New York City leaders, in July, urged the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to go after people who don’t pay the proper amount for the city’s congestion toll. Some of the biggest culprits, they say, are unlicensed app-hail companies like Empower, which is specifically accused of being one of those bad actors.
New York City Council Member Shaun Abreu, chair of the council’s transportation committee, said Empower is trying to beat the system by not following the same rules as companies like Uber and Lyft: “They’re skirting the rules by not being compliant with the Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC)… [and] they’re not collecting charges on those congestion pricing trips. It’s very, very important … that the MTA starts clamping down on Empower when it comes to collecting congestion fees per trip, which is something that is not happening, and we’re potentially losing millions upon millions as a result.”
“These guys are stealing from New Yorkers, and we have to find a way to make sure that, if they found a loophole, it has to be closed,” agreed MTA Chair Janno Lieber.
Empower claims their drivers are in compliance with TLC rules, and that the city has repeatedly rejected their offers to facilitate assessment and payment of any taxes and fees, including congestion pricing. “That’s not a good faith response from them,” Abreu said. “The city has repeatedly tried to get them to be compliant with our city laws.”
The TLC told FOX 5: “We will not look the other way while illegal operators undermine our laws, exploit drivers, and put passengers at risk. NYC’s streets are not a testing ground for companies that refuse oversight.”
As a court case between the city and Empower plays out, Abreu said he’s concerned about New Yorkers who are using the Empower app.
Source: AOL
