New York, NY – Cab Officials Will Ease Cellphone Ban

New York, NY – Taxi officials will finally end a rule today that penalizes cabdrivers for talking on cellphones while off duty and driving their personal cars.

Now, instead of letting personal infractions count against the agency’s three-strikes rule, the proposed change would count only infractions made while driving a city-licensed cab.

“The current provision allows double punishment in both taxi court and traffic court, which is cumbersome and unnecessary,” said Taxi and Limousine Commission chief David Yassky.

Taxi brass overhauled cellphone rules in January. The rules affect tens of thousands of city-approved drivers.

Cabdrivers cannot use a cellphone in the car, even with a hands-free device, unless they pull over into a legal parking spot.

Drivers are fined $200 for each conviction and get sent to a “refresher course” on the rules.

After a second infraction, the hack’s license is suspended, and after the third strike, revoked, officials said.

While taxi drivers didn’t lobby for the change, many were outraged that they could get hit twice for the same infraction.

The TLC has issued more than 3,000 summonses to violators since the enhanced distracted-driver rules went into effect, officials said.

Yassky said passengers should call 311 when they see a taxi driver on the phone.