(a) No Weapons. While operating a Vehicle, a Driver must not have a Weapon or any other instrument intended to be used as a weapon in his or her possession or in the Vehicle without the written permission of the Chairperson.
35 RCNY § 80-15(a) | Fine: Revocation. | Appearance REQUIRED |
(b) No Smoking. A Driver must not smoke in a Vehicle.
35 RCNY § 80-15(b) | Fine: $150 | Appearance REQUIRED |
(c) Locking Vehicle Doors.
(1) While on duty and operating for-hire, a Driver must not lock either of the rear doors except with the consent or at the request of a Passenger or for a reason specified in these rules.
35 RCNY § 80-15(c)(1) | Fine if Passenger inside the Vehicle: $300 if plead guilty before a hearing; $400 if found guilty following a hearing and/or minimum 5 day to maximum 30 day suspension. Points: 2 Fine if Passenger outside the Vehicle: $50 if plead guilty before a hearing; $100 if found guilty following a hearing. | Appearance REQUIRED |
(2) A Driver is permitted to lock the front doors. However, a Driver must not refuse to transport a party of four, where one person must occupy the front seat, because the front doors are locked. Such refusal to unlock the front doors is a violation of 35 RCNY § 80-15(f)(1).
(d) E-ZPass® Rules.
(1) A Driver must not operate a Taxicab, For-Hire Vehicle or Street Hail Livery Vehicle for hire that is not equipped with an E-ZPass® tag.
(2) The Taxicab, For-Hire Vehicle or Street Hail Livery Driver must use E-ZPass® at all crossings within the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Triboro Bridge and Tunnel Authority, and wherever else E- ZPass® is accepted.
(3) Taxicab, For-Hire Vehicle or Street Hail Livery Drivers may use personal E-ZPass® tags to meet this requirement.
35 RCNY § 80-15(d)(1)-(3) | Fine: $100 if plead guilty before a hearing; $150 if found guilty following a hearing. | Appearance NOT REQUIRED |
(4) A Taxicab, For-Hire Vehicle or Street Hail Livery Driver must forward all tolls paid by the Passengers to the holder of the E-ZPass® tag at the end of his or her shift or lease period.
(5) If Taxicab or Street Hail Livery Driver has been required to establish a replenishment account, as described in 35 RCNY § 58-27(d)(2) of the Taxicab Owners chapter, the Driver must maintain the required balance in the account.
35 RCNY § 80-15(d)(4)-(5) | Fine: $50 plus restitution to the E-ZPass® tag holder of any amount not reimbursed. | Appearance REQUIRED |
(e) Overloading Vehicle.
(1) A Driver of a Taxicab or a Street Hail Livery must not permit more than four Passengers to ride in a four-Passenger Vehicle, nor more than five Passengers in a five-Passenger Vehicle, except that an additional Passenger must be accepted if the Passenger is under the age of seven (7) and is held on the lap of an adult Passenger seated in the rear.
(2) A Driver must not permit a Vehicle to be overloaded or to carry more Passengers than the Vehicle is equipped to seat based on the NYS DMV registration of the Vehicle.
35 RCNY § 80-15(e) | Fine: $100 if plead guilty before a hearing; $150 if found guilty following a hearing. | Appearance NOT REQUIRED |
(f) Use of Front Seat.
(1) A Driver must not refuse to transport a party of four, where one Passenger must occupy the front seat.
(2) A Passenger who is unable to enter or ride in the rear seat of the Vehicle must be permitted to occupy the front passenger seat.
(3) If a Passenger's luggage, wheelchair, crutches, other mobility aid or other property occupies the rear seats of the Vehicle, a Passenger must be permitted to occupy the front passenger seat.
35 RCNY § 80-15(f) | Fine: $75 | Appearance NOT REQUIRED |
(g) No Marketing to Passengers. A Driver must not sell, advertise or recommend any service or merchandise to any Passenger without prior written Commission approval. Exception: A Driver of a For-Hire Vehicle or Street Hail Livery can promote the services offered by the vehicle's affiliated Base.
35 RCNY § 80-15(g) | Fine: $50 | Appearance REQUIRED |
(h) No Taxicab Subleases. A Driver who is leasing a Taxicab must not sublease the Taxicab.
35 RCNY § 80-15(h) | Fine: First Violation: $100. Second Violation: $200. Third Violation: $300 and/or minimum 5 day to maximum 30 day suspension. | Appearance REQUIRED |
(i) Courtesy. A Driver must be courteous to Passengers.
35 RCNY § 80-15(i) | Fine: $200 if plead guilty before a hearing; $300 if found guilty following a hearing. | Appearance NOT REQUIRED |
(j) Parking at Livery Base. While stopped at his or her affiliated Base, a Livery Driver must use the off- street parking facilities provided by the Base Station Owner and must comply with all applicable traffic and parking regulations.
35 RCNY § 80-15(j) | Fine: $50 | Appearance NOT REQUIRED |
(k) Nuisance Behavior at Base. A Driver stopped at the Base with which the Driver's Vehicle is affiliated or from which the Driver is being dispatched must not create a nuisance such as, but not limited to:
(1) Engaging in littering,
(2) Playing of loud audio material, or
(3) Horn honking.
35 RCNY § 80-15(k) | Fine: $50 | Appearance NOT REQUIRED |
(l) No Horn Honking. A Driver must not engage in horn-honking that violates traffic rules and regulations.
35 RCNY § 80-15(l) | Fine: $50 | Appearance NOT REQUIRED |
(Added City Record 9/22/2016, eff. 10/22/2016; amended City Record 2/2/2023, eff. 3/4/2023)