TLC BOARD APPROVES FIVE BOROUGH TAXI RULES

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) announced on April 19, 2012 the passage, by its Board of Commissioners, of five chapters of proposed rules codifying the Five Borough Taxi Law passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

These rules are the culmination of a concept envisioned and articulated by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in his January 2011 State of the City Address held in Staten Island.

Survey for FHV Owners and Drivers

The TLC has developed a survey to learn more about the financing needs of FHV owners and drivers. This survey will help lenders create affordable financing options for FHV owners and drivers who might want a loan to cover some expenses of converting their vehicles to Street Hail Liveries. The questionnaire is anonymous so there’s no need to provide your name or license number.

“We’re seeing the birth of a wholly new service today,” said TLC Commissioner and Chair David Yassky, “that will allow communities throughout the five boroughs to enjoy and come to rely on the same levels of quality taxi service that are only experienced in portions of Manhattan.

“The road leading to this accomplishment was long and winding, but we were joined on it by people whose confidence in the plan never waned. I couldn’t possibly at this moment name all those men and women who deserve our thanks for their unwavering support, but I will say thank you to Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Cuomo for their vision and leadership, as well as to the legislators who saw the logic and fairness in the plan early on and had the courage to stand for change. Now the work really begins.”

The most crucial aspect of the plan was outreach to all the many stakeholders. In the 15 months it has taken to take the Five Borough Taxi Plan from concept to fruition, some of the highlights of the TLC’s outreach efforts have included (sometimes multiple) visits to virtually every Community Board in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. In addition, numerous presentations were made to civic organizations citywide, as well as to the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island Borough Presidents.

The TLC’s outreach also included the hosting of three well attended driver/operator information forums in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, and the mailing of more than 84,000 info packets to vehicle owners, drivers, and base operators. We also surveyed a total of 3,000 stakeholders in Spanish and English gaining invaluable feedback. We’re also in the process of distributing a survey that seeks details about the financial needs of livery drivers for their vehicle’s conversion to Borough Taxis (388 respondents so far!).

The basics of the plan are as follows. The City will make a total of 18,000 HAIL (Borough Street Hail Taxi) permits available at $1,500 each with an initial batch of 6,000 being sold starting In June 2012. A full 20% of these permits will be earmarked for wheelchair accessible vehicles with the City facilitating financial assistance to assist operators in covering the cost differential as compared to non-accessible vehicles.

The vehicles will each have a unique color and markings (to be unveiled soon), as well as roof lights for easy identification and availability, taximeters for predictable, measured fares, credit/debit card readers (more than 50% of all taxi rides are now paid for by credit cards!), and GPS vehicle locations systems to help return lost property. More than 50% of all TLC 311 calls are lost property reports!

The TLC was created in 1971, and is the agency responsible for the regulation and licensing of almost 200,000 yellow medallion taxicabs and for-hire vehicles, their drivers, and the businesses that operate and support their industries. It is recognized as the largest and most active taxi and for-hire vehicle regulatory body in the United States.

To find out more about the TLC, or to review its rules, regulations and procedures, we encourage you to visit our official Web site at www.nyc.gov/taxi or call 311 in New York City, or 212-NEW-YORK from outside of New York City.

TLC REMINDS FOR-HIRE VEHICLE DRIVERS THEY CAN PARK FOR FREE AT THE FHV HOLDING LOT AT THE JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) receives complaints on a regular basis about drivers parking in neighborhoods adjacent to the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) as they wait to pick up their passengers from incoming flights for their pre-arranged dispatch calls.

FREE PARKING AVAILABLE at JFK

We would like to remind all for-hire-vehicle (FHV) drivers that they can park at the holding lot at JFK free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The FHV holding lot is located next to the Central Taxicab Holding Lot and is a secure area where drivers can park their vehicles. The lot also has a cafeteria and restroom shared with taxicab drivers that is available for you to use.

The lot is open to vehicles with T&LC license plates only and is intended for short term use. Drivers may not park their vehicle in the holding area overnight. The lot can accommodate up to 59 black car or livery vehicles, 22 stretch limousines, and 15 buses.

We encourage drivers to use the FHV lot at JFK Airport as they wait for passengers instead of parking in nearby neighborhoods. The parking lot is secure and free, and has available service and rest areas. Using the FHV lot will also serve to improve relationships with the surrounding communities which should help to reduce complaints that result in follow-up enforcement action.

Parking in the FHV Lot is the smart thing to do!

Taxi relief stands allow drivers to park their vehicles for up to one hour. This affords drivers the opportunity to leave their vehicles and take care of personal needs.

(last updated January 12, 2010) *Queens locations are currently being verified.

TLC TO ALLOW LOCAL INSPECTIONS FOR STATEN ISLAND LIVERY LICENSEES

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) announced that it will allow Staten Island livery operators to have their vehicles visually inspected at the TLC’s 1893 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, facility. A visual inspection checklist is available at:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/fhv_inspection_chklst.pdf

Vehicles being renewed or those being transferred to another base, as well as those applying for new vehicle licenses, must have a NYS Department of Motor Vehicles (NYS DMV) inspection as well,
and may accomplish this at a local TLC authorized, State certified inspection facility.

The TLC requires that all of its licensed vehicles be inspected frequently to ensure both passenger and driver safety. Medallion Taxicabs are inspected at the TLC’s Woodside Safety & Emissions facility every four months. Livery and other for-hire vehicle types must likewise currently be inspected every four months during their two-year licensing cycle with five of those inspections taking place at State certified inspection facilities, and one at the TLC’s own state-of-the-art facility.

“We are pleased to offer this more convenient option to our Staten Island livery licensees,” said TLC Commissioner/Chairman David Yassky, “while still achieving our number one priority - ensuring the safety of those who ride in and drive their vehicles."

Commissioner Yassky added, “I’d like to thank our Staten Island Commissioner Elias Arout, State Senator Andrew Lanza, Assemblyman Michael Cusick, and Council Member Deborah Rose for their advocacy and leadership on this project.”

“I commend the Administration and Commissioner David Yassky for announcing this program which will allow for greater convenience in the inspection process for Staten Island car service operators,” said Senator Andrew Lanza. “Assemblyman Cusick and myself are committed to working with the Administration to bring further improvements allowing for greater efficiency for car service operators and customers on Staten Island.”

"Staten Island car service operators will now have an easily accessible inspection station close to home. Our businesses will now avoid costly trips across bridges to ensure their cars are safe for their
customers" said Assemblyman Cusick. "It was a pleasure working with the commissioner on this process to ensure its successful execution."

“As a Staten Islander, I appreciate the fact that this new service will improve the efficiency of our livery bases,” said TLC Commission Member Elias Arout. “But as a regulator, I particularly appreciate the fact that safety is still job #1. Seeing this through from concept to culmination has been a very satisfying process for me, and it serves our customers well.”

The TLC was created in 1971, and is the agency responsible for the regulation and licensing of almost 200,000 yellow medallion taxicabs and for-hire vehicles, their drivers, and the businesses that operate and support their industries. It is recognized as the largest and most active taxi and for-hire vehicle regulatory body in the United States.

To find out more about the TLC, or to review its rules, regulations and procedures, we encourage you to visit our official Web site at www.nyc.gov/taxi or call 311 in New York City, or 212-NEW-YORK from outside of New York City.

TLC INSPECTION CHECKLIST

For‐Hire Vehicle Owners:

What you should expect at your TLC inspection