HOBOKEN - A man repeatedly punched a New York City cabbie - and spat on him - after the driver asked for $8 for the toll to return to Manhattan, police said.

Paul Meech, 41, was arrested shortly after midnight on June 20 near Sixth and Washington streets, police said yesterday.

According to the cab driver, when he picked up Meech in Manhattan, he agreed to pay the $60 fare across the Hudson River, plus the $8 toll the driver would pay to return to the city, police said. This is the standard fare for crossing the Hudson.  http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1214634385150940.xml&coll=3

But as the driver stopped at a red light at Sixth and Washington, Meech said he wouldn't pay for the toll, according to police. The two argued, and then Meech gave the driver $60. He then left the cab, walked to the driver's window, spat on his face and walked away, police said.

The driver followed Meech as he walked the block to his door asked him again for the $8, reports said. Meech turned around and began to punch the driver on his face and body, police said.

Then he pushed the cabbie to the ground, ran to the taxi, grabbed the driver's keys and a $300 GPS device and threw them to the ground, breaking the GPS, reports said.

Meech was arrested at his apartment and charged with criminal mischief, robbery and burglary, police said.