The Taxi and Limousine Commission lost almost 1,500 court cases in a year and a half — a period in which, sources say, officers seized cars and falsely claimed they were illegal cabs.
City judges dismissed 20 percent of the 7,187 cases involving illegal-cab violations, according to a TLC tribunal spokeswoman.
The increase in rogue seizures came about because chiefs and captains bullied officers to seize as many cabs as possible, sources said.
Targeted car operators include Jersey-based Broadway Elite Chauffeured Services Worldwide, which says their drivers now avoid coming to New York City after TLC officers improperly seized eight luxury limos.
Broadway Elite’s worst encounter with the TLC came at a Staten Island fund-raising dinner. Elite donated car service to pick up donors — and then had its cars seized after dropping attendees off at the Hilton hotel in Midtown.
TLC spokesman Allan Fromberg said most violations are prosecuted successfully.
“The vast majority of summonses are successfully prosecuted for these public safety violations exactly as written,” he said.