The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commissioner sat down with drivers' groups Wednesday afternoon to condemn last week's attack on two TLC officers.
The TLC says the sole purpose of the meeting was to make it clear that violence will not be tolerated. But officials also heard from drivers' groups about other issues.
Some of the concerns, according to Fernando Mateo, head of the state's Federation of Taxi Drivers, include having a mutual understanding of the challengers that drivers face on the job such as the threat of robbery and other unsafe conditions. Mateo says he thinks it is important to create an auxiliary and integrity unit within the TLC similar to the NYPD's that would make sure TLC officers are treating drivers with respect.
Last week, two TLC peace officers were attacked by two men. Their vehicle was blocked in and bashed with a bat. Police are still searching for the two men in the incident that began when an unlicensed driver was stopped and fined.
As far as fines are concerned, the amount is set in place by City Council, not the TLC. The TLC says it plans to meet with the council regarding that.