The Town of Ramapo has approved a major overhaul of its taxicab and car service regulations, replacing Chapter 255 of the Town Code with a new law aimed at strengthening insurance requirements, increasing accountability for taxi companies and making it easier for authorities to crack down on drivers and companies operating unlawfully or unsafely.
The new law was the subject of a public hearing held on August 10 at Ramapo Town Hall, with the Town moving to repeal the existing Chapter 255 and replace it with an updated version.
Among the most significant changes, the law allows enforcement action to be taken against both individual drivers and the taxi or car service companies with which they are associated. Companies will also be responsible for promptly notifying the Town when a driver’s status changes, including a license suspension, insurance lapse or another issue affecting the driver’s ability to legally operate.
The law also makes it easier for authorities to establish that a vehicle is being operated as a taxi. If a vehicle appears to be actively soliciting passengers, for example, waiting outside a supermarket with its taxi light illuminated, authorities can presume that it is operating as a taxi and subject to the Town’s licensing and enforcement requirements.
Insurance is another major focus of the overhaul. The new law increases the insurance requirements for taxis and car services, requiring operators to maintain the coverage mandated by the Town. Existing Town application materials require taxi companies to submit proof of commercial liability insurance, list the Town of Ramapo as the certificate holder, make the insurance primary to the Town and provide workers’ compensation coverage.
The changes come as Ramapo Police and Town Code Enforcement are stepping up enforcement against unlicensed, improperly registered and noncompliant taxi and car service operators, Monsey Scoop has learned. Town rules require taxi and livery drivers picking up passengers in Ramapo to hold a Town taxi license, while vehicles must also meet the Town’s registration, inspection and permitting requirements.
Ramapo Police have already conducted targeted taxi enforcement operations, including an operation earlier this year in which multiple taxis were cited for Town licensing and registration violations.
Operators who violate the law can face fines and other penalties, and the updated law gives the Town broader tools to hold both drivers and companies responsible when required licensing, insurance and safety rules are not followed.
“The safety of our residents is our top priority, particularly for the many families who rely on taxis and car services every day,” Town of Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht told Monsey Scoop. “These updated regulations give our Police Department and Code Enforcement stronger tools to make sure vehicles and drivers are properly licensed, insured and operating safely. We want to ensure that responsible operators can continue serving the community while those who disregard the law are held accountable.”
The overall goal of the new law is to protect the health, safety and welfare of Ramapo residents, including the many residents who rely on taxis and car services as a primary means of transportation, while giving police, Code Enforcement and other Town officials stronger tools to address unsafe and unlawful operators.
Time to make them pay
They will enforce absolutely nothing! The Town of Ramapo does not care about its residents! The only thing they care about is lining their pockets and future residents. Problem is that there is no room at all for anymore new residents. Unfortunately the hourly accidents that are occurring all over Monsey and Spring Valley will only rise as new developments go up. Taxi companies will keep operating more and more cars with the old $10,000 insurance cap.
Sad but true. The amount of reckless driving that goes on is astonishing, and the lack of respect drivers have for pedestrians is shocking.
Today, Yes today alone, I stopped on two separate occasions to give pedestrians the right of way: 1) Blauvelt Road and Carlton Road, and 2) Route 306 and Village Green. Both intersections have clearly marked crosswalks.
As the pedestrians began crossing, cars traveling in the opposite direction continued through the intersections, coming dangerously close to striking them. And, as if that weren’t bad enough, the cars behind me were laying on their horns because I had stopped.
Wow. What have we become?
Justice has Arrived