We depend on eachother, and there should be a mutual respect. But the Taxi garages and their staff treat drivers so disprespectfully as if they are some f*g Sled dogs. Often very rude to drivers, giving hard time with the shifts, they play around with the shifts, and they never inform you if they don't have a car for you. Sometimes they give cars which are not in decent condition. Myself I had bad experieces with the cars from the garage. They always in to quick fix which doesn't last too long. Several times car stops on the road and ingine shuts off. We could get killed behing the wheel becasue the f*g car. And the garage doesn't give a f*k about it. I returned the car with the full tank and never got credited for it. They abuse drivers. Now a days garages have increased their lease as the demand for Taxis is temporarily up due to economic downturn. They are taking advance lease from drivers and putting them in waiting list and promising that they'll have some thing by next week or in few days. Many drivers are often landup doing several trips to garage to get the car and wait anticipating that perhaps you may get a car in few days. We paid advance for the car a week ago and we were told we would have a car within a week or so, and the week time was over yesterday. We drove 60 miles to this garage in LIC, NY. Waited from afternoon till evening for the guy . When he finally came, he says he has no car and he can't guarantee. We understand that , but shouldn't he suppose to give us atleast a courtesy call to let us know that he doesn't have a car. TLC doesn't give a f*k about regulating the garages. They increase the lease anytime they want! Why do we even need a middle man. Drivers start investing in medallions, its a good investment better than buying a house. Garages are middle man they don't care about drivers. I encourage individual and corp, Medallion owners to hack up the car and lease it. So, we all can benefit. Lot of drivers are frustrated with garage.

You did not mention the filthy conditions the cars are in, the shake down by the dispatchers, and various games played by the other drivers when it comes to filling up the tank and when it is time for the car to be inspected. I could go on and on..... Most of the cars are in deplorable condition, real saftey hazards. But we are forced to work under these conditions because we have families to feed and bills to pay.

To the Moderator:

The information you posted is USELESS the TLC does NOT ENFORCE ANY RULES ON THE GARAGES. They only like to write tickets for the drivers. I called the union (NYCTWA) and told them I was being charged $750. per week for a handicapped mini van and I was being extorted by the dispatcher to the tune of $25. extra per week! They said and I quote "Well....um.... err....There is really nothing we can do about it....TLC should enforce the rules."

But I'm glad atleast few things are coming in to media spotlight. There was an article reagrding Taxi lease , and how brokers are exploiting the situation. Thankgod. I hope TLC acts on this.