Andy Palmer, Executive Vice-President of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., stands next to the "NV200" during the press conference for New York's taxi "NV200" at Nissan's global headquarters in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan, on May 29, 2012. The NV200 was chosen by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission as the city's "Taxi for Tomorrow." UPI/Keizo Mori |
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Last month, Huff issued a temporary restraining order on the plan after cab operators sued the city.
The plaintiffs argued that the city's taxi app plan would make it easier for drivers to refuse fares, and that it discriminated against those who do not use smartphones.
They also argued the use of the apps would violate the city's rule against prearranged rides in cabs, and cited the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission decision in 1985 that barred taxis from using two-way radio communication to arrange pickups.
But Huff disagreed in her ruling released Tuesday.
"Petitioners have not demonstrated that the 1985 radio-dispatch situation with taxis is sufficiently comparable to the proposed e-hail program," she wrote, "so that the same problems of taxi unavailability and passenger discrimination are destined to occur."
The lawyer representing the plaintiffs, Randy Mastro, said his clients were contemplating an appeal.