New York City Council Stated Meeting, Council Member Andy King introduced legislation (Int. No. 967) to institute panic buttons for drivers of taxicabs, street hail liveries and for-hire vehicles, which would ensure the safety of livery drivers when confronted with an emergency.
Tragically, in recent months, New York City livery drivers have been brutally assaulted on the job by criminals. The panic button will be a help or distress signaling system connecting a driver in distress with the police department. Each taxicab, HAIL vehicle and for-hire vehicle would have a panic button within reach of the driver’s seat.
“This piece of legislation is about saving lives,” Council Member King said at a press conference held yesterday at the Co-op City base of Best Deal Car Service, where he pre-announced the bill.
Joining Council Member King at the press conference were Council Member Ruben Diaz Sr. and dozens of livery drivers in support of the panic button.
“As the chairman of the For-Hire Vehicles Committee, I support this bill. I don’t want to go back to the hospital. I went there to see this guy (Jeffrey C. Camacho) when he was shot,” said Council Member Diaz. “I ensure you that as chairman of the committee, this bill will see the light of day.”
Camacho, a father of three, was a driver for Excellent Care Service when he was shot eight times by an armed passenger who robbed him. Seated in a chair because of his injuries, Camacho spoke in Spanish at the press conference through Jose Altimarno, president of El Barrio Livery Service, letting everyone know that he is “happy to be alive. And, he sees the legislation Council Member King is introducing as a benefit. He wants all his fellow cab drivers to be safe.”
Albert Williams, owner of Best Deal Car Service, said “It’s critical that we have the tools in place to protect our drivers. I commend the New York City Council, the TLC and NYPD on this because the last thing I want to do as a base owner is attend a funeral of a driver.”
Also on hand was Omer Haberman of LimoSys Software, the technology expert developing the software.
Council Member King said the panic button should not be a cost burden to drivers. “We want to do this with existing technology. More important, the ultimate goal is to make sure drivers don’t incur any additional costs according to this legislation,” said Council Member King.
King noted that he backs Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez’s legislation calling on the State of New York to make it a felony to assault a New York City taxi driver.
In addition to Intro. 967, Council Member King introduced two addition pieces of legislation today in the City Council. They were:
· Intro 966, which would require the department of citywide administrative resources to designate one or more employees to provide information on available housing resources to municipal employees who are seeking housing within the city and to publish housing-related information and resources on their website.
· The proposed bill would prohibit advertisements for hookah tobacco or related paraphernalia on the exterior and publicly visible areas of retail establishments selling such products, within a certain distance of school buildings, child daycare centers, and youth centers.
