New York police have started cracking down on tourist scams committed by pedicab drivers.
NYPD officers were out en masse this week in ‘Operation Front Door’ – to rid NYC’s busiest tourist areas of scammers and illegal vendors.
“They’re ripping off tourists, they’re taking advantage of them, and we have to stop that,” said NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry.
It is part of a wider campaign to improve quality-of-life issues and combat crime and anti-social behavior.
Its first focus is on pedicab drivers ripping off tourists.
The NYPD are part of a multi-agency team along with city employees and sanitation officers.
“Tourism is a major economic engine, and when you look at these various pedicabs, and some of the other actions we’ve seen, it just takes away from the quality-of-life of our city,” said Mayor Eric Adams.
On the first night on Wednesday, police impounded nearly two dozen pedicabs for code violations.
Daughtry says pedicab operators gouge unsuspecting tourists, and then use threats against those who complain or can’t pay.
Police have also targeted illegal street vendors selling fake goods at exorbitant prices.
