First-time visitors to New York City paid nearly 12 times the normal fare for an airport taxi ride after falling victim to unlicensed drivers who continue to operate at John F. Kennedy International Airport despite increased enforcement efforts, Gothamist reported. Airport workers and licensed drivers report that these unlicensed operators, known as “hustlers,” have multiplied since the COVID-19 pandemic. Hundreds are estimated to work throughout JFK’s terminals, operating without credentials from the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission, the report said. According to the outlet, the Port Authority Police Department issued more than 2,400 summonses for illegal ride solicitations at JFK between January and November of 2025, up from 1,400 citations issued throughout 2024. “Taxi hustling is criminal,” said Port Authority spokesperson Seth Stein.