Taxi drivers will face steeper fines for refusing passengers>>By TOM NAMAKO, Transit Reporter Last Updated: 2:08 PM, February 24, 2011 POST>>Posted: 12:40 PM, February 24, 2011>>Hacks who are too lazy to take passengers on >long rides are about to get slammed with a huge penalty increase.>>Incidents of service refusals - one of the worst >nonviolent crime a cabby can commit - have >skyrocketed, which led taxi officials to take action.>>Incidences of service refusal ... have been on >the rise over the past year, jumping from 1,963 >between July and December 2009 to 2,341 during >the same period in 2010 – an increase of over 38 percent," the agency said.>>Currently, a driver convicted of a refusal gets >slapped with a fine of $200-$350 for a first >offense, and $350-$500 and a possible 30-day >license suspension for a second offense.>>The new penalties would be $500 for a first >offense, and $750 and a 30-day suspension for a >second offense within 24 months.>>Penalties for a third strike won't change - if >convicted within 36 months would remain mandatory TLC license revocation.>>City Council will have to approve the new fine schedule.>>“A core component of taxi service is that the >passenger chooses where to go in the five >boroughs,” said TLC Commissioner and Chair David >Yassky. “Unfortunately, it is getting to be like >the bad old days when taxis wouldn’t go to Brooklyn.>>“I strongly encourage taxi riders to call 311 >each and every time they are denied service,” he added.>>TLC does routine undercover stings of drivers to >see if they refuse service, but most convictions >come as a result of riders calling 311.>>The agency had some help recently.>>Students at Baruch College’s School of Public >Affairs did field street hail tests in the >evening and nighttime. The students were trained and supervised.