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FHV BASE OWNERS - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS *Please note that the information provided is only a summary of the newly passed rules. How long do base applications last? Beginning July 2, 2009, base licenses will last 3 years. If you are renewing your base license your base license will last 3 years after the expiration date. Are all FHV bases required to give a bond? What is the amount of the bond? All FHV bases are required to provide the Commission with a $5000 bond. Black Car and luxury limousine bases are also required to provide the bond to the Commission when they renew. How soon can I submit my renewal papers? Base license renewals must be completed and submitted to the agency 60 days before the base licenses expiration date. If you complete and submit the application or renewal papers after 60 days and before your license expires, you will be charged $25. If you submit a renewal after the expiration date you will not be able to renew your base application and you base must stop operating.You will have to apply as a new base. Are my off street parking (OSP) requirements going to change? No, bases will continue to be required to maintain OSP. OSP is mandated by New York City law through the New York City Council. How do the new penalty points work? Penalty points work just like fines. If you receive a summons for breaking TLC Rules, you will get a court date, where you can tell your side of the story.The judge at TLC’s court makes a decision on whether you get a penalty point after hearing both sides of the story. How many points can I get? If you get 6 points during the 3 years of your base license, TLC will revoke your license. What do I get a penalty point for? The chart below shows what you can get points for.
Not yet.TLC is working on a program so that you could take a class and reduce your points.
For a full list of base owner responsibilities visit our FHV Guide, available in ENGLISH and SPANISH.
Yes. The numbers have to be placed below the windows. They cannot go on the windows or on top of the front hood. VEHICLE OWNERS & DRIVERS - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS *Please note that the information provided is only a summary of the newly passed rules.
Can I affiliate with more than one base? No.Vehicles can only affiliate with one base at a time. How many times a year must I get my vehicle inspected? Your vehicle must be inspected by DMV every 4 months, or 6 times in the 2 years of your license. How many inspections do I have to do at TLC’s Inspection Site in Woodside? By 2011, one of your inspections must be completed at the TLC’s Safety & Emissions facility at Woodside. The facility is located at 24-55 BQE West, Woodside, NY, 11377. This inspection counts as a DMV inspection unless your car is model year 1995 or older. TLC does not have the DMV inspection equipment for these older vehicles. I am a new or renewing applicant. How will the new inspection requirements affect me? Beginning September 1, 2009, new applicants must get their vehicles inspected within 10 days of getting their license with TLC. Beginning February 10, 2010, renewing applicants must have their vehicles inspected at Woodside’s Safety & Emissions Division. How will I know when to go for my inspection? If you are renewing or applying for a new vehicle license,TLC will give you an appointment date and time. How long will my inspection take? Your inspection should take about one hour from start to finish. What can I use to pay for my TLC inspection? You can pay for your TLC inspection by credit card, debit card, money order, or check.We will not accept cash. What happens if I fail my inspection? You will need to bring your car back for a re-inspection. If you are renewing your vehicle license, you have 30 days to pass your inspection. If you are applying for a new vehicle license, you have 60 days to pass your inspection. If you fail your inspection 4 times, you are not going to be able to get a license for the car. I just bought a new vehicle through a dealer, and it was inspected by the DMV. I am getting a new TLC vehicle license for it. Does it have to be inspected again? Yes, but if your new car has less than 500 miles on it, you only need a visual inspection at the Woodside facility. I am a livery car vehicle owner.What type of stickers do I need for my car? Beginning July 2, 2009, your vehicles have to show the base name, base license number, and base telephone number on the outside of the car. Where do these stickers go on the car? You can put the base stickers on both sides of the car, on the rear of the car, or on both sides and the rear of the car. All stickers should be below the windows, on the body of the car. The stickers have to be at least 6 inches from the bottom of body of the car. What needs to be on these stickers? The stickers have to display your base’s name, license number and phone number. If you chose to display the stickers on the side of your car, you only need to display your base name once on each side of your car. How big do the stickers have to be? Passengers should easily see your base information from the street. If you decide to place the stickers on the side of your car, they will have to be at least 1 ½ inches in height; if you decide to place the stickers on the rear of your car, they will have to be at least 1 inch in height. Can I use magnets instead of stickers? No.You must use semi-permanent stickers on the car. Where do I have to put the license and Bill of Rights? The Livery Passenger Bill of Rights has to be in a protective holder behind the front passenger seat. The TLC driver’s license has to be in a protective holder behind the driver’s seat. Can I have tinted windows on my vehicle? Yes, but they cannot be too dark.They have to be at least 70% clear.A good way of checking your tints are not too dark is to make sure you can see your hand through the window. If your tints are too dark, you will have to remove them or you will not pass your TLC inspection. What happens if one of my rear quarter windows is shattered and I lose one of my TLC stickers? You can show up at our Woodside inspection facility during our regular business hours and have the TLC sticker replaced. However, you will have to get a police report for the lost TLC sticker and bring it with you. If you lose both of your TLC stickers and you want to replace them, you will have to schedule an inspection of your vehicle. To schedule an appointment with our Woodside facility, you can call us at 718-267-4501. Do I have to replace my camera? TLC changed the camera specifications in June 2007. The approved cameras are: Honeywell Fareview, VerifEye MKIV and the Cygnus Cygcam.You must have one of these cameras and it has to be installed by a TLC approved installer.There is a list of authorized installers on TLC’s website at www.nyc.gov/tlc in the Safety & Emissions section. If you have not updated your camera yet, you need to replace it. I heard the City is reimbursing vehicle owners when they replace their cameras. Is that true? No.The City had a program to reimburse vehicle owners for buying cameras or partitions in 2000.This program has ended. As a vehicle owner what are some of my responsibilities?
We will be giving you this license in the next few months.This is a totally new license, but it will be similar in shape and size to your TLC driver’s license. Until you get your new vehicle license, you must continue to keep a copy of your current vehicle permit in the car. Will the new vehicle license have personal information about me? No. It will show your license number, license expiration date, base name, base license number, and your car’s license plate. The rules say I am supposed to show the vehicle license in my car on July 2nd. How can I do that? We will mail you your new vehicle license in the next few months.We do not expect you to have it until after we send it to you. What is the new vehicle license going to look like? It will be the same size as the new TLC driver’s licenses. How do the new penalty points work? Penalty points work just like fines. If you receive a summons for breaking TLC Rules, you will get a court date, where you can tell your side of the story.The judge at TLC’s court makes a decision on whether you get a penalty point after hearing both sides of the story. How many points can I get? If you get 4 points during the 2 years of your vehicle license, TLC will revoke your license. What do I get a penalty point for? The chart below shows what you can get points for.
No, but you can be fined.The fines increase with multiple violations. For example, the 1st time a driver is found guilty of doing a street hail with your car, you will be fined $100.The 2nd time you will be charged $200, the 3rd time $300, etc… Is there any way for me to reduce the number of points I have? Not yet.TLC is working on a program so that you could take a class and reduce your points. Can I have a vehicle number on my car? Yes. It has to be placed below the windows. It cannot go on the windows or on top of the front hood. It can also go on the rear of the vehicle as long as it is not on the rear window. TAXICAB GROUP RIDE PILOT UPDATE November 19, 2009
Group Ride Pilot • 2 or more passengers • From Group Ride Pilot Locations only • Passengers dropped off along corridor route • Limited to the AM rush hour (6AM to 10AM) • Flat Fare with discount from standard fare
Additional Pilot Possibilities: Times Square • Times Square Alliance requested a pilot stand after shows:
LGA Airport • TLC Rules specify LGA group ride to Manhattan: • $7.50 to E side, 23-96 streets • $8.50 to W side, 23-96 streets • $9.50 to downtown (below 23) • Group rides are not used • §1-71 (a) provided for these rides in 1993 • Rules need to be repealed to try a pilot • Port Authority of NY and NJ is willing to pilot a new group ride at LGA airport • Marine Air and US Air Terminals • Marine Air Terminal: • Commuter shuttles • common Midtown destination – average fare $32 per person • Proposed fare of $20 • US Air Terminal concept being developed
December: • Rules proposal to repeal LGA group ride rates and decision on LGA pilot • Decision on Times Square pilot • Installation and activation of 1st 3 stand locations:
ATTENTION: MEDALLION TAXICAB OWNERS
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT NEW STATE TAX SURCHARGE New York State passed a new law that adds a 50-cent “State surcharge” to all taxi trips.This new law goes into effect on Sunday, November 1, 2009. As of November 1, 2009, taxicab owners (as defined in NYS Tax Law) will be responsible for collecting and paying this tax and so several important things must happen before that date. 1) Your taximeters must be programmed to reflect the tax surcharge. 2) Every taxicab must have a NEW fare sticker posted on the rear passenger doors.An overlay sticker is NOT acceptable for this purpose. New stickers are available from several authorized printers; a list is posted on the TLC’s Web site at: http://nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/safety_emissions/ taxicab_logo_print_listing.shtml IMPORTANT NOTE:This sticker is an important part of the taxicab’s overall design – take the time to do it right! In order to ensure that taxicab owners have ample time to ensure that the stickers are properly installed, the TLC is allowing 45 days (ending December 15, 2009) for the sticker’s full implementation.
3) Every taxicab’s rate card must have a small sticker “overlay” reflecting the new surcharge.These will be distributed at the time of each taxicab’s next post-November 1, 2009 inspection at the TLC’s Safety & Emissions facility. 4) No mile run is necessary for the meter reprogramming (certification is still required). 5) Drivers must offer meter receipts to passengers for ALL rides! |
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