Legislation supported by NYAMA to increase penalties for unauthorized solicitation of ground transportation at airports was given final passage by the Senate in a special session in September was subsequently signed into law by Governor Paterson.

The New York Aviation Management Association (NYAMA) supported A4552-1 (Aubry) / S5643 (Dilan) to increase the penalties for unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services at airports and make it a printable offense.

A person unlawfully solicits ground transportation services at an airport when at an airport, such person without being authorized to do so by the airport operator, or without having made a prior agreement to provide ground transportation services to a specific patron, offers or engages in any business, trade or commercial transactions involving ground transportation services.

Too often, passengers unfamiliar with ground transportation options at an airport are solicited by illegal drivers upon exiting the terminal. Though the practice was previously prohibited, the relatively small fines have been easily accepted by violators as the cost of doing business. Since it has not been a printable offense, it has been impossible for law enforcement to track repeat offenders and seek higher penalties provided for in current law for such repeat offenders. More importantly, solicitors of unauthorized ground transportation, whose identities are unknown to airport personnel, can present a serious threat to airport security.

This bill addresses this problem by making a first offense for unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services at an airport a class A misdemeanor and a printable offense.