Feed Line (TLC): The Taxi Line at Terminals

A feed line is the line of yellow taxis waiting to move up to a terminal's pickup spot. TLC's Chapter 51 defines it as "the line of Taxicabs that feeds into the specific pick-up location to pick up a Passenger." At an airport with a taxi holding lot, it is the line between the hold and the taxi stand at the terminal curb. TLC's 2014 Industry Notice 14-08 described taxi holds at both JFK and LaGuardia, with Port Authority dispatch sending cabs to terminals. How each hold runs today can change, so follow the posted signs and the dispatchers.

What the rules say about it

Rule 80-19(e) of Chapter 80, "Taxicab Passenger Pick Up at Airports and Terminals", uses the term twice:

• 80-19(e)(1): the taxi stand rules "also apply to special Taxi Stands and Feed Lines at air, rail, bus and ship terminals." The rule adds that they also apply to green cabs at terminals in the Hail Zone.
• 80-19(e)(2): where a terminal has a taxi holding area, you must park in the holding area before going on relief time, you must join the end of the feed line when you come back, and you may not bring passengers into a holding area. Fine: $50.

Because of 80-19(e)(1), the general stand rules apply in a feed line too. The one drivers most often meet is 80-19(d)(4): take the rear position and don't overcrowd the line. That is $100 if you plead guilty before a hearing, $150 after.

Where you will see this term

• On a summons that cites 80-19(e)(2) or 80-19(d)(4) at an airport.
• On signs and in instructions from the airport taxi dispatchers. Rule 80-12(i)(5) says you must cooperate with them ($150 if you plead guilty, $200 after a hearing).
• In TLC's rules on taxi stands at rail and bus terminals, not only airports.

Common mix-ups

• "I can take my relief break in the feed line." Where the terminal has a holding area, no. Rule 80-19(e)(2) says to park in the holding area before you go on relief, then come back to the end of the line. The general stand limit in 80-19(d)(5) (no more than one hour on a stand while on relief) is a separate rule, and 80-19(e)(1) applies the stand rules to feed lines too.
• "Green cabs can use the airport feed line." No. The airports are in the Hail Exclusionary Zone, and green cabs may not take a stand position there (80-19(d)(1)(i)).

Step-by-step guides: the JFK taxi line and the LaGuardia taxi line. Related terms: taxi holding lot, taxi stand, short haul. The relief rule in full: 80-19(e)(2).

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