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Critical Driver Program: Definition and 2023 Change

TLC's Critical Driver Program punished DMV points. A 2023 rule folded it into the Persistent Violator Program. What changed and what still applies.

  • Reviewed
  • 2 min read
  • 5 official sources

Definition

Critical Driver Program

A former TLC program that added penalties for DMV points; merged into the Persistent Violator Program by a 2023 rule.

On this page (7)
  1. What changed, and when
  2. The rule today
  3. If you were revoked for points
  4. Watch out for old wording
  5. What the summons data shows
  6. FAQ
  7. Sources

The Critical Driver Program was a TLC program that "imposed additional penalties on drivers who accumulated a certain number of points issued by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles" (TLC rule notice, 2023). It no longer exists as a separate program. But the idea behind it does: DMV points still count against your TLC license today, under the Persistent Violator Program.

What changed, and when

From two programs to one

  1. Before 2023

    Two programs

    §80-27(a) was the Critical Driver Program (DMV points). §80-27(b) was the Persistent Violator Program (TLC points).

  2. 2020

    Local Law 12 of 2020

    Changed the Administrative Code: eliminated the Critical Driver Program and amended the Persistent Violator Program so a driver is not penalized under it more than once for the same violation.

  3. March 6, 2023

    Rule proposed

    TLC published the consolidation rule in the City Record for comment.

  4. May 3, 2023

    Good to know: Rule adopted

    The Commission adopted it. Old §80-27(a) was repealed and the Persistent Violator Program now counts TLC Points and DMV Points together.

Source: TLC Notice of Promulgation and NYC Rules.

The rule today

Current §80-27(a) says a driver who, within 15 months, gets 6 to 9 "TLC Points or DMV Points or both combined, counting from the date of conviction" has the TLC license suspended for up to 30 days. 10 or more means revocation. Completing a defensive driving course can take off 3 DMV points, but not more than once in 18 months. Try our points calculator to see where you stand.

If you were revoked for points

The 2023 rule also renamed a second-chance rule. A driver revoked under the program normally faces a three-year wait before a new license. Under §80-08, at least one year after the Persistent Violator summons was issued, you can ask the Chairperson to waive that three-year ban. You may only ask if your driving record shows no more than three points for violations in the three years before your request. Before 2023 the same rule also named the Critical Driver Program. Our guide to TLC license revocation covers reapplying.

Watch out for old wording

Some TLC web pages still use the old name. For example, TLC's defensive driving page still describes suspension "under the Critical Driver Program." When a web page and the rule book disagree, the rule book controls.

What the summons data shows

Summonses citing §80-27(a)(1), by year

First-listed charge only. Before 2023, §80-27(a) was the Critical Driver Program; after the 2023 rule, §80-27(a) is the Persistent Violator Program, so later years mix numbering. A summons is an allegation, not a finding.

Summonses

7K2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Show data table
LabelSummonses (summonses)
20161,867
20175,069
20186,108
20197,038
20204,347
20212,654
202216
2023275
2024493
2025149

Source: NYC Open Data: OATH Hearings Division Case Status (jz4z-kudi) · Data as of Oct 12, 2026. Counts use the first-listed charge (charge_1_code) only. Later charge columns mostly repeat the first code, so they are not counted. Codes are normalised for case (80-13(A)(2) and 80-13(a)(2) are the same). Total 2016–2025: 28,016; 2026 so far: 14 (incomplete year, not charted). A summons is not a finding of guilt; outcomes and fines are blank in this dataset. Before 2016 this code appears rarely or not at all (19 summonses since 2014, under 1% of the peak year), often because the rule was renumbered or adopted then.

The OATH data (NYC Open Data) shows summonses citing this code falling sharply in 2022, after the 2020 local law and before the 2023 rule. The data cannot tell us why. Today these charges usually appear as §80-27(a)(1)(i) (suspension). More history is in our Critical Driver Program history guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Critical Driver Program still exist?

No. TLC says Local Law 12 of 2020 eliminated it, and a TLC rule adopted May 3, 2023 consolidated it into the Persistent Violator Program. DMV points still count — now under the Persistent Violator Program.

Do DMV points still affect my TLC license?

Yes. Current rule §80-27(a) counts TLC Points, DMV Points, or both combined: 6 to 9 in 15 months means a suspension of up to 30 days, and 10 or more means revocation, counting from the date of conviction.

Why do some TLC pages still say 'Critical Driver'?

Some older TLC web pages, including its defensive driving page, still use the old name. The rule book is the controlling text; the current Chapter 80 uses only 'Persistent Violator Program'.

I had an old Critical Driver summons. Is it still valid?

Actions taken under older rules generally stay in effect under TLC's transition rules, but how an old case affects you now is a question for a lawyer who can see your record.

Sources

Last reviewed against the official sources on .

  1. TLC Notice of Promulgation: Driver Program Consolidation and Other Rule Changes (adopted May 3, 2023) nyc.gov
  2. NYC Rules: Driver Program Consolidation and Other Rule Changes rules.cityofnewyork.us
  3. TLC Rule Book, Chapter 80 (§80-27) nyc.gov
  4. TLC: Defensive Driving nyc.gov
  5. NYC Open Data: OATH Hearings Division Case Status (jz4z-kudi) data.cityofnewyork.us

Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it against the official source.

TLC Help is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission or OATH. Explanations on this site are general information, not legal advice. Legal representation is provided by independent attorneys and OATH-registered representatives in our network.

Related

GuideTLC Critical Driver Program: What It Was, What Replaced ItTLC's Critical Driver Program ended in 2023. See the 1999–2023 timeline, how the old DMV-point rules differ from today's, and what an old case means now.Read GuideTLC Persistent Violator Program: Points & SuspensionHow TLC adds up TLC and DMV points over 15 months under rule 80-27, when your license is suspended or revoked, and how point-reduction courses help.Read Vision ZeroNew York City's initiative, started in 2014, to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries; TLC is one of its member agencies.DMV PointsPoints the NY DMV (or your home state) puts on your chauffeur's license; TLC adds them to TLC Points under the Persistent Violator Program.Free toolTLC Points Calculator: Persistent Violator ProgramAdd TLC and DMV points by conviction date to see your 15-month total under TLC's Persistent Violator Program, when each drops off, and course credits.Open tool §80-27(a)(1)(i)Persistent Violator Program — suspension (6 to 9 points)Suspension of up to 30 days for 6–9 TLC and/or DMV points within 15 months (counted from the date of conviction).