[liveoneggs]

> It's illegal in NYC for a yellow cab to refuse a ride request to any of the five boroughs.

This is true and only a direct threat of report as they start to drive away will occasionally stop them.

"I had my Off-Duty light on, I don't have to take your anywhere at 5pm" is the normal reply

[mancerayder]

The people who get punished here are the tourists and people who are new to town. If you're new and don't know the rules, or you don't speak English natively, it might be hard to argue against some yellow cabbie who suddenly shakes his head and mumbles and points out the window while you're anxiously trying to get a cab for the second or first time in your life.

Also if you report them they do have a GPS tracker that can validate their location - supposedly, or so I'm told, TLC will take that seriously and 3 dings against the driver will trigger some sort of penalty.

[liveoneggs]

yeah I had a yellow cab pick me up from Chelsea Piers once and not turn on his meter. It was a short trip and the driver turns around and asks for $20-something. I laughed in his face and left. I'm sure he got plenty of tourists on the same scam.