on Tuesday announced the arrest of 18 unlicensed taxi drivers for illegally hustling passengers at John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia Airports. Looking on are (l. to r.): NYC Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Matthew W. Daus, PAPD Captain Joseph Scarano, PAPD Superintendent Michael A. Fedorko and Port Authority Executive Director Christopher O. Ward.Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, joined by Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director Christopher O. Ward and New York City Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Matthew W. Daus, on Tuesday announced that a joint crackdown on unlicensed taxi drivers who illegally hustle passengers at the city’s two major airports has resulted in 18 individuals being charged with the illegal solicitation of ground transportation.
The crackdown comes in the wake of Governor David A. Paterson signing a bill into law last month that increased penalties for unlawfully soliciting ground transportation at an airport. On October 9, Paterson signed legislation elevating Section 1220-b of the Vehicle and Traffic Law –Unlawful Solicitation of Ground Transportation –from a violation to a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,250.
Four of the individuals charged are from Queens. Eduin G. Castro, 45, of College Point has been charged with third-degree criminal trespass, unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services and trespass for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Manhattan for $45. Albin A. Duran, 28, of Ridgewood has been charged with unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Manhattan for $50. Earl C. Govan, 48, of Corona has been charged with unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services and trespass for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Brooklyn for $35. Debray R. Nunez, 38, of Jamaica has been charged with third-degree criminal trespass, unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services and trespass for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Brooklyn for $45. They and the other 14 defendants were arrested November 23. If convicted, they each face up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,250.
“I commend Governor Paterson and the state legislature–particularly state Senator Martin Marlavé Dilan and Assemblymember Jeffrion L. Aubry, the bill’s sponsors–for their efforts in helping to curtail illegal–and oftentimes overly aggressive–solicitation of passengers at our airports, ” Brown said. “For too long, unregulated taxis and unscrupulous drivers –who are not properly licensed and who do not carry appropriate insurance –have put passengers at serious risk. This legislation should go a long way toward putting an end to the days when airport hustlers accepted paying a minimal fine simply as a cost of doing business.
“Each year, more than 70 million passengers travel through JFK and LaGuardia Airports–many of whom are visitors from other states and countries and are unaware of ground transportation options when they arrive at the terminal. Often, these passengers are unfamiliar with New York prices and/or U.S. currency and, as a result, are charged exorbitant rates to be driven even the shortest of distances. As tourism, one of New York’s most revenue-producing industries, continues to grow, it is vitally important to our economic health that we provide a safe and welcoming environment at our airports.”
“Our enforcement actions have amply illustrated the value of the recent anti-hustling legislation in protecting arriving travelers from predatory illegal for-hire operators,” Daus said. “As we had anticipated when we worked together with the taxicab and for-hire industries for the law’s passage, passengers are safer today because of it, and legitimate operators enjoy a level playing field. Airport hustlers now know that they will face prosecution to the fullest extent of a law with provisions that have true and meaningful repercussions.”
The defendants illegally offered arriving passengers at JFK and LaGuardia Airports their services as ground transportation for hire, charging fees of $25 to $40 for destinations in Brooklyn and from between $35 and $80 for destinations in Manhattan. In most cases, the defendants previously had been warned not to enter or remain in the airports for the purpose of offering ground transportation services.
