Action News Investigation: PPA pledges to drive discriminating taxi drivers 'out of industry'
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- An Action News hidden-camera investigation was met with a swift response from Philadelphia Parking Authority Executive Director Vince Fenerty.
During our investigation, we exposed some drivers passing up people with disabilities, who were in a wheelchair or blind, for an able-bodied fare.
"I find the conduct of the cab drivers, the taxi drivers reprehensible," said Fenerty.
On Friday, the day after our report aired, PPA inspectors went undercover to test taxi drivers themselves.
And, citing our report, they sent all cab drivers an email warning them any discrimination would not be tolerated. Then they invited us along as they went undercover again this week.
"They don't belong driving a cab if they are not willing to pick up a hail for someone who is handicapped," said Fenerty.
Out of a total of 14 cabs, PPA inspectors hailed over two days, they said they will be issuing citations to five drivers for refusing service to a person in a wheelchair. Another driver will be cited for overcharging, after adding $2 to a fare as a handicapped "fee."
"We will drive people like that out of this industry," said Fenerty.
Fenerty said the penalty will be steep, and could ultimately cause some drivers to lose their licenses.
"We are in the process of identifying all of them, we are issuing a $500 citation and we will bring them into court, and we are asking that their driving licenses as a cab driver be suspended for a period of 90 days," said Fenerty.
Inspectors said they will continue to conduct stings until this discrimination stops.
For cab drivers who are caught more than once, Fenerty tells Action News he will ask for their license to be revoked.
The public is asked to report any incidents of discrimination to the PPA with the taxi cab's number, location, date and time of the incident.
