Cabbies, Brooklyn and the Law

There's no doubt that the latest installment of the Sh*t People Say series, this time taking aim at New Yorkers, is funny.

But a section of the video, seen at 0:13 in the clip, had us thinking too.

The scene is in the backseat of a yellow cab, presumably somewhere in Manhattan, with the video's co-star, Eliot Glazer, proclaiming, "You have to go to Brooklyn, it's the law!"

That had us referring to the website of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission for some answers—namely, to answer the question of whether it is indeed against the law for a cab driver to refuse to ferry a passenger to Brooklyn.

And according the TLC, the answer is yes, it is: "It is unlawful for a taxi driver to refuse a person based on race, disability or a destination in New York City while on duty."

In fact, cabbies are required to take you to any destination, not only in the five boroughs, but in Westchester and Nassau counties as well.

But herein, perhaps, lies the rub: To make a complaint, riders must make note of the offending cabbie's medallion number, file paperwork with the TLC and participate in a hearing (which can be done over the phone) before any penalty is enforced.

Try that on a frigid January at 2 a.m.