The city Taxi and Limousine Commission is getting up close and personal with its hacks about sexual harassment.
Taxi officials plan to add new definitions of sexual contact and sexual harassment to the rule book, plus implement tougher penalties against cabbies caught exhibiting behavior.
In a draft of proposed changes, the TLC’s updated language provides “clear definitions” to help the agency enforce its rules and protect passengers. Currently, all types of harassment and abuse are covered under a single rule that carries a $350 to $1,000 fine and 30-day suspension.
Under the proposed definition for sexual harassment, hacks will have to refrain from “any conversation related to sexual acts and sexual contact,” as well as making remarks related to “sexual conduct, gender, physical appearance, expressing a desire to see or touch another person’s body or expressing a desire to enter into any type of relationship with another person.”
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The TLC defines sexual contact as “any touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of a person” clothed or unclothed. In other words, cabbies need to keep their hands off passengers — and passengers can’t touch hacks either. There is no nuance in the rule, which also warns cabbies to keep their bodily fluids to themselves.
TLC spokesman Allan Fromberg said the new definitions will help drivers steer clear of veering into improper behaviors and conversations.
“Even what some would call ‘innocent flirting’ is absolutely inappropriate and no passenger should be subjected to that environment,” he said.
Debjani Roy, deputy director of anti-harassment group Hollaback, praised the TLC’s efforts, though she would have liked to see nonverbal leering and gestures included.
“I’m particularly happy that sexual harassment has been defined separately because a lot of sexual harassment is seen as minor and isn’t taken seriously,” Roy said. “Sexual harassment is sometimes one of the hardest things to describe or prove.”
According to the TLC, complaints of all types hit about 21,000 last year, a 23% increase over 2014. At the same time, the number of TLC drivers increased by 40%.
The TLC is proposing a $1,000 fine, three points on the driver’s license and a 30-day suspension, with the risk of full revocation, for sexual harassment. Sexual contact carries a $2,000 fine and mandatory revocation.
“I think it’s a serious violation and it’s a serious penalty,” said Michael O’Loughlin of Cab Riders United, a passenger advocacy group. “It compares favorably with what the penalties are for some other violations.”
Taxi officials will discuss the rules at an April 21 hearing.
