Commuter van vehicle owners

Unlicensed vehicle operated as a commuter van

A commuter van owner must not let a vehicle be operated in New York City as a commuter van unless it has a valid TLC commuter van license. This summons is for running van service with an unlicensed vehicle.

Fine (published)

$500 for a first violation; $1,000 for a subsequent violation within 24 months. Appearance required.

35 RCNY §61A-10(a)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Commuter van not affiliated with an authorized van service

A commuter van owner must not let the van operate in New York City unless it is affiliated with a validly authorized commuter van service. This summons is for operating while unaffiliated.

Fine (published)

$500 for a first violation; $1,000 for a subsequent violation within 24 months (2011 rule book; the current rule book lists $1,000 and $2,000). Appearance required.

35 RCNY §61A-10(b)TLC Rule Book (2011), Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans), archive copy

Commuter van operated while its registration or insurance had lapsed

If a commuter van's registration or insurance lapses, its TLC license is automatically suspended from the date of the lapse, and any operation during that time counts as unlicensed activity. This summons is for operating the van in that state.

Fine (published)

$500 for a first violation; $1,000 for a subsequent violation within 24 months. Appearance required.

35 RCNY §61A-10(c)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Commuter van driven by a driver without required licenses

Subdivision 61A-10(d) makes the commuter van owner responsible for making sure every driver has both a valid chauffeur-class driver's license and a valid TLC commuter van driver license. This summons cites the subdivision without saying which license was missing.

Fine (published)

$500 and suspension of the commuter van license until compliance. Appearance required.

35 RCNY §61A-10(d)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Commuter van driven by someone without a valid chauffeur's license

A commuter van owner must make sure anyone driving its van in commuter van service has a valid New York driver's license that qualifies as a chauffeur's license. This summons is for a driver whose state license did not qualify.

Fine (published)

$500 and suspension of the commuter van license until compliance (for 61A-10(d)). Appearance required.

35 RCNY §61A-10(d)(1)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Commuter van driven by someone without a TLC commuter van driver license

A commuter van owner must make sure anyone driving its van in commuter van service has a valid TLC Commuter-Van Driver's License. If the owner lets an unlicensed driver operate the van, the owner's license is summarily suspended.

Fine (published)

$500 and suspension of the commuter van license until compliance (for 61A-10(d)). Appearance required.

35 RCNY §61A-10(d)(2)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Commuter van owner responsible for insurance compliance

The commuter van vehicle owner is responsible for making sure every van it owns and operates meets the insurance rules in §61A-11. This summons is the owner-responsibility version of an insurance violation.

Fine (published)

$300 and/or revocation of the commuter van license. Appearance required.

35 RCNY §61A-11(a)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Commuter van used without required insurance or surety bond

A commuter van may not be used in commuter van service unless it is covered by a TLC-approved surety bond or insurance policy from a company authorized in New York, with at least the minimum amounts the rule lists (higher for vans seating eight or more). This summons goes to the van owner for a lapse or gap in coverage.

Fine (published)

$300 and suspension until compliance; three or more violations within one year lead to license revocation (§61A-02(e)). Appearance required.

35 RCNY §61A-11(b)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Commuter van owner did not answer or obey a TLC directive

A commuter van ("dollar van") vehicle owner must truthfully answer all TLC questions and comply with all communications, directives and summonses from TLC or its representatives. This is the most common commuter van owner charge; it usually follows an ignored TLC letter, order to bring in the van or records, or a missed appearance. The van license can stay suspended until the owner complies.

Fine (published)

$300 and suspension until compliance. Appearance required.

35 RCNY §61A-12(e)(1)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Commuter van owner did not obey a TLC directive (typed without parentheses) — another spelling of §61A-12(E)(1) (Commuter van owner did not answer or obey a TLC directive).

Commuter van picked up or dropped off outside its authorized area

A commuter van owner must not allow passengers to be picked up or dropped off outside the geographic area set in the commuter van service's TLC authorization. The owner is liable even if the driver alone made the stop.

Fine (published)

$50 if you plead guilty before a hearing; $100 if found guilty following a hearing (for 61A-16(a)–(b)). Appearance not required.

35 RCNY §61A-16(a)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Commuter van picked up or dropped off along a city bus route

Commuter vans may not pick up or drop off passengers along an official bus route, except for certain services grandfathered in Manhattan south of Chambers Street since 1992. The owner is liable even if the driver alone made the stop.

Fine (published)

$50 if you plead guilty before a hearing; $100 if found guilty following a hearing. Appearance not required.

35 RCNY §61A-16(b)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Commuter van picked up passengers along an official bus route

Paragraph (1) is the restriction itself: a commuter van owner must not allow pick-ups or drop-offs along any official bus route. Inspectors commonly write it when a van stops at or near a bus stop for passengers.

Fine (published)

$50 if you plead guilty before a hearing; $100 if found guilty following a hearing (for 61A-16(a)–(b)). Appearance not required.

35 RCNY §61A-16(b)(1)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Commuter van gave rides that were not prearranged

Commuter van service must be prearranged; a van owner must not allow street pick-ups of passengers who did not arrange the trip in advance. The owner is liable even if the driver alone picked up the passenger.

Fine (published)

$50 if you plead guilty before a hearing; $75 if found guilty following a hearing. Appearance not required.

35 RCNY §61A-16(c)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Commuter van not kept clean

A commuter van owner must keep the van clean inside and out. This summons is written for a dirty vehicle.

Fine (published)

$50. Appearance not required.

35 RCNY §61A-16(e)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Commuter van owner did not keep passenger manifests (former rule)

In the 2011 rule book, §61A-18(a) made the commuter van owner responsible for keeping trip records for dispatched calls, starting with the passenger manifest in paragraph (1). This section is now reserved (empty) in the current rule book; the summonses here date from 2013–2014.

Fine (published)

$50 (2011 rule book). Appearance not required.

35 RCNY §61A-18(a)(1)TLC Rule Book (2011), Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans), archive copy

Commuter van did not meet NYS DOT safety standards

A commuter van may not be used in service unless it meets the vehicle safety standards set by the New York State Department of Transportation under Transportation Law §140. This summons is for safety defects found on the van.

Fine (published)

$100–$500 and/or suspension or revocation of the commuter van license; three or more violations within one year lead to revocation (§61A-02(e)). Appearance required.

35 RCNY §61A-26(a)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Commuter van missing TLC decals after license issue or renewal

Each time a commuter van license is issued, renewed or moved to a new vehicle, the van must go to a TLC inspection facility to have four decals put on. A van license is not valid without undamaged decals in the required spots.

Fine (published)

First violation in a 1-month period: $500; second and subsequent violations within a 12-month period: $1,000 and suspension of the commuter van license until compliance (for 61A-27(c)). Appearance not required.

35 RCNY §61A-27(c)(1)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Required license or document missing from commuter van

A commuter van must carry, whenever it operates, the van license, the driver's TLC commuter van license (mounted behind the driver's seat), the service authorization or a copy, and the registration and proof of insurance. The 2011 rule book also required a passenger manifest.

Fine (published)

$25 per missing item; maximum $50. Appearance not required.

35 RCNY §61A-28(a)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Commuter van license not in the van

The commuter van vehicle license must be inside the van any time it is operating. This summons is for not having it on board.

Fine (published)

$25 per missing item; maximum $50 (for 61A-28(a)). Appearance not required.

35 RCNY §61A-28(a)(1)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Driver's commuter van license not posted behind driver's seat

The driver's TLC commuter van driver license must be in the van, mounted in a protective holder behind the driver's seat, whenever the van operates. This summons is for a license that was missing or not displayed.

Fine (published)

$25 per missing item; maximum $50 (for 61A-28(a)). Appearance not required.

35 RCNY §61A-28(a)(2)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Commuter van registration or proof of insurance not in the van

The van's registration and evidence of current liability insurance must be inside the commuter van whenever it operates. This summons is for not having them on board.

Fine (published)

$25 per missing item; maximum $50 (for 61A-28(a)). Appearance not required.

35 RCNY §61A-28(a)(4)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)

Passenger manifest not in the commuter van (former rule)

The 2011 rule book listed a passenger manifest as paragraph (5) of the items that must be carried in a commuter van. The current rule book lists only items (1)–(4), so this paragraph no longer exists.

Fine (published)

$25 per missing item; maximum $50 (2011 rule book). Appearance not required.

35 RCNY §61A-28(a)(5)TLC Rule Book (2011), Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans), archive copy

Commuter van equipment code with a paragraph that does not exist

Section 61A-29(a) (two-way radio must follow FCC rules) has no paragraph (5), in either the 2011 or the current rule book. The code is most likely a mistyped 61A-28(a)(5) (passenger manifest not in the van) or another commuter van owner rule. Check the summons narrative.

35 RCNY §61A-29(a)(5)TLC Rule Book, Chapter 61 (Commuter Vans)