New Yorker who tried using yellow Prius as a fake taxi sued by NYC to be taken off the streets — for good

A former New York City cabbie, George Caraballo, has been accused of posing as a legitimate taxi driver using his 2013 Toyota Prius, which he claims is set up as a yellow cab because it operates legitimately in Rockland County. However, the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) says that Caraballo repeatedly violated its rules by operating without a license, putting the public at risk.

In the last six months, Caraballo has been fined twice by the TLC for posing as an official yellow medallion driver, according to a civil forfeiture lawsuit filed on Thursday. The first violation came in November when a TLC inspector watched him drive his yellow hybrid hatchback to pick up a hailing passenger in Manhattan for a $26 ride. Unfortunately for Caraballo, the fare was dwarfed by the $1,500 violation issued to him that night for operating a vehicle without a valid license.

Just 15 days after he pleaded guilty to the first violation at an administrative hearing, the counterfeit cabman was at it again. On April 8, Caraballo picked up a group of four people in front of the iconic New Yorker Hotel near Penn Station for an $18 fare – under the watchful eye of a TLC inspector, the suit alleges. The knockoff taxi was immediately seized by the TLC, and Caraballo again pleaded guilty to the second violation.

However, an attorney for the TLC argued that the commission should retain Caraballo's car while pursuing its civil forfeiture case against him to permanently take possession of the bogus cab. The attorney claimed that Caraballo posed a "danger to the public" and that the Prius was used in the commission of both offenses.

"Illegal taxi and for-hire vehicle operators pose a threat to the riding public, as they typically lack proper insurance, use unsafe vehicles, and often overcharge unsuspecting riders. They also steal trips from hardworking, law-abiding TLC drivers," said James Parziale, a spokesperson for the TLC.

However, Caraballo's representative, Joseph Scifo, argued that the Prius is set up as a yellow cab because it operates legitimately in Rockland County. Hearing officer Patricia Cardoso found that the TLC had failed to show that keeping Caraballo's ride was necessary to protect the public, and ordered that he get the vehicle back after paying a $2,000 fine – which he has since done.

Despite the car being released for now, Caraballo could still stand to lose it as the TLC's case progresses. The suit alleges that Caraballo posed as a fake taxi "on two separate occasions within 36 months, and the subject vehicle was used in the commission of both offenses," which means the Prius is subject to forfeiture.

When questioned about the lawsuit and civil forfeiture, the man claiming to be George Caraballo said he had never driven a cab before – he's a retired guy. He also claimed he had never owned a Toyota Prius. However, when asked if he knew anything about his client or the nature of the case, Scifo simply advised, "There's a lot of guys who are in the practice of bringing in cars from outside the city to earn extra money... Stop. You will be fined. You are breaking the law."

The case highlights the importance of enforcing laws and regulations related to taxi services in New York City. The TLC has vowed to crack down on fake taxi operators like Caraballo, who put the public at risk by operating without a license.