Watch New Yorkers Freak Out When a Taxi Driver Pranks Them With a Live Snake

A New York City cab driver has gotten his taxi license suspended for two years after publishing video of a prank in which a 14-foot Burmese python slithered into the back seat, freaking out passengers, Gothamist reports via TMZ

After the video was first published on YouTube last week, a spokesperson for the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission told the news website that the stunt was “monumentally poor judgement” on the part of the driver Jimmy Failla, a comedian who did it to promote his new book Follow That Car!: A Cabbie’s Guide To Conquering Fears, Achieving Dreams, and Finding a Public Restroom. PETA’s communication director also said loud noises, like shrieking passengers, could be “extremely stressful” for live snakes and suggested using a rubber one instead.

On Twitter today, jokester Failla confirms that his days as a taxi cab driver are hissstory:

I'm headlining Taxi and Limousine Commission's Court Room at 10am and @LevityLive at 8pm. Free admission to either with promo code "snakes"

— Jimmy Failla (@jimmyfailla) March 19, 2014

In one hour I'm on SiriusXM with my boys @CovinoandRich It's my first interview as a suspended cabbie.#followthatcar #snakesinacab

— Jimmy Failla (@jimmyfailla) March 19, 2014

Calling the stunt and its aftermath “reptile dysfunction,” TMZ reports Failla claims he has been approached by producers who want him to pull the prank in other places.