By Joe Hirsch
news@huntspointexpress.com
At the corner of Longwood and Garrison avenues a block east of the Bruckner Expressway, the livery drivers who drive for Hunts Point’s BQN Car Service wait at the wheels of their black and gray sedans to hear their next destination from the dispatcher.
Many of them have concerns that weigh more heavily on their minds than the next fare.
Passengers have murdered three livery car drivers in the last four months, leaving drivers nervous.
But many of the drivers who flocked to a press conference on Sept. 14 at the Bronx County Courthouse that was prompted by the killings said they were more concerned about relations with the police and taxi inspectors than about the danger of driving.
Their livelihoods were more in jeopardy than their lives, they contended, because of what they say are rigid policies and disproportionate fines for minor infractions imposed by the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC).
Others said they feel more threatened by heavy-handed police tactics than they do by the risk of being held up.
“On the police cars it says Courtesy, Professionalism, Respect, but we find that’s not the case,” said Luis Estevez of South Bronx-based Mega Car Service.
The drivers’ frustration was palpable.
“The TLC is much worse than the violence,” said driver Rosario Enriquez in Spanish, waiting to move up in line behind a row of fellow BQN drivers.
“They fine you for the smallest nonsense,” continued Enriquez, who said he has been driving a livery car for 10 years. “They’re a company that wears a disguise as if they’re helping you, but they’re just a revenue-earner for the city.”
Domingo Hernandez, a 25-year veteran livery driver, agreed.
“The violence is not such a big deal compared with the pressure the TLC puts on us. We are the criminals for them,” said Hernandez, as he and fellow drivers crowded into and around the back seat of a parked BQN van on Intervale Avenue behind Kelly Park, playing cards while waiting for a call.
Nevertheless, the killing of Jose Pena-Segura, 42, who was shot during an argument with a passenger over a fare on August 23rd at Wales Avenue and 147th Street, and died hours later at Lincoln Hospital, spurred outrage among drivers, and a demand for city officials to act.
Pena-Segura’s death marked the third time since May a livery driver had been shot and killed in the Bronx.
At the press conference, Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. told drivers and livery company owners he is taking their concerns seriously.
“An attack on one driver who’s doing nothing more than working hard to reach the American dream is something we cannot tolerate,” Diaz said.
Other officials offered measures to stem the recent upsurge in cabbie killings.
State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. vowed to introduce legislation that would eliminate the possibility of parole for anyone convicted of killing a livery driver. State Senator Pedro Espada offered to appropriate $20,000 for initiatives that would enhance driver protection. He challenged fellow legislators to follow suit.
The TLC’s requirement that drivers purchase expensive in-cab cameras to deter thieves is among the drivers’ complaints. They argue the new breed of cameras–which offer better picture quality and enhanced memory—are prohibitively priced at well over a thousand dollars.
Juan Cruel, who paid $1100 for his state-of-the-art camera to comply with the TLC’s requirement, scoffed, “There’s no cure against crooks.”
“God will protect me,” Hernandez said, half-seriously. “Meanwhile, the TLC should leave us alone.”
Officer Robert Rivera, who administers the NYPD’s TRIP (for Taxi/Livery Inspection Program) at the 41st precinct on Longwood Avenue, says he often goes out to talk to livery drivers at Garrison and Longwood, encouraging them to participate. Drivers who join the program display stickers provided by police in their car windows, letting officers know they can stop the car at any time to look inside
“We’re stopping you when you have a passenger to make sure that you’re safe,” said Rivera.
“The majority want to be stopped. They feel safe,” Rivera added, pointing out that nearly a thousand drivers volunteered to have TRIP stickers placed in their cars at a recent nearby promotional event.
Juan Cruel is skeptical anything can be done.
“It scares me,” he said, standing in front of his Lincoln, stretching out his arms wide to express worry for his vast network of co-workers.
A version of this article appeared in the October issue of The Hunts Point Express.