He’s an actual pretend hack.
A former New York Metropolis cabbie whose license was suspended greater than a decade in the past has been posing as a taxi driver — utilizing his little yellow Toyota, The Publish has realized.
Town Taxi and Limousine Fee is now combating to completely seize George Caraballo’s compact 2013 Prius attributable to his repeated violations, public data present.
Within the final six months, Caraballo has been dinged twice by town for posing as an official yellow medallion driver, in response to a civil forfeiture lawsuit filed by the TLC on Thursday.
In reality, Caraballo’s second violation got here solely two weeks after the hack driver pleaded responsible to the primary, the Manhattan Supreme Courtroom submitting states.
A TLC inspector first watched him drive his yellow hybrid hatchback to choose up a hailing passenger in Manhattan for a $26 journey in November, the go well with states.
Sadly for Caraballo, his fare was dwarfed by the $1,500 violation issued to him that evening for “operating for hire a vehicle that is not licensed by TLC.”
Simply 15 days after he copped to that first violation at a March administrative listening to, the counterfeit cabman was at it once more, the go well with states.
On April 8, Caraballo picked up a gaggle of 4 individuals in entrance of the enduring New Yorker Resort close to Penn Station for an $18 fare — below the watchful eye of a TLC inspector, the go well with alleges.
The knockoff taxi was instantly seized by the TLC, the go well with states.
Throughout his second stint earlier than town Workplace of Administrative Trials and Hearings, Caraballo once more pleaded responsible.
However an lawyer for the TLC argued that the fee ought to retain Caraballo’s automotive whereas town pursues its civil forfeiture case in opposition to him to completely take possession of the bogus cab, data present.
Caraballo apparently pulled the identical stunt with a special automotive in 2020, “evidence of the respondent’s flagrant disregard for the rules,” the TLC lawyer stated — calling the pretend taxi driver a “danger to the public.”
His consultant, Joseph Scifo — a non-lawyer who has been repping livery drivers in administrative courtroom for over 40 years — argued that the Prius is ready up as a yellow cab as a result of it operates legitimately as a taxi in Rockland County.
Listening to officer Patricia Cardoso discovered that the TLC had failed to indicate that retaining Caraballo’s journey was “necessary to protect the public,” and ordered that he get the car again after paying a $2,000 superb — which he has since completed, a TLC rep stated Friday.
The spokesperson stated that Caraballo as soon as had a license, which was suspended in 2013.
Regardless of the automotive being launched for now, Caraballo may nonetheless stand to lose it because the TLC’s case progresses.
Since he posed as a pretend taxi “on two separate occasions within 36 months, and the subject vehicle was used in the commission of both offenses,” the TLC argued in its go well with, the Prius is “subject to forfeiture.”
The summons lists a Rockland County deal with for Caraballo on his driver’s license, about 40 miles north from Manhattan, however exhibits {that a} Yorkville house is listed on his car registration.
When The Publish knocked on town deal with on Friday, a shirtless man who confirmed his title was George Caraballo stated “You got the wrong person.”
“I’ve never driven a cab before — I’m a retired guy,” the supposedly bogus Caraballo stated, including that he’s by no means owned a Toyota Prius.
Regardless of his protestations, the curious Caraballo inquired in regards to the nature of the lawsuit and civil forfeiture.
Scifo informed The Publish he wasn’t positive whether or not that man was his shopper, or if the actual Caraballo lives on the Rockland County — however had some recommendation, nonetheless.
“There’s a lot of guys who are in the practice of bringing in cars from outside the city to earn extra money,” he stated.
“Stop. You will be fined. You are breaking the law.”
