The Manhattan district attorney’s office announced no charges against the cabdriver who struck a British tourist in midtown

“While she incredibly dismayed by this decision she does not let it affect he positive spirit, unbelievable strength and incredible poise, which she demonstrated to the world throughout this ordeal they said.

“When she was released from the hospital a month ago, Green thanked the good Samaritans who come to her rescue.

Fernando Mateo, the president of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, praised Vance’s office for not pressing charges and suggested officials focus on regulating New York’s bicyclists to prevent similar accident.fernandomateo

“All cyclists who are operating as commercial riders should be registered with the city and carry some sort of permit that can be revoked if they do not comply with common sense safety measures” he said.

This article was posted on November 15, 2013 in the amNewYork Diary. Written by Ivan Pereida.

How to get the best Taxi Insurance

Taxi insurance is an absolute must for anyone who is engaged in this type of service industry.

Chauffeuring people from one place to another is an admirable and necessary job but it also raises your level of responsibility.

To make certain that you, your vehicle, your business and your customers all have adequate financial coverage in case of any type of accident, or claim, is a top priority for anyone engaged in the limousine or taxi service field.

Taxi insurance is not only recommended as a beneficial safety measure, it is a legally required element for your business and livelihood. You have no way of knowing when or if an accident is going to happen and you can not afford to be without this important coverage.

Whether you are searching for individual insurance for one taxicab or you want a taxi insurance policy that covers a specific fleet of vehicles there are coverage plans that are available that will suit your needs. You do not plan to have an accident but if one happens to occur your worries will be drastically reduced because you know that the insurance agent is only a phone call away.

When you have a taxi business it involves a great deal of time on the road. Even if there are no passengers in your vehicle just the amount of highway travel means that you have a much higher chance of being involved in some type of motor vehicle accident. Insurance companies know this and it is why the premiums are higher even for a regular driver if they drive more than 10-15 miles to work on a daily basis.

When you are considering a specific type of insurance plan you should consider the fact that this is no time to try and cut corners or skimp on the premiums. You truly get what you are paying for and good insurance that covers both taxicabs and taxi drivers is something that you can not afford to be without.

What you should focus on is a solid insurance policy that will provide you with maximum coverage at the most affordable prices. It is also important to work with a dependable and established company that is known for good customer service.

One small accident may seem to be of little consequence to you if you are just starting out in the taxi business. You might even think about trying to save some extra money by going without taxi insurance coverage for a few months, especially if you have a good driving record and have never had any tickets or motor vehicle accidents.

Not only would this be illegal, but it would be foolhardy as well. All it would take is one accident with another vehicle, or just a claim by a passenger, and you would be facing disaster. A traffic accident that is very minor as far as damages are concerned could still result in a host of other problems.

Even if you were not at fault for the accident the very fact that you did not have the legally required taxi insurance would be held against you and you would receive a ticket and a hefty fine. You also run the risk of losing your license, having your vehicle impounded, being taken to jail and possibly facing financial ruin if the other party decides to initiate a law suit.

All of these potential nightmare scenarios could be avoided by making sure that you are covered by taxi insurance. One simple policy can provide you with coverage that you could use in the event of any time of accident or property damage involving your vehicle.

You need to know how to sort through the many insurance programs and coverage options that are presently available so that you can choose the one that is best for your particular needs. When it comes to taxi insurance there is no “one size fits all” coverage option and you should take the time to explore the options and select a policy that is individualized to your specific situation.

Remember that what you are searching for is the best taxi insurance policy, not the cheapest or most expensive. You do not want to be caught with too little coverage simply because you were trying to snag the best bargain, but then again, you don’t need to waste your hard earned dollars on coverage options that you have no use for in the first place.

Look through this list of suggestions that can help guide you through the maze of today’s insurance industry. If you use these tips and ideas you can choose the best taxi insurance that delivers great coverage at an affordable price.

You can always check at the offices of local insurance agents to find out what kind of policies they can provide. However you should also consider the options available on the internet. By surfing the web you can get quotes from any local agent as well as from a variety of national insurance companies without even leaving your home. This gives you the opportunity to do the detailed comparison shopping that is required.

Know what the MVR looks like for any driver who will be insured on the policy. This will make it easier for you to double check the facts when you are going through the quotes. Sometimes there are inaccuracies on the MVR that need to be addressed. In many instances this one little step will save you some big bucks.

Check and see if any company offering taxi insurance has special discounts available and find out what they are. Some companies have discounts if you are a member of a specific organization or are applying for fleet coverage. You won’t always know about a specific discount that could be applied to lower your rate unless you take the initiative and ask.

When you use an online insurance company you will find that this affords you the maximum amount of convenience, flexibility and policy options. You can even request that the rate quotes for any taxi insurance coverage be sent as email and you can bypass the hassle and time that phone conversations usually involve while you are contemplating your options.

Once you have decided on a company and policy you will then need to ask some detailed questions concerning the coverage that will be involved. Make sure that your taxi insurance is broad enough to account for every possible contingency including, additional drivers flood, theft, liability, collision and adequate coverage for passengers.

How to get a TLC Driver License

First step to get a TLC License you have to TLC web page and download the application for this matter and the instruction guide.

All NEW “Yellow” Taxicab & For-Hire Vehicle Driver Licenses will be one (1) year only and a license fee less than a hundred dollars. The first year of licensure will be considered a probationary year. At the end of your probationary year, you will be required to meet certain criteria. If you meet these criteria, a two (2) year renewal license will be issued. If you do not, you will not be issued a renewal license, and must apply for a new license, which once again begins with a probationary year.

Commuter Van & Para Transit Driver Licenses remain two (2) years and the license exceeds  one hundred fifty dollars.

Some requisite to apply for TLC driver license”

  • You must be at least 19 years old.
  • Proof of Address Requirement ; If your DMV license has a different address than the one
  • you put on your application.
  • A valid and original social security card.
  • No more than 7 DMV points within an 18-month period, calculated from the date of Application.
  • A valid and original DMV chauffeur’s license or its equivalent with a current photo appearance. NJ, PA, or CT Chauffer’s License Only.
  • 1Must be no older than six (6) months from the date you submit your application.

All requisite are listed on Driver’ New application Checklist requisite.

You may file your application at either of the facilities listed below. Customers visiting either facility must pass through a metal detector and will not be permitted into the building with any weapon or any item that may be used as a weapon. The average waiting time to be processed is approximately one to two hours.

 

LONG ISLAND CITY OFFICE

32-02 Queens Boulevard,
Long Island City, NY 11101

Open: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Monday through Friday

No Appointments Required 

LONG ISLAND CITY OFFICE

32-02 Queens Boulevard,

Long Island City, NY 11101

Open: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Monday through Friday

No Appointments Required

 

You must have no outstanding judgments to the TLC, NYS DMV Traffic Parking Violations Bureau (TVB), Department of Finance (DOF) Parking Violations and DOF Red Light Bureau.

If any outstanding judgments are discovered (i.e., unpaid tickets), your application will not be processed. If you have a driver’s license from New Jersey, Pennsylvania or, Connecticut you will need a Certified Abstract (State Driver Record) as proof that you do not owe money from the State DMV that issued your license.

This information was taken from  TLC Driver License new Application Instruction Guide.