The NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission plans to revoke the licenses of 633 drivers for routinely overcharging customers as part of a scheme that cost passengers $1.1 million, it was announced on Friday.

The commission had previously accused about 35,000 taxi drivers of overcharging riders, costing passengers a total of $8.3 million. The number of suspected drivers was subsequently reduced. New figures released on Friday show that, in all, 21,819 drivers overcharged passengers a total of 286,000 times, the commission said.

Of those, the majority � 13,315 � only overcharged riders once or twice.

But a nucleus of 633 drivers did much of the stealing, overcharging riders 50 or more times by activating a switch that charged them out-of-town rates. It is those drivers who will likely lose their licenses.

David Yassky, chairman of the commission, said in a statement that criminal charges could be possible for the most egregious offenders. He said the offending drivers used the switch as a means of �surreptitiously padding their pockets and taking advantage of a trusting public.”

�We will be taking appropriate actions to see that these drivers do not again have the opportunity to betray their passengers and their fellow drivers,� Mr. Yassky said.

The case has been referred to the city�s Department of Investigation and the office of the Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus R. Vance, Jr.

James Vacca, a member of the City Council who represents the Bronx and chairs the transportation committee, said in a statement Friday there was reason for anger even if the number of offenders was smaller than previously thought.

�Riders have a right to pay the appropriate fare and not a penny more,� Mr. Vacca said. �While the number of cabbies accused of repeated overcharging is relatively small, that in no way limits how outraged we should be by those who nickel-and-dimed riders.�

(Source: NY Times Blog)