Loading...
(a) An Accessible Vehicle may be approved for Hack-up if it meets all of the following conditions:
(1) It is a vehicle other than (i) a bus, (ii) a minibus, or (iii) a van, the chassis for which, as originally manufactured, is designed to seat eight or more persons.
(2) It is capable of transporting at least one passenger using a common wheelchair (as wheelchair is defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, section 37.3).
(3) It does not seat more than five passengers when presented for Hack-up.
(4) It complies with the requirements in subdivisions (b) and (c) of this section and all other requirements for Hack-up in 35 RCNY § 67-05.1 that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section.
(b) The chassis of the Accessible Vehicle, as originally manufactured, must have:
(1) A maximum horsepower of 290.
(2) The original equipment manufacturer's suspension and steering components.
(3) No bumper modifications.
(4) Exception regarding bumpers: A bumper modified to allow installation of a rear-entry ramp may be approved if it satisfies either of the following:
(i) Modification by secondary manufacturer.
a. The rear bumper is reinforced.
b. The modification is approved by the vehicle manufacturer.
c. The modification meets or exceeds Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards crash testing requirements.
d. Any rear door lock modifications must meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and the lock must be attached to the chassis, not the ramp, unless a secondary lock is attached to the chassis.
(ii) Modification by other than secondary manufacturer.
a. The rear bumper is reinforced.
b. The modification is approved by the vehicle manufacturer.
c. The modification meets or exceeds Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards crash testing requirements.
d. The modifier must retain an engineer with at least a bachelors degree in either mechanical engineering or electrical engineering with at least 3 years' experience in automotive manufacturing to certify that each vehicle was modified using the design tested to meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards crash testing requirements.
e. A separate certification from such engineer for each vehicle must be presented when the vehicle is submitted for Hack-up.
f. Any rear door lock modifications must meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and the lock must be attached to the chassis, not the ramp, unless a secondary lock is attached to the chassis.
(c) The Accessible Taxicab as manufactured by the original equipment manufacturer ("OEM") or as modified by an OEM-approved second-stage manufacturer must meet the following specifications:
(1) The minimum ground clearance (measured from frame, loaded to gross vehicle weight rating) must be 5 inches.
(2) (i) The minimum passenger compartment length (measured from rear of driver's seat base to rear seat base) must be 56 inches.
(ii) Exception: For an Accessible Taxicab designed to carry a Passenger using a wheelchair in the front right position beside the Driver, the minimum passenger compartment length must be 38 inches.
(3) The rear compartment of any vehicle approved for use as an Accessible Taxicab Model must meet the following dimensions as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers:
(i) Effective legroom (L51) must be at least 34.6 inches.
(4) The front compartment of any vehicle approved for use as an Accessible Taxicab Model must meet the following dimensions:
(i) Effective legroom (L34) must be at least 40 inches.
(5) Total legroom (the sum of L34 and L51) must be at least 74.6 inches.
(6) The original floor of the Accessible Vehicle, if lowered, must be lowered from the base of the firewall to the area immediately in front of the rear axle.
(7) If a lowered floor assembly is used, it must be stainless steel (16 gauge minimum) and must meet or exceed the 1,000 hour salt spray rating.
(8) If a lowered floor assembly is used, a vapor-insulating barrier of 1/2 inch marine grade plywood must be applied over the lowered metal floor and thoroughly secured.
(9) The wheelchair ramp must not block any part of the door or glass while in the stowed position.
(10) The system provided to securely hold one or more wheelchairs in place must be the system known as Q straint QRT Standard or its equal.
(11) No anchor points may project more than 1/8 of an inch above the finished floor.
(12) If the Accessible Taxicab has a middle fold-up passenger seat, it must have a folding mechanism and base plate and must meet the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 207, Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, and section 571.207.
(13) Any modifications to the rear air conditioning must be approved by the OEM.
(14) Any and all electrical wiring, other than as provided by the OEM, must be PVC-or-better insulated and color-coded for positive identification.
(15) The back-up alarm must be an electrically operated device that produces an intermittent audible signal when the Accessible Vehicle's transmission is shifted into reverse.
(16) The converted vehicle must be obtained from the same converter which has manufactured the necessary parts/components and provided the labor to convert the vehicle.
(d) Accessible Official Taxicab Vehicle ("Accessible OTV") is the OTV modified in a manner that is consistent with the City's contract with Nissan North America.
(e) Requirements for used vehicle conversion to an Accessible Vehicle. A used non-accessible vehicle may be Hacked-up as an Accessible Vehicle for use as an Accessible Taxicab, only if:
(1) The converted vehicle meets the specifications set forth in this section.
(2) The converter is approved by the Commission and submits documentation in a form and manner prescribed by the Commission indicating that the conversion was performed in accordance with the specifications set forth in this section.
(3) The vehicle is included in the list of Commission approved vehicles posted on the TLC Web site.
(4) The converted vehicle passes the required Commission inspections.
(Amended City Record 5/14/2018, eff. 6/13/2018; amended City Record 12/9/2020, eff. 1/8/2021; amended City Record 6/20/2024, eff. 7/20/2024)
(a) Requirement. Only Accessible Taxicab Models may be Hacked-Up.
(b) Putting Vehicle into Service the First Time. An Accessible Taxicab Model may be Hacked-up for use as a Taxicab, only if it:
(1) IIs new, having fewer than 500 miles on the odometer and is one of the manufacturer’s two latest vehicle model years (Example: If in calendar year 2022 the manufacturer introduces the 2023 Sienna, only 2022 and 2023 Siennas may be Hacked-up); or
(2) Is a conversion of a used non-Accessible vehicle into an Accessible vehicle, as provided in subdivision (e) of 35 RCNY § 67-05.2.
(c) Continuation in Service. Upon Hack-up, a vehicle may continue in service with the same Medallion so long as the vehicle passes inspection and has not yet met its Scheduled Retirement Date, as set forth in 35 RCNY § 67-18.
(d) Limited Right to "Re-Hack" for Transfer. A vehicle that has been Hacked-up as an Accessible Taxicab may be transferred to another Medallion, with the approval of the Commission and only if the vehicle passes inspection and meets one of the following conditions:
(1) Repossessions. The vehicle is purchased through a bank or other lender that has acquired the right to sell the vehicle through repossession and the repossession occurs within 24 months of Hack-up.
(2) Same Medallion Owner or Agent. The owner (or owner's Agent) of the Medallion transfers the vehicle to another Medallion operated by the same owner or agent.
(3) Transfer of Medallion and Vehicle. A vehicle which is in use with an Independent Medallion can continue in use with that Medallion following the transfer of that Medallion until its Scheduled Retirement Date if it passes all inspections and if the vehicle meets all of the following:
(i) the vehicle is acquired by a Transferee of an Independent Medallion together with that Medallion from the Transferor of that Independent Medallion and
(ii) the vehicle was operated by the Transferor of that Independent Medallion with that Medallion.
(e) Re-Hack Transfer Inspection Fee. The Commission may charge an inspection fee of $50 to inspect a vehicle for transfer to another Medallion as a re-hack. If necessary, the Commission may charge $25 for replacement of New York State DMV license plates.
(Amended City Record 5/14/2018, eff. 6/13/2018; amended City Record 2/2/2023, eff. 3/4/2023; amended City Record 6/20/2024, eff. 7/20/2024; amended City Record 10/18/2024, eff. 10/18/2024)
(a) Taxi Yellow. The exterior of the vehicle must be painted taxi yellow (Dupont M6284 or its equivalent), except for trim. Samples of paint color and code are to be submitted to the Commission for approval.
(b) Front Design. The front of the vehicle, and especially the bumper, should be designed with strong emphasis on reducing injury to pedestrians. There must be no unnecessary projections such as rigid hood ornaments.
(c) Signs. The vehicle must be provided with signs that conform to the marking specifications in 35 RCNY § 58-32(i).
(d) Auxiliary Turn Signals. Suitable wiring must be provided for a pair of auxiliary turn signal lamps to be located next to the roof light. These lamps must not be activated with the brake lights.
(e) Roof Light. The vehicle must be equipped with an approved Roof Light.
(a) Upholstery and Trim.
(1) Must be an easy-to-clean material such as vinyl. Exception: If the vehicle manufacturer installed side airbags or a system which determines whether a seat is occupied for purposes of inflating an airbag, the upholstery must be that provided by the manufacturer.
(2) Must meet federal (MVSS) standards for flame resistance.
(3) Must have a surface suitable for mounting authorized decals.
(b) Seats.
(1) A Taxicab may be equipped with either bucket or bench seats.
(2) The seats must not interfere with the partition and must meet all other Commission requirements.
(3) All replacement seats must be designed by the manufacturer for installation in the model and year of the vehicle in which the seats are installed.
(c) Rear Windows. A Taxicab must be equipped with rear windows that can be opened and closed by passengers.
(a) Requirement. The vehicle must be equipped with a sealed, tamper-resistant Taximeter installed by a Licensed Taximeter Business according to the rules and regulations in 35 RCNY Chapter 64. The Taximeter must be installed in a location approved by the Chairperson which permits safe operation of the vehicle and visibility to the passenger.
(b) Technical Specifications. The Taximeter must meet the specifications and tolerances published in the most recent National Institute of Standards and Technology Handbook, and must be approved for use in New York by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets and the Commission. Any new Taximeter will be subject to a minimum three month test period before approval.
(c) Other Technical Requirements.
(1) The Roof Light must be controlled by engaging the Taximeter.
(2) The Taximeter must be capable of calculating and displaying all required rates of fare.
(3) The Taximeter and all connections must be secure and tamper proof. All switches, wiring and caps must meet applicable specifications of the Society of Automotive Engineers.
(4) [Reserved.]
(5) The Taximeter must, at the end of the trip, display the total sum of the fare and any extras, taxes, or surcharges assessed on the trip.
(Amended City Record 5/17/2018, eff. 6/16/2018; amended City Record 12/11/2018, eff. 1/10/2019)
(a) Requirement.
(1) The vehicle must be equipped with a partition that isolates the driver from the rear seat passengers or all passengers of the vehicle unless the vehicle is exempt from the partition requirement pursuant to 35 RCNY § 58-35(b).
(2) The purpose of the partition is to provide protection to the driver while ensuring passenger safety and enabling rear seat passengers to enjoy a clear and unobstructed view of the TLC Drives License, Rate Card, and front windshield.
(b) Technical Specifications.
(1) The partition must extend from the ceiling to a specific point as recommended by the Chairperson and approved by the Commission, based upon the make and model of the vehicle.
(2) The transparent portion of the partition must be constructed of a mar-resistant polycarbonate not less than 0.375 inches thick that will provide passengers and drivers with maximum visibility.
(i) For a flat partition and a partition for a Taxicab with factory installed curtain airbags, the transparent portion must extend from the ceiling to join or overlap with the protective plate of the partition.
(ii) For an L shaped partition, on the side that is behind the driver, the transparent portion of the partition must extend from the ceiling to join or overlap with the protective plate of the partition. On the side that extends forward to back between the two front seats, the transparent portion of the partition must extend from the ceiling to join or overlap with the protective plate of the partition on the right side of the center console located between the two front seats.
(3) The protective plate must join or overlap with the transparent portion of the partition and extend downward to the floor of the vehicle. The protective plate must be a plate of 0.085-inch thick bullet-resistant ballistic steel or its equivalent if approved by the Deputy Commissioner for Safety and Emissions. The protective plate must be installed inside and covering the front seat's entire backrest.
(i) The protective plate must extend from the point that the transparent portion joins it downward to the floor of the Taxicab.
(ii) If the transparent portion overlaps the protective plate, the protective plate must extend from the point of joinder with the transparent portion downward to the floor of the Taxicab.
(iii) For an L shaped partition, the protective plate must also cover the right side of the center console between the two front seats.
(4) The entire protective plate of each partition must have sufficient padding to prevent injury to any rear-seat passenger in case of a Collision or sudden stopping, and all surfaces must be free of sharp and rough edges.
(5) There must be no opening or gap between the partition and the body of the vehicle larger than one inch, except for vehicles equipped with factory installed curtain airbags. In those vehicles, the partition shall allow a space of six inches on each side, sufficient to permit proper deployment of the curtain airbags unless the partition is specifically designed by the vehicle manufacturer to not interfere with the deployment of side curtain airbags.
(6) In addition to meeting all other technical specifications, a partition may be installed only if it does not impair passenger and driver safety and has the following features:
(i) Allows passengers and drivers to communicate with each other
(ii) Allows passengers in the rear passenger compartment to pay fares by cash or by credit card (if the Taxicab is capable of accepting credit card payments) and to receive receipts for payments and transactions.
(Amended City Record 4/28/2016, eff. 5/28/2016; amended City Record 9/22/2016, eff. 10/22/2016; amended City Record 2/12/2020, eff. 3/13/2020)
(a) Requirement. An owner must equip all Taxicabs with a help or distress signaling light system consisting of two turn signal type "lollipop" lights.
(b) Technical Specifications.
(1) One light must be mounted on the front center of the vehicle, either on top of the bumper or forward or behind the grill. A second light must be mounted on top of the rear bumper, to the left of the license plate.
(2) Each light must be three to four inches in diameter, have a total rated output of 32 candle power, and be amber-colored or have an amber-colored lens so that the light output of the device is the color amber at 32 candle power.
(3) The activator must be installed within easy reach of the driver, must be silent when operating, and must be fully solid-state.
(4) The lights must be able to flash between 60 and 120 times per minute.
(5) The wiring must not affect or interfere with, directly or otherwise, any wiring or circuitry used by the meter for measuring time or distance.
Loading...