NYC Council Members Introduce Taxi Panic Button Bill: Report

Every taxi and livery car in New York City could soon have a panic button that riders could use to hail police, if a bill introduced in City Council Tuesday passes.

The Daily News reports that the proposed legislation would outfit all yellow, green and livery cabs with a distress button that passengers could use to alert the nearest police precinct if they’re being attacked or feel in danger. The bill is sponsored by City Council Transportation Committee Chairman Ydanis Rodriguez and Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo.

“With over 400,000 trips a day, keeping our taxi and for-hire passengers safe must be of the highest importance,” Rodriguez told the News.

The proposed legislation comes after a green cab driver was accused of raping a woman he picked up in Brooklyn in February. Police allege he climbed over the front seat and forced her to perform sex acts, then sped off in the cab after the attack.

The suspect, who was a probationary driver at the time, is charged with rape, criminal sex abuse, larceny and kidnapping. He remains suspended while the assault is under investigation.

The city Taxi and Limousine Commission told the Daily News it would review the bill.

“The safety of our drivers and our passengers is a top priority of the TLC,” spokesman Allan Fromberg told the News.

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