Are taxis (yellow cabs) permitted to be in service with inoperable meters?
No:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/rules/rules.shtml
Chapter 54:
§54-26 Vehicle Equipment – Taximeters
(1) Defective Condition. A Driver must not pick up or transport a Passenger when the Taximeter in his or her Taxicab is defective.
§54-26(a)(1)
Fine: $50-$350 and/or suspension up to 30 days
Points: 1
Appearance REQUIRED
Also, if the meter were operable,
iluv2fly could have gotten a receipt with the medallion number.
Would definitely escalate this to the Hyatt management as well. This is a ripoff that should not be perpetrated against visitors to our city.