New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission 2019 Annual Report

New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission

2019 Annual Report

2 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

3 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

Welcome

Dear Fellow New Yorkers:

Welcome to the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission’s 2019 Annual Report. I am pleased to highlight

the agency’s accomplishments during this exciting year.

In 2019 our agency has remained committed to advancing and carrying out policies that foster greater

accessibility and better working conditions for drivers. All of this has been based on the greater collection and

integration of data into TLC decision-making.

This past year, the TLC implemented a new For-Hire Vehicle Driver Pay protection program, which has

increased the average income of high-volume For-Hire Vehicle drivers by as much as $750 per month. This

first-in-the-nation policy is another example of TLC setting standards in For-Hire Vehicle regulation for the rest

of the country.

In addition to pay protections, there have been many important licensing improvements that have a tremendous

impact on drivers, vehicle owners, and other licensees, freeing up their time so they no longer need to visit our

offices in-person. Vehicle transfer applications can now be self-scheduled online, and we installed 3 self-service

kiosks at our Long Island City office. TLC UP now offers a License Snapshot that lets drivers check their license

online for a real-time view, upcoming drug test dates, and current insurance and inspection information. These are

just some examples of the innovations from TLC’s Licensing unit in 2019.

2019 also saw the introduction of true wheelchair accessible service in the For-Hire Vehicle sector. TLC’s rules

continue to provide more transportation options for persons who use wheelchairs and can now call the car

service in their neighborhood or use one of the High-Volume app companies. Car service companies must now

dispatch a set percentage of trips to accessible vehicles, or meet a wait time standard when trips are requested

through a TLC-approved dispatcher A first evaluation report chronicling compliance with the TLC rules

(www1.nyc.gov/assets/tlc/downloads/pdf/fhv_wheelchair_accessibility_report_2019.pdf) indicated substantial

achievement of its goals, and we hope to build on this progress in 2020.

TLC’s work is built on a foundation of data, and the City’s collection and analysis of taxi and For-Hire Vehicle

industry data has enabled TLC to break new policy ground by holding the apps accountable. While TLC data

has long been available on the City’s Open Data website, TLC increased its accessibility when we launched a

new Data Hub (tlcanalytics.shinyapps.io/tlc_dash/) that allows the public to access and visualize industry

metrics in a way never before possible.

All TLC-licensed drivers must first attend Driver School and pass the TLC Driver License exam. In addition to

centralizing all driver education exams with one authorized test provider, we also launched a new and improved

course for TLC driver license applicants in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu.

Licensed drivers come from over 164 countries, and we have worked to eliminate language barriers so that they

can work and support their families.

In August 2019, the Commission voted to extend by one year its cap on the issuance of For-Hire Vehicle licenses

as part of a package of rules aiming to reduce congestion. Before this pause on new licenses, more than 2,000

inaccessible For-Hire Vehicles were added to NYC streets every month. We are now seeing a gradual decline in

overall For-Hire Vehicles, which is important for reducing traffic congestion. Over 650 accessible For-Hire

Vehicles have been added—there were only 170 on the road when the cap began. Despite some concerns about a

potential reduction in vehicle availability, wait times for rides also decreased in every borough.

4 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

The TLC has also remained committed to its Vision Zero goals, Mayor de Blasio’s groundbreaking effort to

eliminate traffic injuries and fatalities. This year we honored a record number of drivers and businesses through

its annual Vision Zero Driver Safety Honor Roll

(www1.nyc.gov/assets/tlc/downloads/pdf/press_releases/press_release_10_17_2019_2.pdf). Drivers honored did

not have a single crash resulting in an injury, a single traffic violation, or a single violation of TLC’s safety-

related rules. This event is always one of our favorites, and it highlights the dedication to safety that so many of

our drivers possess.

From inspections to field enforcement, the work that TLC’s Uniformed Services Bureau (USB) does is crucial to

reducing serious injuries and accidents, protecting our licensees’ incomes from illegal operators, and ensuring

the safety of the riding public. In 2019, USB graduated two new classes, and a new class of cadets began their

training this fall. Our Enforcement staff will continue to perform crucial work citywide, protecting licensed

drivers and passengers.

Our commitment to combatting service refusals, when passengers are denied trips based on illegal criteria like

race and destination, has never been stronger as we opened the new Office of Inclusion. This ongoing problem

was illustrated in a short film featuring Anchor/Journalist Errol Louis highlighting the real pain caused by

service refusals (www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI1hrPjovu4&t=232s).

This has also been a year of progress in assisting our drivers to surmount the many economic burdens that

market forces have placed upon them. Our External Affairs staff conducted more outreach events this year than

ever before – over 150 events held in all five boroughs. Partnering with agencies including Department of

Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), Department

of Parks & Recreation, the New York Police Department (NYPD), Department of Education (DOE), and the

New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the TLC’s outreach team connected hundreds of drivers and

passengers with information about our initiatives and other crucial city services. In 2020 we will open our

Driver Assistance Center to offer financial and legal counseling to medallion owners to help them deal with

debt.

As directed by Mayor de Blasio, the TLC undertook an investigation of the medallion broker industry, which

culminated in a detailed report (www1.nyc.gov/assets/tlc/downloads/pdf/broker-investigation.pdf) and detailed a

number of proposed regulations that would lead to positive change in both the medallion broker and lease agent

industries (www1.nyc.gov/assets/tlc/downloads/pdf/proposed-rules-broker-rules.pdf). It will also lead to the

creation of a Business Practices Accountability Unit (BPAU) that will routinely audit the practices and policies

of TLC-licensed businesses.

These are just some of the highlights from a busy year, and they reflect the passion and dedication of the TLC’s

staff, who show great leadership every day. It is their skill, professionalism and perseverance that makes possible

all of TLC’s accomplishments.

Sincerely,

Bill Heinzen

Acting Commissioner

5 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

TLC’s Mission and Structure

Charter Mandate

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) was created by Local Law No. 12 of 1971, and is

charged with “furthering the development and improvement of taxi and livery service in New York City,

establishing an overall public transportation policy governing taxi, coach and car services and wheelchair-accessible

vans, and to establish certain rates and standards.”

Commission Board Structure

The Board of the Taxi and Limousine Commission is comprised of nine members, eight of whom are unsalaried.

The salaried Chair presides over the Board and acts as head of the agency, which carries out the Commission’s day-

to-day licensing, regulatory and enforcement functions, as well as functions associated with the adjudication of

licensee rule violations. Members of the Commission are appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of

the City Council, each to serve a seven-year term. One representative of each of the city’s five boroughs is

recommended for appointment by a majority vote of each borough’s respective City Council delegation. As of

December 31, 2019, there were two vacant positions on the Commission.

Jacques Jiha

Commissioner Jiha currently serves as the Acting Chairperson of the Commission. He was appointed by the Mayor

in August 2014. He also serves as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Finance. Prior to becoming

Finance Commissioner, Mr. Jiha was the Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial

Officer of Earl G. Graves, Ltd., a multi-media company with properties in print, digital media, television, events

and the internet.

Bill Aguado

Bill Aguado was appointed by the Mayor on the recommendation of the Bronx delegation to the New York City

Council in May 2015. A leading cultural and community activist in the Bronx, Commissioner Aguado retired in

2011 as Executive Director of the Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA), and since then he is still called upon to lend

his expertise on behalf of emerging artists, community cultural groups and community-based organizations.

Nora Constance Marino

Appointed by the Mayor on the recommendation of the Queens delegation to the City Council in 2011, and

reappointed in 2016, Commissioner Marino is a former JAG Officer in the United States Army Reserve and

maintains her own law practice.

Lauvienska Polanco

Lauvienska Polanco was appointed by Mayor de Blasio in 2016 after serving as the Manhattan member of the

Commission beginning in 2007. Commissioner Polanco serves as Principal Law Clerk at the Bronx Supreme

Court.

Kenneth C. Mitchell

Appointed to the Staten Island seat by Mayor de Blasio on the recommendation in the New York City Council in

November 2016, Kenneth Mitchell also serves as the Executive Director of the Staten Island Zoological Society,

Inc., a position he has held since September 2011. Mr. Mitchell is responsible for the overall administration and the

day-to-day operation of the Staten Island Zoo.

6 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

Thomas Sorrentino

Commissioner Sorrentino was appointed by Mayor de Blasio in 2017 on the recommendation of the Brooklyn

delegation of the City Council. Sorrentino served as a member of Kings County Community Board 18 for

approximately five years, where he chaired its Transportation Committee. Sorrentino is currently a partner in the

accounting firm of PKF O’Connor Davies LLP, and serves on the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Board of

Directors.

Steve Kest

Commissioner Kest is the Commission’s newest member, appointed by Mayor de Blasio in 2018. Kest serves as

Senior Advisor to the Center for Popular Democracy (CPD), and is a decades-long veteran of community organizing.

Previously, Kest ran the Fight for a Fair Economy program at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

and was a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress (CAP).

Scope of Regulated Industries

The Taxi & Limousine Commission is responsible for licensing and regulating For-Hire transportation in New

York City. The TLC regulates several sectors that each include drivers, vehicles, businesses and other related

entities.

TLC-licensed vehicles are an essential part of the comprehensive transportation network of New York City. These

vehicles transport over one million passengers each day. Over 133,000 vehicles are licensed by the TLC to serve

the public, 13,587 of which are medallion taxicabs currently authorized to accept hails from passengers within the

five boroughs. In addition to medallion taxicabs, more than 120,000 other vehicles serve the public through pre-

arrangement and radio dispatch. These For-Hire Vehicles (FHVs) include community car service (or livery)

vehicles, black cars, and luxury limousines with a seating capacity of up to 20 passengers. The black car sector is

the largest and fastest growing segment of the For-Hire Vehicle category and includes app-based dispatch. Green

cabs are For-Hire Vehicles with Street Hail Livery (SHL) permits which allow them to legally provide street hail

service in areas traditionally underserved by yellow taxis. TLC also licenses and regulates paratransit vehicles

(ambulettes) and commuter vans that are authorized to transport passengers within specific geographic zones. In

addition, the TLC licenses and regulates the businesses that manufacture, install and repair the meters used in New

York City taxicabs, brokers who assist buyers and sellers of taxicab medallions, and agents that operate taxicab

medallions on behalf of owners. TLC also licenses Technology Service Providers, which develop and maintain the

credit card readers, trip recorders, and Taxi TVs found in yellow and green taxis.

7 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

By The Numbers Calendar Year 2019

Active Licenses

334,201

(as of December 31,2019)

Drivers

TLC Driver License

197,998

Paratransit Driver License

1,260

Commuter Van Driver License

223

Total Driver Licenses

199,481

Vehicles

Street Hail Service

Medallion Taxis

13,587

Standby Vehicles

Street Hail Liveries (SHLs)

3,004

Prearranged Service

For-Hire Vehicles

116,449

Black Car

103,291

Livery

9,661

Luxury Limousine

3,497

Paratransit Vehicles

190

Commuter Vans

215

Total Vehicle Licenses

133,532

Bases

Black Car Bases

433

Community Car Services

374

Luxury Limousine Bases

127

Commuter Van Authorizations

Paratransit Bases

Total Base Licenses

1,058

Businesses

Taxicab Brokers

Medallion Agents

Taxicab Meter Shops

Taxicab Meter Manufacturers

Technology Service Providers

E-Hail Providers

Total Business Licenses

130

8 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

Commission Meetings

The TLC holds regular public meetings in which regulatory actions are discussed, public testimony is heard

and action is taken by the Commission. As a result of TLC rulemaking in 2019, two new packages have

been promulgated and two are pending.

2019 Rulemaking Actions

Date of Commission Vote

Subject

Status

August 7, 2019

High Volume For-Hire

Service Congestion Rules

Effective August 2019

August 7, 2019

Technology System

Provider Rules

Effective September 2019

Public Hearing held October 30,

2019 (Commission vote

forthcoming)

Broker Enforcement and

Oversight Rules

Effective Date Pending

Public Hearing held October 30,

2019 (Commission vote

forthcoming)

Revised Taxi Vehicle

Specification Rules

Effective Date Pending

Regulatory Highlights

Tackling Congestion and Market Over-Saturation The corresponding TLC rules addressed congested streets

and oversaturation of the For-Hire Vehicle market.

For-Hire Vehicle Drivers: Halting the Race to the Bottom

More than 83,000 drivers now drive for the three largest For-Hire Vehicle companies in New York City, which

operate through the apps Uber, Lyft, and Via (collectively the “Largest For-Hire Vehicle Companies”). These

three companies account for over 91% of For-Hire Vehicle trips.

While there are now more For-Hire Vehicles than ever, more drivers than ever, and more trips performed than

ever, the unregulated market was failing to provide better wages to drivers. Trip, fare and income data gathered by

the TLC and labor economists indicated that driver earnings fell dramatically as the number of For-Hire Vehicle

trips increased.

In 2018, the TLC responded with a first-of-its-kind Minimum Per-Trip Payment formula.

In 2019, the TLC implemented Local Law 147. Signed by Mayor de Blasio on August 14, 2018, LL147 required

the TLC, in addition to conducting a congestion study with the New York City Department of Transportation, to

periodically review and limit the number of For-Hire Vehicle licenses it issues. Critical exceptions will allow for

the issuance of new wheelchair accessible vehicle licenses, as well as battery electric vehicle licenses. And the

license issuance pause is subject to periodic, six-month reviews that will allow regulation to continue in an open-

minded, nimble fashion.

9 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

TLC now has more tools to address a business model that was predicated on flooding our streets with more For-

Hire vehicles than even the growing economy could support. Halting the race to the bottom for driver income,

began in 2018 when, after two years of study, TLC announced its new minimum pay policy for High Volume For-

Hire Vehicle drivers. Today the TLC continues a moratorium on issuing new FHV licenses, except for

Wheelchair Accessible or Battery Electric Vehicles.

The rules also required the Largest For-Hire Vehicle Companies to decrease the percentage of time that For-Hire

Vehicles dispatched by those companies cruise without passengers in Manhattan (“the Congestion Rules”).

Brokers: Strengthening the Regulatory Framework

In response to reports of Broker misconduct, on May 20, 2019, Mayor de Blasio ordered a joint investigation by

the TLC, Department of Finance (DOF) and Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) into

Taxicab Brokers practices. The purpose of the 45-day review was to identify and penalize Taxicab Brokers who

violated existing TLC regulations and to develop novel regulatory improvements needed to address issues left

uncovered by the existing regulatory framework.

The resulting rule package will provide new and meaningful standards of transparency, and more specifically it

will:

• Increase certain penalties for violations of the TLC Broker rules to reflect the seriousness of the prohibited

conduct;

• Provide restitution as a remedy to Brokers’ clients for TLC rule violations;

• Strengthen Brokers’ obligations to disclose interests in TLC-issued taxicab licenses and related taxicab

business services that those brokers offer to provide to their clients;

• Required that disclosures include any interests held by spouses, children and other relatives of the Broker;

• Require in writing the disclosure of actual conflicts in any transaction to be completed on a form provided

by TLC;

• Require written agreements between Brokers and their clients specifying all fees and costs charged by the

Broker, informing clients of the Broker’s duty to act in their interest, disclose any facts the Broker knows

that impact the value of a medallion as well as all offers to purchase, and disclose any fees paid to the

Broker by a third party;

• Require that Brokers submit to TLC completed broker agreements including all agreement attachments

required by TLC rules and copies of closing statements completed on TLC-provided forms;

• Require that Brokers complete for their clients, and submit within 30 days to TLC, a plain language

explanation of material loan terms for any financing or refinancing facilitated by Brokers.

10 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

Policy Updates, Projects, Initiatives and Events

TLC Data

In 2019, the TLC continued to be a leader in data-driven policymaking. In February, new data reporting requirements

went into effect for all High-Volume For-Hire Services (HVFHS), including new data on driver pay and hours and

passenger fares. Those data have been used to enforce the driver pay rules, which also took effect in February. In

the first six months of the driver pay policy, drivers earned nearly half a billion dollars more than the same period

last year.

TLC and the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) also incorporated data reported on vehicles

working for the HVFHSs to model out the impacts of policies meant to curb congestion related to these services.

The final Congestion Rules, which came out of recommendations made in a study of For-Hire Vehicle congestion

released in June, included new data reporting to capture vehicle movements into and out of the Manhattan Core

area, where For-Hire Vehicles make up nearly 30% of traffic but travel without passengers 40% of the time. TLC

planned to use trip and cruising data to measure companies’ compliance with the new rules, which require each

company to reduce cruising within the area to 31% of all driver time within the first year. Although a portion of the

Congestion Rules were overturned by a court decision in late 2019, the TLC remains committed to continue to work

towards policies that reduce traffic congestion as well as the time licensees spend working while not earning money.

TLC also released the TLC Data Hub this year to increase access to data and statistics on TLC-related industries.

The Data Hub allows the public to visualize and understand the data the TLC collects about taxis and app-based

services with a user-friendly tool that anyone can use.

Driver Protection Unit

The TLC Driver Protection Unit (DPU) has continued to successfully prosecute complaints received from

licensees. In 2019, the DPU processed more than 400 complaints and secured over $140,000 in restitution for

drivers. New initiatives have included enforcing the TLC’s new Driver Pay and Lease Transparency Rules that

went into effect on February 1, 2019. The DPU has prosecuted numerous Driver Pay Complaints and assisted

drivers in recouping their earnings from High-Volume For-Hire Vehicle Bases. The DPU has also prosecuted

complaints involving For-Hire Vehicle lease violations and is in the process of investigating major For-Hire

Vehicle leasing companies. As part of this investigation, the DPU is meeting with each of these companies and

reviewing their leases to ensure compliance with the TLC’s Lease Transparency rules. The DPU has also been

involved in the TLC’s investigation of Medallion Brokers. In collaboration with various departments, the DPU

conducted a review of Broker’s Medallion sale and transfer records and prosecuted violations that were discovered

as a result of the review. The DPU has also participated in several outreach events focusing on drivers’ rights

throughout the year. In 2019, the DPU continued to investigate and prosecute complaints from drivers regarding

identity theft, driver earnings, and Taxicab and For-Hire Vehicle leasing.

Office of Inclusion

TLC’s Office of Inclusion (OOI) was created in 2019 by City Council. The Office is focused on preventing

service refusals and other discriminatory behavior in the taxi and For-Hire Vehicle sector. It also helps drivers

who experience discrimination on or off the road by connecting them with resources from the Commission on

Human Rights (CCHR), which investigates and acts against such abuses. OOI has held over twenty focus groups

with drivers to better understand why service refusals occur, as well as explain the TLC complaint and summons

process. These focus groups are often held in collaboration with the New York City Police Department (NYPD)

and the Commission on Human Rights (CCHR).

To ensure the riding public is aware of their rights as passengers, OOI has provided information to NYCHA

buildings, elected officials and the Parks Department’s recreation centers. OOI has presented information at senior

11 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

centers, tenant association meetings, and community board meetings all over the five boroughs on how to report a

service refusal. OOI has also had Days of Action, where TLC staff have visited transportation hubs and TLC

driver hot spots to inform the public and drivers about service refusals. The Office of Inclusion recognizes that

New York City’s greatest attribute is its diversity (of residents and visitors alike) and is working to reduce and

ultimately eliminate service refusals.

Driver Education

In 2019, TLC expanded and standardized its requirements to teach the 24-Hour TLC Driver License Education

Course, creating an application process that allows TLC to select the best qualified education providers.

Curriculum includes topics such as TLC rules that impact drivers the most, an overview of New York City

geography, and an introduction to Vision Zero with tips to protect themselves, passengers, and pedestrians.

Drivers also receive instruction on customer service, accessibility initiatives, and service refusals. The course is

currently available to drivers in Arabic, Bengali, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu. TLC is in the

process of standardizing curriculum and requirements for other driver education courses as well.

TLC also selected a new E-testing provider, PSI, which administers the TLC driver license exam in 12 locations,

with one in each of the five boroughs. The location expansion provides drivers with more convenience and

flexibility when fulfilling their TLC driver license requirements. Several new testing benefits offered by PSI

include increased security measures, the ability to toggle between English and their preferred language while

taking an exam, and screen reading technology.

Accessibility Options in For-Hire Vehicles

Increasing access to the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission’s fleet of over 130,000 licensed

vehicles is an important step to make New York City a place that is truly accessible to all of our residents and

visitors—including those who use wheelchairs.

Since 2012, wheelchair accessible green and yellow taxis have been incorporated into the City’s fleet. To reach

the For-Hire Vehicle sector—which transported a daily average of more than 760,000 passengers per day in

2018—the TLC began in 2017 to hold For-Hire Vehicle companies accountable for the requirement that they

provide equivalent service to all New Yorkers and visitors with disabilities. After months of public engagement

with members of the disability community and industry stakeholders, TLC passed rules establishing a trip

mandate requiring that a certain percentage of trips be made in wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs), but the

implementation of this rule was delayed by a lawsuit filed by several For-Hire Vehicle companies. Once the legal

challenge was resolved, TLC’s ground-breaking new rules on For-Hire Vehicle wheelchair accessibility went into

effect in January 2019. As a result of these rules, For-Hire Vehicle bases must either dispatch a percentage of

their total trips to wheelchair accessible vehicles or meet fixed response times when WAV trips are requested

through a TLC-approved dispatcher.

The TLC’s new rules on wheelchair accessibility in the For-Hire Vehicle industry include companies ranging

from small community-based car services to app-based dispatching providers like Uber, Lyft, and Via. TLC

analysis of the first six months of the program shows that the rules have succeeded in increasing the number of

WAVs on the road, and expanding For-Hire service options for passengers who use wheelchairs. Although this

outcome is a tangible gain for hundreds of thousands of passengers who use wheelchairs across the City, it also

highlights the long history of inadequate wheelchair accessible service available to passengers in For-Hire

vehicles before TLC’s rules went into effect. In its ongoing efforts to monitor and evaluate compliance with For-

Hire Vehicle wheelchair accessibility rules, moving forward TLC will focus additional resources to ensure that

all New Yorkers and visitors are aware that: (1) wheelchair accessible service must be available from all For-Hire

Vehicle bases, and (2) passengers have a right to request a WAV trip in the same manner as they can request a

non-WAV trip. To achieve equivalent service in For-Hire Vehicles, TLC will continue monitoring WAV dispatch

and base compliance, enforce compliance as necessary, and partner with industry stakeholders and passenger

12 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

advocates on ways to expand and improve WAV options.

Accessible Dispatch

Accessible Dispatch is a centralized dispatch service that enables customers to request a wheelchair

accessible taxicab for pick-up. In January 2018, TLC launched its expanded Citywide Accessible Dispatch

program, which is now available in all five boroughs and dispatches trips to both yellow and green taxis.

Customers may call the dispatcher directly, use a smartphone application, use a dedicated website, or contact

311 to request an accessible taxi. Customers pay only the metered taxi fare, and there is no additional charge

for the service. Drivers receive a dispatch payment on top of the metered fare to compensate them for both

driving to the pick-up point and assisting the passenger into the vehicle.

Since January of 2019, the Accessible Dispatch program completed nearly 100,000 trips with a median wait

time of approximately twelve minutes. Around 3,500 wheelchair accessible yellow and green taxis were

available to pick passengers up and the average dispatch payment to drivers was $17.10.

High Volume For-Hire Service Providers

In December 2018, the TLC enacted rules governing High-Volume For-Hire Service (HVFHS) licenses pursuant

to Local Law 149 of 2018, which created a separate licensing category for For-Hire transportation services that

dispatch more than 10,000 trips per day.

Before receiving an HVFHS license, applicants must:

• Submit a list of bases through which the HVFHS will dispatch trips

• Pay a biennial licensing fee

• Submit a business plan, addressing the HVFHS’s past and anticipated vehicle count, trip volume, service

areas, and compliance with the TLC’s accessibility requirements

• Assess the impact of the HVFHS on traffic congestion, local transportation, and noise

• Provide a description of all deductions they propose to charge For-Hire vehicle owners or drivers as well

as estimates of gross hourly earnings of drivers, and

• Provide detailed trip and revenue data on an ongoing basis.

The TLC is currently evaluating the applications it received from Lyft, Uber, and Via. Juno applied for a license

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

Jul-12

Nov-12

Mar-13

Jul-13

Nov-13

Mar-14

Jul-14

Nov-14

Mar-15

Jul-15

Nov-15

Mar-16

Jul-16

Nov-16

Mar-17

Jul-17

Nov-17

Mar-18

Jul-18

Nov-18

Mar-19

Jul-19

Nov-19

Accessible Dispatch Trips

Total Requested - Outer Boroughs Total Requested - Manhattan

13 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

but has since ceased operating.

Flexible, Upfront Fare in Taxicabs

On March 29, 2018 the TLC approved the two-year Flex Fare Pilot, which allows E-Hail licensees to dispatch

yellow taxis using rates other than the metered fare. This Pilot Program allows the taxi industry to adopt the

upfront pricing structures that exist in the For-Hire Vehicle industry. In the past this has been impossible to do,

because in yellow taxis and green Street Hail Liveries the taximeter calculates a passenger fare based on a

specific formula (determined by the trip’s actual duration and distance, with the fare only finalized at the end of

the trip). By contrast, many For-Hire Vehicle companies offer binding, upfront fares before the trip even begins,

basing that upfront fare on an estimate of the trip’s duration and distance. Those upfront fare quotes offered by

the For-Hire Vehicle companies make it easier for passengers to compare prices between services.

Under this Pilot Program, participating TLC-licensed E-Hail app companies are permitted to offer upfront fares to

taxicab and Street Hail Livery passengers. The pilot officially began on June 27, 2018, when the first company

was approved for participation. The TLC has not seen widespread adoption of the pilot by the industry. Only two

of the six approved companies have launched their flat fare service to the public and the pilot is scheduled to end

on June 27, 2020. TLC strongly encourages more companies to participate in this opportunity to innovate new

business approaches.

Technology Requirements in Taxicabs

The TLC requires all Taxicabs and Street Hail Liveries to be equipped with technology that: (1) allows passengers

to pay the fare using a credit card; (2) automatically records trips; (3) enables the TLC to communicate with

drivers; and (4) provides a monitor in the back seat to display information and content to passengers. TLC updated

the regulations regarding contracts between the technology providers and medallion owners in order to give

medallion owners greater flexibility.

Taxi System Provider Rules

These rules update and amend a previous rule package that was promulgated in May of 2018. That rule package

updated in-vehicle technology requirements for yellow and green taxis. In August of 2019 those updates were

improved upon by requiring that all available methods of payment be offered to passengers with a visual

impairment and by providing greater clarity to the process of adding tolls and tips to the passenger’s fare. The

rules also lowered the maximum credit card processing fee that is paid by owner-drivers from 5.00% to 3.75%.

Finally, the rule package gave taxicab fleet owners greater flexibility to switch between the Technology System

Providers that provide the in-vehicle technology that fleet owners rely upon.

Taxi Vehicle Specification Rules

This rule package, among other things, allows for greater vehicle choice for medallion owners and a broader

selection of vehicles for passengers who use wheelchairs. These proposed rules would permit taxicab medallion

owners who are required to, or choose to, hack-up with an accessible vehicle to use approved vehicle models in

addition to the Nissan NV200 Taxi of Tomorrow.

14 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

Local Laws Affecting TLC Passed in 2019

Local Law 10

Requires TLC to survey medallion owners regarding the amount of outstanding medallion debt.

Local Law 19

Establishes new procedural requirements for violations of New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission

(TLC) laws or regulations adjudicated by the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).

• Requires that a TLC representative be present at hearings, either in person or remotely, and that a

respondent could appear remotely, through internet video. Allows OATH to reduce a violation, if it finds

doing so be in the interests of justice, subject to a review by TLC. Requires that any duplicate notice of

violation be automatically dismissed. Establishes hearing timeliness requirements to facilitate prompt

adjudication of violations.

Local Law 37

Amends the Administrative Code, in relation to enforcement of prohibitions against unauthorized commuter vans.

• The bill clarified that for the purposes of enforcing prohibitions against unauthorized commuter van services,

the definitions of “For-Hire Vehicle” and “commuter van” do not include a public bus service operating

pursuant to a contract with the city, state or federal government.

Local Law 41

Provides that commuter van license holders must not allow commuter vans to be operated by a driver without a

commuter van driver’s license and establishes penalties for commuter van license holders and commuter van

services that allow their vehicles to be operated by unlicensed drivers.

• Requires commuter van service owners to have the same or more licensed drivers as registered vans. If the

owner fails to produce sufficient proof, the TLC may suspend or revoke their authorization to operate the

commuter van service or refuse to renew the authorization.

Local Law 43

Requires rules regarding financial agreements drivers enter to obtain For-Hire vehicles.

• Requires the TLC to promulgate rules regarding For-Hire Vehicle leasing, rental lease-to-own and

conditional purchase arrangements. TLC is also required to consider mandatory disclosure requirements,

consumer protection practices and setting caps on the amounts payable under these agreements, for example

deposits.

Local Law 137

Reduces the commercial motor vehicle tax imposed on medallion taxicabs from $1000 to $400 to be equal to the

commercial motor vehicle tax imposed on all other For-Hire vehicles.

Int. 1249-B-2018

Combines the TLC Critical Driver and Persistent Violator Programs under one title.

• The legislation does not change TLC’s ability to suspend or revoke the TLC Driver License of drivers who

accumulate too many TLC or Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) points for dangerous moving

violations, and ensures TLC licensees understand their safety obligations as professional drivers.

15 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

Agency Overview and Performance

Budget and Headcount

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, the TLC operated on a budget of $49,317,576 ($37,241,367 for Personal Services and

$12,076,209 for Other than Personal Services). The TLC had an authorized headcount of 618 for FY 2019. The

FY 2020 budget is $39,773,390 for Personal Services, and $14,204,083 for Other than Personal Services, with an

authorized headcount of 597.

Uniformed Services Bureau

The Uniformed Services Bureau enforces TLC Rules and regulations for TLC licensed entities (owners, drivers,

and businesses) by ensuring that illegal activity is addressed and that For-Hire-Vehicles are safe by administering

stringent vehicle inspections as part of the renewal and application process. The bureau is comprised of the

Enforcement Division and the Safety and Emissions Division. Supporting these Divisions are the Special

Investigations Unit, Administration Unit and Training Unit.

Safety and Emissions Division

To help improve air quality, all yellow taxi cabs, Street Hail Livery vehicles, and For-Hire Vehicles are required

to have a Safety and Emissions inspection every four months. This Safety and Emissions inspection program helps

make sure every vehicle registered meets the minimum standards for safe operation on public streets and

highways. The inspections are performed on-site at TLC’s inspection facility and off-site at Department of Motor

Vehicles (DMV) authorized inspection facilities. In 2019, the Safety and Emissions Division (S&E) performed

30,557 medallion DMV inspections, 80,677 For-Hire vehicle DMV inspections and 9,345 Street Hail Livery

vehicle DMV inspections.

Enforcement Division

The TLC’s Enforcement Division continued its successful field operations pursuing Vision Zero initiatives

through the use of LIDAR equipment, and collaborating with the New York Police Department (NYPD) through

joint enforcement operations to address illegal and unlicensed drivers, including illegal commuter van operations.

In 2019, TLC and NYPD conducted 148 joint operations to combat illegal For-Hire operators and reckless drivers.

TLC Enforcement squads independently conducted 286 illegal commuter van enforcement operations yielding

4,366 summonses, 202 arrests and 74 vehicle seizures.

Investigation Unit and Base Enforcement

The Uniform Services Bureau Enforcement Division Investigation Unit conducted Base inspections in 2019.

These Base inspections, combined with field-based infractions, led to the issuance of 1,254 summonses in 2019, a

-61% decrease over CY 2018. TLC also partners with the New York Police Department (NYPD) in response to

vehicle collisions involving TLC-licensed vehicles where a person has died or is critically injured. In CY 2019

there were 33 incidents.

16 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

Top Ten Field Enforcement Summonses in 2019 Issued by Location

Borough Precincts

Airports

NYC

Administrative

Code or TLC

Rule Violation

LICENSE

TYPE

Manhattan

Brooklyn

Bronx

Queens

Staten

Island

JFK

LGA

Third

Party

(i.e.

PAPD,

NYPD)

Total

80-13(a)(3)

Hazardous

Violations -

Vision Zero

UNIV

4,690

2,252

140

2,602

165

369

10,297

80-13(a)(2)

Moving Traffic

Violations

UNIV

5,344

561

196

1,352

327

200

692

8,680

59a-25(a)(1)

Passenger Trips

by Pre-

Arrangement

Only

FHV

2,017

375

2,056

1,058

338

365

6,209

80-14(g)(1)

Use of

Electronic

Communic

ation

Device

UNIV

2,761

996

221

996

538

416

5,996

19-

506(b)(1)

Operating

Unlicensed

Vehicle

A.C.

447

1,704

482

775

1,295

693

180

5,581

80-13(a)(1)

Parking

Violations

UNIV

587

213

659

314

109

1,639

3,592

80-24(a)(2)

Required

Items in For-

Hire Vehicle

UNIV

982

518

236

541

579

363

204

3,440

80-19(c)(1)

Limits on

Driver

Solicitation

of Passengers

in FHV

UNIV

776

143

809

284

196

189

2,398

19-507(a)(4)

Mandatory

penalties

A.C.

688

102

762

249

111

151

2,063

UNIV: Universal TLC Driver’s License

FHV: For-Hire Vehicle License

Administrative Code of the City of New York

17 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

Field Enforcement resulted in the issuance of 58,228 summonses in 2019:

TYPE OF SUMMONS

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Total

2019

ILLEGAL STREET

HAILS (DRIVER)

371

294

406

322

439

414

333

425

407

541

236

267

4,455

ILLEGAL STREET

HAILS (OWNER)

498

405

540

439

605

587

479

612

593

724

336

398

6,216

GREEN-

ILLEGALSTREET

HAILS

(DRIVER)

GREEN STREET HAILS

(OWNER)

UNLICENSED DRIVER

289

274

316

324

342

304

279

321

330

373

265

312

3,729

OWNER UNLICENSED

OPERATION

279

293

357

416

357

245

273

259

293

385

343

310

3,810

OTHER OFFENSES

4,215

3,574

3,625

3,235

3,319

3,436

3,293

2,718

2,630

3,175

3,076

3,698

39,994

TOTAL SUMMONSES

5,653

4,842

5,244

4,740

5,070

4,988

4,660

4,335

4,253

5,199

4,256

4,988

58,228

Consumer Complaint Unit

The Prosecution Division houses the Consumer Complaint Unit (CCU) which investigates complaints from the

riding and general public and issues summonses when warranted. In 2019, the TLC received 29,345 complaints.

Month

Summonses

issued

Actual

Hearings

Settlements

accepted

Defaults

Guilty

Pleas

Guilty Pleas

(Mail)

January

415

674

February

586

715

March

424

100

1,242

April

644

1,216

May

650

1,117

June

790

117

1,492

July

749

147

970

August

663

860

September

482

111

698

October

316

139

942

November

396

101

794

December

463

123

684

188

Total

6,578

1,291

11,404

891

18 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

Licensing Division

Processing Volumes and Wait Time

▪ The Licensing Division processed over 180,000 Driver and Vehicle related transactions in Calendar Year

(CY) 2019.

▪ The average wait time in the Long Island City facility was 27 minutes.

Self-Scheduling of Appointments

The TLC instituted a self-scheduling appointment system for the filing of all vehicle transfer applications in

addition to the currently available on-line self-scheduling options. It allows our clients to minimize wait times

and provide the customer with scheduling flexibility as they can choose a date and time that best meets their

schedule and availability. TLC will continue to look to enhance and improve its self-scheduling options so that

customers have more freedom to choose the date and time that best suits their needs for when they need to visit

one of our facilities. We are continuing our work to enhance the process and we hope to be able to include self-

scheduling options for Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and visual inspections at our facility in Woodside

and visual inspections at the Staten Island office in calendar year 2020.

We also put three self-service Q-matic kiosks in our Long Island City facility. These self-service kiosks allow

visitors to our facility to come directly onto the floor and self-select the reason and purpose they are here and

receive a ticket immediately based upon their selection. We will also enhance the capability of the system next

year by adding a check-in system to the process. Our customers will be able to check themselves in simply by

scanning the bar code found in the confirmation email. Our hope is that it simplifies and speeds up the process of

issuing the Q-matic ticket and moving the client forward in the application process.

License Improvement Initiatives

• Applications for both a new TLC issued driver license or vehicle license continue to be processed

completely on-line. The system is available seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day and Driver

applicants can then arrange for their needed appointments with our partner vendors to complete the other

application requirements (e.g., drug testing, fingerprinting, education and training) on dates and times

convenient to them and with their choice of multiple convenient locations throughout the city. We are

continually looking to improve upon the applicant and licensee experience and make the process more

convenient and time efficient. We have recently made changes to the decals that are printed and affixed

to a vehicle when it is licensed that will result in an end to the requirement for Vehicle owners to bring

their vehicles to our Woodside facility for new decals when a Base Transfer application is completed

here at our Long Island City facility. We are now moving forward with putting the entire Base Transfer

application process on-line in the upcoming year. This will eliminate the requirement to process the

physical application in Long Island City.

• TLC’s Document Upload Portal or TLC UP (launched in June of 2017) is a quick, easy, and simple way

for new driver and vehicle applicants to submit documents to the TLC that are needed to complete the

licensure process. TLC UP gives the applicant an individualized portal through which they can upload

documents, stay informed on the status of each of their submitted documents and easily see if a

document has been accepted, rejected or is currently under review. In our continuing efforts to enhance

TLC UP to provide more functionality for our clients we have:

➢

recently added new functionality to TLC UP that allows renewing Driver and Vehicle licensees to

manage the renewal process and document upload process entirely in TLC UP. They can cleanly

and efficiently upload any document needed for the renewal of their license

➢

been actively working on adding a full contact information update section to TLC UP that will allow

a client to proactively make changes to their contact data in an accessible and easily manageable

19 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

manner.

➢

been working towards adding information pertaining to summons, suspensions and settlements to

TLC UP. This functionality is expected to be live in early 2020 and will enhance the client

experience and allow them to manage more of their license related actions on-line without having to

physically come to Long Island City.

• The Business Unit continues its outreach efforts with their Base Orientation class for new and renewing Base

License Applicants. The class is given by one of the Base Application Specialists in the Business Unit

and covers the wide range of requirements associated with holding and managing a Base license. The

class is available to renewing Base license holders as well as new applicants. The Business Unit also

successfully worked with IT and Policy in setting up and formalizing the High Volume For-Hire

Service (HVFHS) application and license structure for this new license class.

• Licensing continues to use email and text messaging as a mechanism to notify our applicants and

licensees of needed requirements and/or upcoming events such as the need to take their annual drug test

or as a reminder of an open application. Email confirmation in TLC UP was a key factor in improving

that process. We will continue to look at additional ways that text messaging can be used to keep our

customers aware of what is happening with their application or license so that the process is as

transparent as possible.

• Licensing, working closely with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYS DMV),

successfully opened a satellite DMV office at our Long Island City Facility in March 2018. The satellite

office, staffed by TLC employees, handles all Yellow Taxi related transactions from registrations to

plate issuances and surrenders as well as plate transfers and surrenders for For-Hire Vehicles. It has

made the Yellow Taxi and For-Hire Vehicle plate transfer process easier and simpler for our clients and

saves them an additional trip to a DMV office. The benefits are huge for the client as they can now

complete an entire TLC vehicle transaction in one location and then walk out with their new plates in

hand.

• License Snapshot, which launched in December of 2018, was modified in February of this year to

improve navigation and the layout of client information. License snapshot allows all TLC licensees to

see a real time view of their license the same way we see it internally. They can view open and closed

summonses, settlement offers and suspensions as well as giving additional license specific information

such as last and upcoming drug test dates, Base affiliations and Green Taxi affiliations for vehicles as

well as a vehicles’ current insurance and inspection information. It allows Yellow Taxi Agents to

review the list of Yellow Taxis they manage, and Bases to review the Vehicles and Green Taxi permits

that are affiliated to their Base and the current status of each. The view is individualized, unique and

specific to the licensee logging in whether an individual Driver or Vehicle owner or a Business such as

a Base or Yellow Taxi Agent.

• The launch of the new Vehicle Automated Inspection System provided Licensing with a new scheduling

system that allows for better management and monitoring of the inspection scheduling process and a

more robust communications process (clients are emailed their appointment confirmation form when

they are scheduled and then receive two reminders prior to their upcoming appointment date).

Enhancements to this scheduling component are on-going and may eventually allow all clients to self-

schedule their own inspection appointments.

• Enhancements were made to our on-line application and payment portal (LARS) that allow a client a

cleaner interface to the various fees that might be due on any license they have been issued by the

20 | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

Agency. This new view pulls fees from various sources into a single view for a client so that they do not

have to sign in and select each open item individually. They have a more robust interface that collapses

fees owed on one license under the individual license number making it easier for a client to see

everything that might be open and due on their license.

The License Application, Renewals and Summons (LARS) system was also successfully modified to allow for the

on-line filing of Base affirmations and vehicle applications for vehicles that met the qualifications as a purely

battery electric vehicle. This system enhancement allowed vehicle owners seeking to file an application for a

battery electric vehicle to do so completely on-line without needing to make and appear for an in-person

appointment in our Long Island City facility. The change integrated a vehicle identification check that easily

identifies and confirms the fuel type of a vehicle which then allows the application process to proceed.

Call Center and Integrated Voice Response System (IVR)

The Integrated Voice Response System (IVR) which allows any licensee or applicant to obtain the status of and

basic information on, their license was recently enhanced and improved with some additional features to make

information on summonses, stipulations and settlements easier to obtain. The enhancement, which went live at the

end of December 2019, added a Prosecution skill group to the IVR that now not only provides more detailed

information and instructions on how to manage summonses, suspensions or settlements but allows a client to

directly connect with an attorney or member of the Prosecution Unit who can answer summons specific questions.

It’s a feature that will help alleviate a client needing to visit the facility to get summons and settlement

information. Of the 369,666 calls answered and handled in CY2019, 123,508 calls (an average of 10,292 calls per

month) were managed by the IVR alone and another 144,312 calls (an average of 12,026 calls per month) were

handled directly by an Agent. Our average call handle time has remained consistent at approximately five minutes

or less. We have continued to improve agents’ ability to deliver quality customer service by enhancing training

and quality assurance reviews. Call Center supervisors monitor and review calls monthly with agents to improve

the agents’ performance, and TLC’s new Quality Assurance Unit also reviews calls and gives feedback to the Call

Center. TLC continues to look for ways to enhance our level of customer communications to improve the client

experience.