Enacts the "taxi driver protection act"

1 Co-sponsor

• Roxanne J. Persaud

BILL NUMBER:S4355A

Title of bill

An act to amend the penal law, in relation to the crime of assault of an operator of a for-hire vehicle

Purpose or general idea of the bill

To protect taxi workers from being assaulted on the job by posting signs in taxis alerting passengers of the punishment for assaulting taxi workers.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 titles the bill the "taxi driver protection act."

Section 2 amends section 60.07 of the penal law to allow every for-hire vehicle to post a sign on the interior of such vehicle that states "ATTENTION: Assaulting a Taxi Driver Is Punishable By Up To Twenty-Five Years In Prison."

Section 3 provides for the act to take effect immediately.

Justification

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, taxi workers are thirty times more likely to be killed on the job than other workers. New York City is home to the largest taxi driver industry in the country. Posting warning signs in taxi cabs would facilitate a public information campaign designed to inform the public that attacks on taxi workers are a very serious offense.

Prior legislative history

A.11704 (2010); A. 10058 (2010) (Veto 6808 of 2010) A.207-B 01/05/11 - Referred to Codes 05/19/11 - Amend and recommit to Codes 05/19/11 - Print number 207a 06/01/11 - Reported referred to Rules 06/10/11 - Amend and recommit to Rules 207b S.3824B 03/07/11 - Referred to Codes 05/19/11 - Amend and recommit to Codes 05/19/11 - Print number 3824a 06/08/11 - Amend and recommit to Codes 06/08/11 - Print number 3824b A.207--B 01/04/12 - Referred to Codes 06/05/12 - Reported referred to Rules S.3824-B 01/04/12 - Referred to Codes

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

None.

Effective date

Immediately.