City Council Cracks Down On Sex Trade By Taking Aim At Cab Drivers
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The City Council is taking a close look at cracking down on cab drivers who take part in the sex trade.
Council Speaker Christine Quinn warned that from now on New York City will have zero-tolerance for any taxi owner or driver who facilitates sex trafficking with a vehicle.
Legislation raising fines on drivers who knowingly shuttle trafficking victims is expected to pass on Wednesday.
1010 WINS' Stan Brooks reports
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The bill would also require the Taxi and Limousine Commission to educate drivers about the issue.
"We are recognizing in this legislation the unconscionable and cruel role that taxi drivers and livery drivers are playing in this brutal attack that keeps people trapped, takes their lives away from them," Quinn said.
Councilman James Vacca said the legislation is necessary to stop taxi and car service drivers from knowingly profiting from the sex trade by taking prostitutes to clients.
"It's outrageous to think that in this day and time this would occur in the city of New York," Vacca said. "We are determined to address it."
Under the legislation, those who break the law could lose their license and face a $10,000 fine.
"If you are participating in sex trafficking, participating in keeping people enslaved and trapped, you clearly do not deserve to have this kind of a license and we are not going to let you make money off of causing misery and pain in people's lives," Quinn said.
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