By Jennifer Glickel
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
CENTRAL PARK — The NYPD cracked down on pedicab drivers as new rules governing them went into effect this weekend.
Fifty-two summonses were issued and one pedicab was seized by police on Saturday alone, the NYPD said.
"It was like the opening sequence of 'Starsky & Hutch,'" said pedicab driver Bernard Treanor. "They [police] were pulling up, lights were going off, they were jumping out, guys were getting grabbed, bikes were getting thrown on trucks."
As of this weekend, all licensed pedicabs operating on New York's streets are required to have insurance, pass a safety inspection, and clearly display prices.
The new laws also stipulate that drivers have a special Pedicab Driver license issued by the city's Dept. of Consumer Affairs, in conjunction with a government-issued driver license.
The NYPD established a checkpoint in Times Square this weekend to check that pedicab drivers and their vehicles were properly registered. According to DCA, 943 pedicabs were registered by Friday's 5 p.m. deadline.
