Class Action Suit Says TLC’s Plan to Place GPS Tracking Software on all Taxi Meters is an Invasion of Privacy and a Violation of Taxi Drivers’ Constitutional Right to their Property
New York, September 19, 2007— The New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA), which represents over 10,000 taxi drivers, held a press conference today at the office of their General Counsel, Isaacs, Devasia, Castro & Wien LLP, to announce their filing of a federal class action lawsuit against the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), which seeks both a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to block the TLC from installing a technology software program that includes GPS tracking on all New York City taxi meters. The lawsuit was filed in United States Southern District Court on behalf of NYTWA and all drivers, particularly those drivers who own their own medallions and who are most at risk to incur penalties if they refuse to comply with the TLC’s mandate. Drivers are facing a suspension of their medallions and additional fines if they refuse to sign contracts with the TLC’s chosen GPS vendors.