There are always licensed drivers awaiting specific passengers who have reserved cars for an airport pickup by airport baggage claims, but sometimes among them are so-called “hustlers” or illegal taxi drivers.

“At their best, annoying for travelers trying to get to their destinations who are accosted at baggage claim, at their worst, they are a real threat to public safety,” said Kathryn Garcia, the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

What You Need To Know

Officials warn not only can illegal taxis charge customers more and may not be safe, rides also turn criminal with drivers threats if riders don’t pay, sometimes, hundreds of dollars

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is using $100 million from its capital plan to fund “Operation Illegal Ride,” which will beef up Port Authority and TLC police presence at airports, especially with over 1 million people coming through the airports for the World Cup

The new initiative also includes the Department of Motor Vehicles issuing five points on convicted drivers licenses and using technology to identify the cars of repeat offenders to alert police in real time

And Garcia said some rides turn criminal.

“We are hearing stories of being taken to an ATM or threatened to be left in the middle of nowhere,” she said. “That’s completely unacceptable.”

This has been a problem for decades, but the Port Authority says recently the problem has gotten worse.

Year to date, the Port Authority Police has issued almost 4,000 summonses at John F. Kennedy International Airport alone — that’s just this year.

So, with over 1 million visitors expected to come through area airports for the World Cup, the Port Authority, along with the Taxi and Limousine Commission and other agencies, have launched Operation Illegal Ride to crack down on these drivers.

As part of the initiative, there will be a surge of Port Authority and TLC officers. The TLC will assist in prosecutions through administrative court to expedite the process.

Drivers convicted of illegal solicitation will get five points on their license, with 11 points being the threshold for suspension. They will also pay the nearly $600 fee to recover impounded vehicles, and new technology will detect and alert police in real time to repeat offenders entering the airport.

There will be a multi-language outreach campaign through social media, announcements and signage at the airports will make travelers aware. But it’s not just about passenger safety — it’s also about protecting the livelihoods of legitimate drivers.

“It’s stealing our jobs we lost, every year, we lost more than $3,000-$4,000,” said yellow taxi driver Richard Chow.

The TLC said there’s another advantage for visitors.

“There are no better ambassadors… like our drivers. Our drivers, licensed drivers, hail from all over the world, speak many languages, and know this city well. They are also amongst the safest professional drivers,” TLC Commissioner Midori Valdivia said.