Taxis stage noisy protest in Center City | Philadelphia Inquirer

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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Taxis stage noisy protest in Center City

Inquirer staff reporter Patrick Kerkstra reports:

Taxi drivers drove through Center City today in a horn-honking, traffic-slowing lunchtime protest.

The United Taxi Workers Alliance said the action was called to demand “fair” parking ticket practices, a reduction in new fees and the return of funds allegedly withheld from drivers from credit card transactions.

The protest started at the Philadelphia Parking Authority offices at 31st and Markets Streets and made its way east on Market to City Hall.

The PPA regulates the city’s taxi industry.

The drivers are particularly upset at what they call "drive-by ticketing," in which the PPA tickets taxi drivers by mail, never putting the citation on the windshield. The PPA disputes the taxi drivers' characterization of their ticketing procedures.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 11:46 AM Permalink | 29 comments

Comments

Posted 11:57 AM, 07/22/2009

bag853

So that's what that horrible smell was on Market Street today.

Posted 12:04 PM, 07/22/2009

CrayzeeGuy

Can we protest that it costs $14 (after tip) to go from one end of town to the other? Are we still paying that fuel surcharge from when gas was close to $4 per gallon?

Comment removed.

Posted 12:24 PM, 07/22/2009

Sillimish

Talk about a protest that NO ONE will care about...

Comment removed.

Posted 12:41 PM, 07/22/2009

give me liberty or death

good for them the city is just out of control. instead of collecting on back taxes from property and city workers they are going after working people.

Posted 12:48 PM, 07/22/2009

itwillhap

Although I have my doubts about the PPA's tactics in general, you don't get parking tickets if you follow the rules and don't park illegally. I get a kick out of people on A&E's Parking Wars show. These people always complain about their tickets and completely fail to realize there were in the wrong. I love it when they are outside a barbershop or beauty parlor and everyone comes running out to feed the meter or move their cars. Tell me they didn't know they were parking illegally.

Posted 12:54 PM, 07/22/2009

Joe Funk

How was this different from any other day?

Posted 01:00 PM, 07/22/2009

Earl J

I'll take the Taxi Drivers over the PPA anyday. The PPA is OUT OF CONTROL. I went to a hearing yesterday at their hearing location at 9th and Filbert and they have NO BATHROOM the public can use. I waited over an 1:40 for a hearing and had to hold it in fear of going to the bus station and losing my turn. They need a complete overhaul!

Posted 01:11 PM, 07/22/2009

platinumgeek

classic example of the pot callng the kettle black.

Posted 01:16 PM, 07/22/2009

Jethro Heiko

Amazing that anyone could be against these reasonable demands of the taxi workers.

Posted 01:36 PM, 07/22/2009

sjbsls

Taxi drivers in Philadelphia are sooo rude! it is so unbelievable theses people will run you over in daylight & keep it going they think they have authority because there riding a cab.. o well