Federal Judge Sidelines NYC Hybrid Cab Rules

A federal judge has sided with the New York Metropolitan Taxicab Board Of Trade in a lawsuit filed last month to halt the city's new regulations on taxicabs. The Taxicab and Limousine Commission had planned to require all new cabs in the city to achieve a fuel economy of at least 25 mpg.

The new rules, which were set to go into effect on November 1, were suspended until the case could be heard in full. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that he was "very disappointed" by the ruling and had directed the city to look for ways to appeal.

The Metropolitan Taxicab Board Of Trade argued that the new rules not only violated the federal government's right to regulate fuel economy standards, but also posed a danger to cab drivers and passengers, based on after-market modifications needed to make the vehicles conform to safety regulations.

The decision, issued by US District Judge Paul Crotty, did not judge the case on its merits, but said that enforcement of the rules would impose a severe financial hardship on the plaintiffs, should they be forced to comply with the regulations by November 1. According to the ordinance, all new cabs placed in service after November 1 would need to conform to the more stringent fuel economy standards. The rules also required cabs placed in service next year to achieve an average of 30 mpg.

In his decision, Crotty said that he was inclined to rule in favor of the plaintiffs on the issue of emissions and fuel economy regulations, but did not address the safety concerns raised by the plaintiffs' petition, delaying that issue until the case can be heard in full. Lawyers for the Metropolitan Taxicab Board Of Trade said that the injunction will enable them to work with the city to develop regulations that take into account both the need to improve fuel economy and the need to keep drivers and passengers safe.