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“This legislation comprehensively updates the City’s Taxicab Ordinance to better meet the needs of our growing city,” said Mayor Tom Roach. “We focused on the customer experience and have included a broad range of changes that I believe will make for a better overall experience for passengers.”
The overhaul:
- Authorizes five additional White Plains taxicab medallions to be assigned to accessible vehicles only, which makes White Plains the first Westchester municipality to incentivize the inclusion of accessible vehicles in its taxicab fleet.
- Allows hailing within a defined "Hail Zone" downtown.
- Replaces the Zone Map, which currently governs fares, with a requirement that all White Plains taxicabs utilize taximeters. All White Plains licensed taxicabs are required to install a taximeter within 3 months from ordinance enactment.
- Requires that all White Plains licensed taxicabs be painted a uniform color (white) and attach a White Plains taxicab medallion sticker provided by the White Plains Police Department to the vehicle. This allows the public and police to more easily identify cabs. The color requirement will take effect at the next annual medallion renewal.
- Mandates that all White Plains licensed taxicab drivers submit to annual drug testing;
- Removes cars from the fleet when they reach 400,000 miles. The maximum mileage requirement goes into effect 6 months from ordinance enactment.
- Provides a rate increase for all licensed taxicabs. The last approved rate increase was 14 years ago.
- Requires that vehicles are kept clean and safe by owners and drivers.
Two Taxi Starters (Special Patrol Officers) were installed at the White Plains Metro-North station in September of 2015. They are onsite during the morning and evening rush hours to aid commuters in utilizing the station and ensure orderly, efficient taxicab operation.
Roach installed the Taxi Starters to improve the customer service experience at the station.
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