By Jennifer Glickel
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — The Taxi and Limousine Commission proposed to loosen the rules restricting taxi drivers from talking on their cell phones while driving their personal cars on Thursday.
Under the revised rules cab drivers would only receive TLC penalty points for using a cell phone while driving a medallioned cab, but not for committing the same offense when driving their personal vehicles while off duty, as the rules currently state.
"The current provision allows double punishment in both taxi court and traffic court, which is cumbersome and unnecessary," Taxi and Limousine Commission chief David Yassky told the New York Post.
Taxi drivers are not allowed to use cell phones — either with or without a hands-free headset — unless they are parked or standing in a legal spot.
The TLC has a three strike rule for cab drivers who break the cell phone rule. After the first infraction, a driver is fined $200 and required to take a
"Distracted Driving Course" within 60 days to review the rules.
The second time around, the driver's license is suspended and, upon a third infraction, the TLC revokes the cabbie's license all together, according to officials.
The TLC has issued more than 3,000 summonses to taxi drivers since the stricter distracted driver rules were instituted in January, according to the Post.
