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Councilman Proposes 'Three Strike Rule' for Pedicabs

By DNAinfo Staff on February 19, 2011 12:14pm  | Updated on February 19, 2011 3:20pm

Pedicab drivers could soon be held to a tougher standard.
Pedicab drivers could soon be held to a tougher standard.
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DNAinfo/Gabriela Resto-Montero

By Tara Kyle

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN — Pedicab drivers who rack up three violations in a one-year period could soon face license revocations, the New York Post reported.

The rule, proposed by East side City Councilman Dan Garodnick and discussed at a hearing Friday, would also result in month-long suspensions for pedicabbies with two violations on their record, according to the Post.

But critics at the hearing charged that the penalties could be too stiff for drivers guilty only of minor infractions.

"My ability to do my job could be taken away when my blinkers go on the blink," driver Meredith Smith said, according to the Post.

That led Garodnick to acknowledge that perhaps the rule proposal should be limited to "egregious violations."

The proposal has also sparked concern at the Department of Consumer Affairs, where some staffers are concerned they would lose the discretion necessary to improve safety policies, the paper reported.

However, one group representing pedicab owners has already spoken out in favor of Garodnick's work. Members of the New York City Pedicab Owners Association told DNAinfo they'd like to see rules in place that push a small number of bad seeds off the road.

"We want to show Dan Garodnick an unambiguous show of support," Chad Marlow of the New York City Pedicab Owners Association said in advance of the hearing. "We think he's generally concerned about our industry, and that gives us confidence in these rules."