NEWS

 



NEW YORK CITY TAXI AND LIMOUSINE COMMISSION

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON PROPOSED RULES


What are we proposing?

The Taxi and Limousine Commission ("TLC") is considering changing its rules for taxicab rooftop advertising fixtures hack-up and maintenance. The change would set standards for TLC approval of taxicab rooftop advertising fixtures.


Statement of Basis and Purpose of Proposed Rules

The purpose of the proposed rule is to:

1. Codify the rooftop device approval process,

2. Establish safety standards for rooftop devices, and

3. Establish a fine for taxicabs that do not comply with the standards.


Section 19-525 of the City Administrative Code allows TLC to issue permits for exterior advertising on licensed vehicles and to promulgate rules governing the type and size of advertisements. The TLC only allows advertising on taxicabs with approved rooftop devices. The TLC currently approves taxicab rooftop advertising devices through a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with each rooftop provider. The MOUs set the standards with which the rooftop device must comply. The proposed rules will replace the MOUs by codifying the approval process stated in them. Rooftop devices currently approved through an MOU will continue to be approved in accordance with the proposed rules.

Under the proposed rules, every newly designed rooftop advertising fixture offered by a provider must be approved by the TLC before it can be affixed to a taxicab. A taxicab owner using an unauthorized rooftop advertising fixture will be issued a summons under Rule 58-34.

The proposed rule establishes the following safety standards for TLC approval of a new rooftop advertising fixture:


The TLC currently intends that these proposed rules will remain in effect until such time as TLC selects a vendor (or vendors), pursuant to a competitive process, to act as providers for taxicab exterior advertising.

When and where is the Hearing? The Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed rule. The public hearing will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 21, 2011. The hearing will be in the Commission hearing room at 33 Beaver Street, 19th Floor,
New York, NY 10004.

How do I comment on the proposed rules? Anyone can comment on the proposed rules by:

Mail. You can mail written comments to the:

Taxi and Limousine Commission, Office of Legal Affairs, 33 Beaver Street – 22nd Floor, New York, New York 10004.


Fax. You can fax written comments to the Taxi and Limousine Commission, Office of Legal Affairs, at 212-676-1102.

Email. You can email written comments to tlcrules@tlc.nyc.gov.

Website. You can submit comments to the Taxi and Limousine Commission through the NYC Rules Web site at www.nyc.gov/nycrules.

By Speaking At the Hearing. Anyone who wants to comment on the proposed rule at the public hearing must sign up to speak. You can sign up before the hearing by calling 212-676-1135. You can also sign up in the hearing room before the hearing begins on July 21, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. You can speak for up to three minutes.

Is there a deadline to submit written comments? Yes, you must submit written comments by July 15, 2011.

Do you need assistance to participate in the Hearing? You must tell the Office of Legal Affairs if you need a reasonable accommodation of a disability at the Hearing. You must tell us if you need a sign language interpreter. You can tell us by mail at the address given above. You may also tell us by telephone at 212-676-1135. You must tell us by Thursday, July 14, 2011.

Can I review the comments made on the proposed rules? A few days after the hearing, a transcript of the hearing and copies of the written comments will be available to the public at the Office of Legal Affairs at 33 Beaver Street, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10004.

What authorizes the Commission to make this rule? Sections 1043 and 2303 of the City Charter and section 19-503 of the City Administrative Code authorize theCommission to make this proposed rule. This proposed rule was included in the Commission's regulatory agenda for this Fiscal Year.

Where can I find the Commission's rules? The Commission's rules are in title 35 of the Rules of the City of New York.
What rules govern the rulemaking process? The Commission must meet the requirements of Section 1043 of the City Charter when creating or changing rules. This notice is made according to the requirements of Section 1043(b) of the City Charter.

Notice is hereby given that the proposed hearing by the Taxi and Limousine Commission ("TLC") for amending its for-hire vehicle base owners rules regarding prearrangement of trips, previously scheduled to be held on June 16, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. by a notice appearing in the City Record on May 16, 2011 is rescheduled.

A public hearing on these proposed rules will now be held by the TLC at its offices at 33 Beaver Street, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10004 on July 21, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. Persons wishing to testify at the hearing may notify the TLC in advance, either in writing or by telephone to the TLC's Office of Legal Affairs at the address and telephone given below. Any request for a sign language interpreter or other form of reasonable accommodation for a disability at the hearing must continue be submitted to the Office of Legal Affairs in writing or by telephone no later than July 14, 2011.

The deadline for submission of written comments in connection with these proposed rules is unchanged and remains June 15, 2011. Comments may be submitted through the NYC Rules website at www.nyc.gov/nycrules, or may be submitted to the Office of Legal Affairs at:

Taxi and Limousine Commission, Office of Legal Affairs, 33 Beaver Street – 22nd Floor, New York, New York 10004.


Fax. You can fax written comments to the Taxi and Limousine Commission, Office of Legal Affairs, at 212-676-1102.

Email. You can email written comments to tlcrules@tlc.nyc.gov.

Website. You can submit comments to the Taxi and Limousine Commission through the NYC Rules Web site at www.nyc.gov/nycrules.