A lawsuit filed by Capitol Pedicabs in Manhattan federal court alleges that pedicab drivers in New York City have faced unconstitutional stops, searches, seizures, and unwarranted fines by the NYPD, under the administration of Mayor de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Bratton. The lawsuit accuses the city of attempting to illegally suppress the pedicab industry. Capitol Pedicabs claims that due to excessive enforcement actions, it cannot use half of its 30 pedicab licenses. The company suggests that this crackdown on the industry began in 2007, following the city’s failed attempt to ban pedicabs in 2005. The complaint describes the city’s efforts to over-regulate and ticket pedicab drivers and owners excessively, aiming to push them out of operation. It also highlights the routine conduct of lengthy and intrusive searches of pedicabs, with a policy that suspends licenses for the entire fleet after three violations, rendering the licenses valueless. Capitol Pedicabs seeks fair treatment for pedicab drivers and owners, while a city Law Department spokesman stated that the claims’ merits will be reviewed.
For more information:
https://nypost.com/2016/03/15/city-officials-are-trying-to-shut-down-pedicabs-lawsuit/