New York's Port Authority Tries to Crack Down on Airport Taxi Scammers, Promises Increased Enforcement.
Kathryn Garcia, the newly appointed head of New York and New Jersey's bi-state transportation agency, has vowed to crack down on taxi scammers at John F. Kennedy Airport, a problem that's plagued travelers since the pandemic began. The tactic, which involves hustlers posing as cabbies and ripping off unsuspecting tourists with exorbitant fares, has seen an uptick in recent months.
Garcia acknowledged that tackling this issue would be "a very difficult problem," but she's committed to finding a solution. She called for a multi-pronged approach, involving increased enforcement through undercover operations and uniform forces, as well as the use of technology. She also hinted at exploring changes to existing statutes to crack down on these scams.
The Port Authority has already taken steps in this direction, with $100 million allocated towards new technologies designed to track and surveil taxi scammers. So far, over 2,400 summonses have been issued for soliciting rides at JFK Airport between January and November of last year. However, a recent visit to the airport's international terminal found that hustlers were still active.
Garcia has hinted that if enforcement proves ineffective, she may seek tougher penalties through new legislation. For now, she's focused on finding effective solutions to this growing problem.
Kathryn Garcia, the newly appointed head of New York and New Jersey's bi-state transportation agency, has vowed to crack down on taxi scammers at John F. Kennedy Airport, a problem that's plagued travelers since the pandemic began. The tactic, which involves hustlers posing as cabbies and ripping off unsuspecting tourists with exorbitant fares, has seen an uptick in recent months.
Garcia acknowledged that tackling this issue would be "a very difficult problem," but she's committed to finding a solution. She called for a multi-pronged approach, involving increased enforcement through undercover operations and uniform forces, as well as the use of technology. She also hinted at exploring changes to existing statutes to crack down on these scams.
The Port Authority has already taken steps in this direction, with $100 million allocated towards new technologies designed to track and surveil taxi scammers. So far, over 2,400 summonses have been issued for soliciting rides at JFK Airport between January and November of last year. However, a recent visit to the airport's international terminal found that hustlers were still active.
Garcia has hinted that if enforcement proves ineffective, she may seek tougher penalties through new legislation. For now, she's focused on finding effective solutions to this growing problem.
gotta feel for tourists flyin into JFK right now 
. Scammers are always one step ahead, but I hope Garcia's got a solid plan in place 
. $100 million is a decent start, but we need to see some real results - 2,400 summonses don't exactly fill me with confidence 
. Maybe it's time for the Port Authority to think outside the box (or taxi medallion 
) and partner up with other agencies or private companies to tackle this issue head-on? Fingers crossed Garcia can crack down on these scams for good 
they're like total rip offs i've seen people get ripped off so bad it's crazy even with the new tech and all that they still find ways to scam people it's so frustrating 
maybe making new laws or something would be a good idea 
just saying
Kathryn Garcia, da new head of da bi-state transportation agency, is all like "we're gonna get rid of dese hustlers" and she's planin a multi-pronged approach 
and so far, 2,400 summonses have been issued 
.
, even if enforcement seems tough 
. If need be, she's willin to explore changes in laws and penalties 
. Fingers crossed dis problem gets solved ASAP 
! I mean, you're already stressed flying and dealing with luggage, last thing is to get taken advantage of. The Port Authority is definitely on the right track by increasing enforcement and using tech to catch those hustlers in the act 
. But it's crazy they still have people active at JFK despite all that effort 
.
. I'm also loving the idea of undercover ops and uniform forces to catch these guys in the act 
. And $100 million is a solid investment, hope it makes a real difference. Only time will tell if they can crack down on these scammers for good 
. Garcia's new plan sounds like a solid start - increased enforcement and tech is the way to go! 
. We need to make our airport safer and more trustworthy for everyone... especially tourists 
️. Can't wait to see some real progress on this front 
Garcia's got some guts tryin to tackle this issue head on, and I'm all for it. tech solutions sound cool but let's be real enforcement is key 
. They're just trying to cover their own tracks 
. The real question is, who benefits from these scams in the first place? The airport, taxi companies... maybe even some government officials with ties to the industries 
. I'm sure there are plenty more scammers flying under the radar right now.
. It's not going to be easy to crack down on these scams, but we can't just sit back and let them continue to exploit tourists either 
.
. I mean, it's not like they're asking for much - just a fair ride and some honest change 
