INDUSTRY NOTICE #14-43
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING UPCOMING TAXICAB AND SHL IMPROVEMENT SURCHARGES
On April 30, 2014, the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) adopted rules requiring a $0.30 per ride surcharge on Taxicab and Street Hail Livery (SHL) hail trips starting on January 1, 2015. These surcharges will be placed into the Taxicab Improvement and SHL Improvement Funds for the Taxicab and SHL industries.
Initially, the funds seek to make it easier for customers in wheelchairs to get an accessible taxi and/or accessible SHL. The funds seek to increase the number of wheelchair accessible taxis and SHLs on the road in New York City and offset operating costs for drivers operating these wheelchair accessible vehicles.
All medallion taxicab and Street Hail Livery vehicle owners need to ensure that their in-vehicle equipment receives the necessary update for the $0.30 Improvement Surcharge starting on January 1, 2015. Vehicle owners will be able to receive the updates to their TPEP and LPEP to add the Improvement Surcharge wirelessly as a normal update to their TPEP and LPEP equipment.
If there are any problems making the update to your vehicle’s TPEP or LPEP equipment, your TPEP or LPEP Provider will contact you directly to provide instructions on how to get your equipment updated. Unless instructed otherwise by your TPEP or LPEP Provider, you will not need to visit a meter shop to receive these updates.
INDUSTRY NOTICE #14-47
TLC ANNOUNCES A NEW LICENSING OPPORTUNITY
Upgrade Your FHV Driver’s License to a Taxi Driver’s License in a Few Easy Steps
Under a new program just implemented by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), a holder of a For-Hire Vehicle (FHV) Driver license can upgrade his/
her existing FHV license to a Medallion Driver license by completing three simple steps:
- Attend Taxi School at an authorized school and pass the final exam,
- Attend a Wheelchair Accessibility\Passenger Sensitivity Course given by an authorized provider,
- Have a simple medical exam and the medical form completed.
Once you have completed all three of the above steps, you complete a simple one page application which can be found on our web site:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/upgrade_to_hdr.pdf
Bring the application and your current FHV license to our Long Island City facility. You won’t need to file a new license application or pay any additional license fees and you will keep your existing license number.
With the submission of the one page application and the surrender of your FHV license, the TLC will issue you a new Medallion\FHV Driver license. You may then use this license to drive either a Medallion (Yellow Taxi) or any For-Hire Vehicle including a Street Hail Livery.
The one page application, with the instructions page and the medical examination form, can be found on our web site at:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/upgrade_to_hdr.pdf.
The list of authorized Taxi Schools and Wheelchair Accessibility\Passenger Sensitivity Course providers can be found on our web site at:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/taxischool_post_filing.pdf
Photo: Elena Michaels
INDUSTRY NOTICE #14-48
TLC ANNOUNCES NEW MEDALLION RATE CARD ISSUANCE
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission(TLC) wishes to inform all Medallion Taxicab Owners and Agents that the issuance of new rate cards will begin January 1, 2015 at the Woodside Safety & Emissions Inspection Facility.
Owners and Agents should continue operating their Medallion Taxicabs with existing rate cards which expired 10/31/14 until their first scheduled inspection on or after January 1, 2015.
TLC expects that the issuance of new rate cards will be completed by April 30, 2015.
INDUSTRY NOTICE #14-49
JFK TO COMMENCE TESTING ON NEW DISPATCHING SYSTEM
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) wishes to inform its licensees that the new automated dispatch system at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) commenced testing on Friday, December 5. Testing could last up to two weeks before all components of the system are up and running. All drivers are reminded to follow the procedures below to ensure that all cabs are accurately scanned and accounted for in the Central Taxi Hold (CTH).
- All vehicles must have an RFID Tag installed in their vehicle in order to pick up a fare at JFK.
- When entering the CTH taxis need to drive SLOWLY. Check the entrance monitor for the taxi medallion number and where you are to go The following messages will be displayed next to the medallion number on the monitor: Regular Lane, Short Return Lane, or Go To The Dispatch Office
- When taxis approach the exit booths, drivers must check the monitors for their medallion number and what terminal the taxi is to go to.
- When entering or exiting the CTH, if a driver does not see his or her medallion number, see the supervisor.
- Drivers who exit the CTH without being dispatched will be removed from the active queue.
- Special requests will be handled the same as they are now: the driver will go to the dispatch office to be scanned and told what terminal he/she is to go to.
- At the terminal, the dispatcher will verify that a taxi was dispatched to that specific terminal and then the dispatch system will issue a trip ticket for the passenger. For qualified trips, a short return ticket for drivers will be issued at this time.
- Please direct any questions to Taxi Dispatch Staff.
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