Many taxi drivers may have overcharged customers to the tune of $8.3 million over the past two years. A report released by the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission on Friday revealed that the drivers set their meters at illegally high levels, according to the Associated Press.
The agency said cab drivers set their meters to suburban levels, while they were transporting customers in New York City. The suburban settings charge twice as much as the settings within City limits. According to GPS data collected by the agency, out of 48,300 licensed cab drivers, 35,558 overcharged their riders. Approximately 3,000 cab drivers charged double as many as 100 times during the examined period.
The New York Taxi Workers Alliance said the high meter settings were a result of problems with the meters, rather than drivers trying to gouge customers.
