(a) Age. An Applicant for a TLC Driver License must be at least 19 years of age.
(b) Identification. An Applicant for an original TLC Driver License must produce both of the following proofs of identity:
(1) A Valid Government-issued photo ID.
(2) A Valid Social Security number.
(c) Chauffeur's License. An Applicant must have a Valid Chauffeur's License.
(d) Summary of Driving Record. An Applicant whose driver's license has been issued by a state other than New York or who has held a driver's license issued by a state other than New York within the two years prior to the date of the Application, must provide the Commission with an abstract of his or her driving record from the state that issued the Applicant's driver's license, dated no more than 90 days prior to the date of the Application, covering at least the two years prior to the date of the Application.
(e) Physical and Mental Fitness for the Job.
(1) The Applicant must be of sound mental and physical condition and fit to safely operate a vehicle and fulfill the duties of a licensee.
(2) The Applicant's fitness must be certified by a physician licensed by the State of New York or by the Applicant's state of residence on forms provided by the Commission.
(3) The Commission can, for good cause, require the Applicant to be examined by a licensed physician chosen by the Commission.
(4) An existing License can be suspended or revoked if the Driver fails to be examined for a physical or mental condition.
(f) Familiar with New York. Applicant must be familiar with the following:
(1) The geography, streets and traffic regulations of the City of New York
(2) The rules and regulations of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission
(3) The Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York.
(g) Pass Drug Test.
(1) All Applicants for new TLC Driver Licenses, except New York City Police Officers, must be tested, at the Applicant's expense, for drugs or controlled substances.
(2) The Commission designates who can perform the drug test and will only designate an individual or entity that has a permit issued by the New York State Department of Health.
(3) If an Applicant tests positive for drugs or controlled substances, the Commission will deny the Applicant's license and such decision is final.
(h) Fingerprinting for the Purpose of Determining Good Moral Character.
(1) The Applicant must be of good moral character.
(2) An Applicant for a TLC Driver License will be fingerprinted for the purpose of securing criminal history records from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
(3) The criminal history of any Applicant, including a renewal Applicant, will be reviewed in a manner consistent with Article 23-A of the New York State Correction Law.
(4) The application of any Applicant will be denied, and the TLC Driver License of any current holder will be revoked, following a conviction for any serious criminal offense (as set forth in § 498(1)(f) of the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law).
(5) The Applicant will pay any processing fee required by the State.
(i) Agreement to Accept Legal Notices or Processes.
(1) An Applicant must agree to accept service of any sort of notice or legal process issued by any agency of the City of New York upon the Applicant (Licensee) at the Applicant's Mailing Address.
(2) These official notices can be left with a member of the Applicant's (Licensee's) family or any other person who also lives at the Applicant's (Licensee's) Mailing Address.
(j) Training. The Commission requires that Applicants complete the required courses and pass all prescribed tests, both oral and written, as administered by the Commission or at its direction. All training and courses must be completed at a TLC Authorized Driver Education Services Provider except for the Defensive Driving Course.
(1) Defensive Driving Course.
(i) Applicants for a new TLC Driver License must hold a current certificate of completion that was issued no more than three years prior to the application date for the required hours of instruction in a New York State DMV Approved Defensive Driving Course.
(ii) Applicants for a renewal TLC Driver License must hold a current certificate of completion that was issued no more than three years prior to the renewal application date for the required hours of instruction in a New York State DMV Approved Defensive Driving Course.
(2) TLC Driver License Education Course. Applicants for a new TLC Driver License must complete the TLC Driver License Education course and pass an examination on course subjects as a condition of licensure.
(i) Licensees who received a TLC Driver License on the condition that they complete authorized TLC Driver License Education Course and pass prescribed tests within 90 days as a condition of continued Licensure must complete the TLC Driver License Education Course before renewing their subsequently converted TLC Driver License.
(3) TLC License Renewal Course. Applicants for a renewal TLC Driver License must complete the TLC License Renewal Course within 90 days prior to the renewal application date.
(4) Passenger Assistance and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Training. Applicants for a new TLC Driver License or for renewal of a TLC Driver License must complete the Passenger Assistance and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Training as a condition of licensure.
(5) Distracted Driving Portable Electronic Device Course. A driver convicted of the Use of an Electronic Communication Device rule must complete the Distracted Driving Portable Electronic Device Course no later than 60 days after the date of conviction.
(6) Point Reduction Course. Driver may voluntarily attend and complete the Point Reduction Course to reduce the Driver's Persistent Violator Program points prior to the adjudication of the Persistent Violator summons.
(7) Sex Trafficking Awareness Training.
(i) All Applicants, including Applicants for renewal licenses, must do all of the following:
A. Complete Sex Trafficking Awareness Training, and
B. Certify to the Commission as part of his or her application that he or she has completed such training.
(ii) For any Applicant applying for a License or for renewal of a License, completion of Sex Trafficking Awareness Training and certification of completion are conditions for the issuance or renewal of such license.
(iii) Continuing Sex Trafficking Awareness Training. Applicants who have previously completed the Sex Trafficking Awareness Training at least once and have certified that they have done so as required by subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of this paragraph, are not required to do so again, provided that they do all of the following:
A. The Applicant must obtain and review the Continuing Sex Trafficking Awareness Training materials approved by the Commission, and
B. The Applicant must certify to the Commission as part of his or her application that he or she has obtained and reviewed Continuing Sex Trafficking Awareness Training material provided by the Commission.
C. For applicants who qualify to use this exception, review of the written Continuing Sex Trafficking Awareness Training materials and certification of obtaining and review of such materials are conditions for the issuance or renewal of a license.
(8) Military Exemption. Any Applicant for a License who previously held a Valid TLC Driver License, a Taxicab Driver License or a For-Hire Driver License will not be required to take the TLC Driver License Education Course, provided that the Applicant meets the following conditions:
(i) The Applicant's previous Driver License expired solely because the Applicant was not available to renew his or her License because he or she was engaged in active military service.
(ii) The Applicant's military service began before the expiration date of his or her prior License.
(iii) The Applicant filed an application within 90 days of completing active military service, and in no event later than three years following expiration of the prior License.
(iv) The Applicant provided proof of the dates of active military service.
(v) The Applicant meets all other requirements for obtaining a new License.
(9) Exemption for New York City Police Officers. Any Applicant for a License who is a New York City Police Officer will not be required to take the TLC Driver License Education Course, provided that the Applicant meets the following conditions:
(i) Applicant must present a letter from his or her commanding officer approving the application.
(ii) Applicant must pass an examination authorized by the Commission.
(iii) Applicant must meet all other requirements for obtaining a new License.
(10) Life Experience Exemption. Any Applicant for a License will not be required to take the TLC Driver License Education Course, provided:
(i) The Applicant previously held a Taxicab Driver License, For-Hire Driver License or TLC Driver License.
(ii) No prior Taxicab Driver License, For-Hire Driver License or TLC Driver License was revoked or expired while license revocation charges were pending or was surrendered while license revocation charges were pending.
(iii) For Applicants applying fewer than two years after the expiration date of the prior Taxicab Driver License, For-Hire Driver License or TLC Driver License, the Applicant held a Taxicab Driver License, For-Hire Driver License or TLC Driver License for a total of at least 10 years.
(iv) For Applicants applying more than two years but less than five years after the expiration date of the prior Taxicab Driver License, For-Hire Driver License or TLC Driver License, the Applicant held a Taxicab Driver License, For-Hire Driver License or TLC Driver License for a total of at least 15 years.
(v) The Applicant meets all other requirements for obtaining a new TLC Driver License.
(vi) The Applicant had no outstanding fines when the Applicant's prior Taxicab Driver License, For-Hire Driver License or TLC Driver License expired unless such fines have been paid at the time of application.
(k) Authorized Driver Education Services Providers. Providers of training and courses required by this Chapter must be approved by the Commission, must administer the curriculum required by the Commission, and must comply with all requirements set forth by the Commission.
(l) Application Submission. Applicants must complete the application forms provided by the Commission and must file the applications as directed by the Commission.
(m) Address. An Applicant must give the Commission the Applicant's current Mailing Address and a current and valid E-mail Address.
(n) Payment of Fines and Fees.
(1) An Applicant, including an applicant for a renewal License, must pay, and provide proof of payment of, any outstanding fines or fees owed by the Applicant to
(i) the Commission,
(ii) NYC Department of Finance's Parking Violations Bureau,
(iii) NYC Department of Finance's Red Light Camera Unit,
(iv) NYS DMV's Traffic Violations Bureau and
(v) any of their successor agencies.
(2) This requirement includes payment of fines and fees owed as of the date of the application by
(i) any Business Entity Persons of the Applicant
(ii) any Business Entity of which the Applicant is a Business Entity Person, and
(iii) any Business Entity of which a Business Entity Person of the Applicant is also a Business Entity Person.
(3) An Applicant, including an Applicant for a renewal License, must pay any fines related to the Applicant's failure to surrender a previously revoked License (of any type), unless the Applicant can demonstrate in person or in writing that the License has been surrendered.
(o) Material Changes in the Application. The Applicant must inform the Chairperson of any material change in the information submitted as part of the Application while the Application is pending. Material changes include, but are not limited to:
(1) Changes in Applicant's Chauffeur's License status;
(2) Changes in mailing address or E-mail address;
(3) Additional criminal convictions;
(4) Additional DMV convictions, including convictions for the offense of operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs; or
(5) Any change to the information provided or submitted with the Application.
(Added City Record 9/22/2016, eff. 10/22/2016; amended City Record 6/15/2017, eff. 7/15/2017; amended City Record 12/9/2020, eff. 1/8/2021; amended City Record 5/10/2023, eff. 6/9/2023; amended City Record 6/20/2024, eff. 7/20/2024)