Three new green taxi cabs permitted to pick up street hails outside of Manhattan have hit New York City's streets.
The cars made their first appearance in the city Friday after a June decision by the state's Court of Appeals in Albany which rejected claims by yellow-cab owners and taxi lenders that challenged a 2012 state law ending yellow cabs' exclusive right to pick up street hails.
The green taxis are not allowed to pick up hails south of East 96th Street and West 110th Street or at any airport.
The Taxi and Limousine Commission says 1,300 green taxi permits have already been issued. It expects up to 6,000 permits to be issued in the first year.
Unlike livery cabs, the green taxis accept credit cards and have meters.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
