Yisroel R.

The Town of Ramapo has approved an update to its taxicab law, replacing the existing Chapter 255 of the Town Code with a new version designed to strengthen enforcement and address safety concerns involving taxi drivers and companies operating throughout the Town.

The change was taken up during a public hearing held on August 10 at Ramapo Town Hall. Town officials told Rockland Daily that the update was not prompted by one specific incident, but rather by issues that became clear as the previous law was used in practice and reviewed by the Town Board and Taxi Commission.

Under the new law, enforcement can now be taken not only against individual taxi drivers, but also against the taxi companies they are associated with. The law also creates a presumption that a vehicle may be operating as a taxi if it appears to be soliciting riders, such as when a cab is waiting outside a supermarket with its taxi light on.

Taxi companies will also have a greater responsibility to keep the Town updated about changes involving their drivers. Companies will be required to promptly notify the Town if a driver’s status changes, including cases involving a suspended license or a lapse in insurance.

The new law also increases insurance requirements for taxis, adding another layer of protection for passengers and the public. Town officials said that the overall changes are intended to give regulators clearer tools to deal with drivers or companies operating with violations.

“The overall goal of the law remains the same, to ensure the health, safety and welfare of our residents, many of whom rely on taxis as a primary mode of transportation,” Town of Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht said. “The new law will make enforcement easier against drivers and cab companies that operate unsafely or unlawfully.”