Danny Iudici for the New York Daily News
English is optional for livery cab drivers would want to pick up street hails under proposed plan for boroughs.
Speaking a foreign language might come in handy when hailing the citys new proposed class of livery cars.
Yellow cab drivers have to pass a basic English test to get their hack license. But livery car drivers who want to be able to pick up street hails under the five-borough taxi plan wont have that initial requirement under the Taxi and Limousine Commissions proposed rules.
The current draft of rules would let livery drivers pick up street hails for four years before becoming proficient in English.
Taxi and Limousine Commission officials, however, are considering exempting current livery drivers from even the four-year deadline because theyre concerned many wont be able to pass the test and would lose their livelihoods, sources said.
The five-borough plan inclu des up to 18,000 for-hire vehicles that are allowed to pick up street hails anywhere outside Manhattan, except airports, and in Manhattan north of W. 110th St. and north of E. 96th St.
The proposed rules are still a work in progress, a TLC official said, although a hearing and vote is set for Thursday.
Some commissioners want more time to consider the massive overhaul. A 200-page draft of proposed rules was released just last month.
I think this entire process has been rushed and improperly explored, Commissioner Norah Marino said. Whats the rush? Its not like the subways are on strike.
Pete Donohue
SPEAKING A FOREIGN language might come in handy when hailing the citys new proposed class of livery cars.
Yellow cab drivers have to pass a basic English test to get their hack license. But livery car drivers who want to be able to pick up street hails under the five-borough taxi plan wont have that initial requirement unde r the Taxi and Limousine Commissions proposed rules.
The current draft of rules would let livery drivers pick up street hails for four years before becoming proficient in English.
Taxi and Limousine Commission officials, however, are considering exempting current livery drivers from even the four-year deadline because theyre concerned many wont be able to pass the test and would lose their livelihoods, sources said.
The five-borough plan includes up to 18,000 for-hire vehicles that are allowed to pick up street hails anywhere outside Manhattan, except airports, and in Manhattan north of W. 110th St. and north of E. 96th St.
The proposed rules are still a work in progress, a TLC official said, although a hearing and vote is set for Thursday.
Some commissioners want more time to consider the massive overhaul. A 200-page draft of proposed rules was released just last month.
I think this entire process has been rushed and improperl y explored, Commissioner Norah Marino said. Whats the rush? Its not like the subways are on strike.
Pete Donohue
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