New York and New Jersey Are Spending $100 Million to Stop a Common Airport Scam

As millions of tourists fly into New York City’s three main airports for this summer’s FIFA World Cup—culminating in the tournament’s final match at MetLife Stadium—the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is launching an aggressive crackdown on a notorious airport scam: cab hustling.

While travelers can jump on public transportation, get in a taxi line, or order a ride share, an increasing number of arrivals are solicited by illegal cabs and drivers, who don’t have the same credentials and licenses as legitimate drivers, and are often able to scam international arrivals who might be convinced they are getting a deal.

Authorities have enforced the anti-hustling rules before with fines that are often chalked up to the cost of doing business by the hustlers. But starting this month, those penalties will be higher and anti-hustling messaging, in more than 10 languages, will be turned up to 10. 

Under the new policy, illegal hustlers will face vehicle towing and impoundment, alongside a s$594.40 impound fee. While current regulations do not penalize an offender’s driving record, repeat infractions under the new rules will ultimately trigger driver’s license suspensions and potential arrests.

To back up the new penalties, the Port Authority is deploying a surge of additional police officers and New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) personnel to JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports. This physical enforcement will be paired with new real-time detection technology specifically engineered to identify and track repeat offenders.

“These hustlers need to be put out of business, and we’re using every legitimate tool in our toolbox to make sure that happens,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole.

For passengers opting to take a cab, a trip from JFK to Manhattan features a flat $70 base fare, with surcharges depending on time of day and tolls that typically brings the fare up to $85 with tip. Trips from LaGuardia and Newark are metered and depend heavily on traffic, time of day, and destination. There’s no flat fare for rideshares.