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Council moves to stiffen airport taxi penalties, doubles some fines including insurance violations
Summary
An ordinance to add penalty provisions for taxi violations at Newark Liberty International Airport was advanced; corporation counsel said the city doubled many fines, including a maximum $2,000 penalty for operating without proper insurance.
The Newark Municipal Council on Sept. 30 advanced an ordinance to add a penalty provision for taxicab violations at Newark Liberty International Airport, aiming to deter illegal pickups and curtail competition from ride-hail drivers who remain at the airport.
Councilman Quintana, who sponsored the item, said the change was necessary to protect local cab operators and emphasized the city's interest in ensuring licensed taxi drivers can continue to serve airport customers. "This is our city... we gotta take ownership," he said during the premeeting remarks.
Kenyatta Stewart, Corporation Counsel, told the council the ordinance doubles penalties for listed offenses. Stewart said penalties were doubled across the board and that the penalty for being at the airport without proper insurance "is as high as $2,000." She described an updated penalty schedule that raises prior fines to higher amounts to make violations less economically attractive.
Council members discussed operational concerns about ride-hail drivers who remain at the airport after dropping off passengers and attempt to pick up new fares, which council members said has encroached on licensed taxi operators' business. The council advanced the item and thanked the law department, the Department of Public Safety and the city clerk for drafting the language.
The transcript records sponsors and seconds for the motion to advance; no final roll-call vote appears in the captured premeeting discussion.
