44°
SLEEPY HOLLOW, N.Y. Village board members will consider giving its ability to license taxi cab drivers over to Westchester County during a public hearing set for Jan. 17 at 7 p.m.
The proposal comes several months after neighboring Tarrytown approved the measure against the wishes of its taxi drivers. Sleepy Hollow would become the ninth municipality to use county drivers' licenses if it approves the measure.
County officials from the Taxi and Limosine Commission have spoken to trustees about the switch, saying it provides several benefits.
Barbara Monohan and Thomas Riccio told officials that switching over to county licenses means the village would no longer be liable for taxi cab drivers because the county would issue licenses.
The switch would also give taxi drivers the opportunity to work in one of the other municipalities who mandate county licenses and at any livery or limousine company in the county, Monohan and Riccio said. Taxi drivers would not be allowed to use their cars within those other villages because the taxi cabs themselves are still regulated by Sleepy Hollow.
All TLC-registered drivers have their fingerprints, motor vehicle record and insurance record checked, Monohan said. Drivers are also required to undergo drug testing once a year and take a defensive driving class every three years, Monohan said. If a driver is arrested, they get notification from the state, Riccio said.
The cost for taxi drivers would increase if the village turned over its licensing powers. Sleepy Hollow charges a fee of $50.00 for one year and $120.00 for three years for licenses. The county charges $135 for one year.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Tarrytown-SleepyHollow and receive free news updates.
