Hamptons Company Faces 52 Tickets In Taxi Cab Crackdown: Supe

The companies were providing transportation services for Medicaid patients without proper licensing, town supervisor says.

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A Southampton taxicab company is reportedly facing 52 tickets in a crackdown by Brookhaven Town, Supervisor Ed Romaine said.

According to Romaine, a joint investigation with the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General into taxi companies operating in Brookhaven Town has resulted in one cab company receiving 52 appearance tickets, which could result in fines in excess of $26,000 — and facing further actions.

The joint investigation, which is being conducted by Town of Brookhaven Law and Public Safety investigators with Supervising Investigator Christopher Bedell of the NYS Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, is ongoing, with other taxi companies operating within the town under review, Romaine said.

“Brookhaven Town and New York State take Medicaid violations very seriously and we will continue to pursue any company that operates without a license to the fullest extent of the law,” Romaine said. “I have asked the town attorney to proceed with the investigation until every company is in compliance.”Subscribe

In September, the Brookhaven town attorney’s office opened an investigation of unlicensed taxicab companies operating in town, with at least one allegedly conducting Medicaid pick-ups and drop-offs without proper licensing, Romaine said.

The town’s department of public safety began a review of taxicab companies that have not completed the licensing to conduct business in Brookhaven Town, Romaine said.

Among the numerous companies that were found to be in violation of town code, Hometown Taxi, located in the Town of Southampton, was also found to be conducting Medicaid transportation pick-ups and drop-offs in Brookhaven Town, Romaine said.

Under Brookhaven town code, a taxicab business operating in Brookhaven Town is required to secure a license from the Commissioner of Public Safety “or the designee of the same,” he said.

Brookhaven Town was informed by the NYS Office of the Medicaid Inspector General that several other taxicab companies have been providing transportation services for medical care involving Medicaid recipients without the proper licensing under New York State code, Romaine said in a release.

According to the code, “To participate in the Medicaid program, a taxi/livery provider must meet all applicable state, county, and municipal requirements for legal operation.”

Transportation companies and livery services must comply with all requirements of the local municipality . . . and with all requirements of the Department of Motor Vehicles, the code states.

A representative for Hometown Taxi was not immediately available for comment.