City taxi drivers demonstrated Tuesday that unfair policies are costing them money, and they demanded action from lawmakers.

The New York Taxi Workers Alliance demonstrated in SoHo Tuesday, saying skyrocketing gas prices and the credit card system in cabs are costing drivers.

The Alliance is asking for relief from the Taxi and Limousine Commission to help pay for gas, and wants legislation to ban the 5 percent charge drivers pay on credit card fares.

Many drivers also complain they have to wait several weeks to get paid for those credit card fares, and don't get paid at all if the machines fail.

"Hit by unneeded technology on one hand and rocketing gas prices on the other, drivers find only the ugly specter of bankruptcy looming down the road,” said Bill Lindauer of the Taxi Workers Alliance.

“We have to become a little bit more physical and little bit more vocal, so we are just sending out a warning to the brokers and the major vendors of this industry here that we're not going to take this nonsense anymore," said Beresford Simmons of the Taxi Workers Alliance.

The Alliance is calling for a $1 surcharge when gas is between $3 and $4 a gallon, and a $1.50 when gas is between $4 and $5 a gallon.

The commissioner of the TLC issued a statement saying drivers earn much more than a “livable wage” and that the 5 percent processing fee on credit card fares is offset by the average 20 percent drivers earn in tips.
 
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