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The taxi holding lot (or "taxi hold") is the lot where yellow taxis wait before the airport's dispatch sends them to a terminal. TLC's rules call it a taxi holding area. TLC notices have described taxi holds at both JFK and LaGuardia. From the hold, cabs move into the feed line and then to the terminal taxi stand. App cars and black cars do not use it.
The three holding-area rules
Rule 80-19(e)(2) in TLC Chapter 80 applies "where a terminal provides Taxicab or Street Hail Livery holding areas":
The fine is $50, with no points listed and no appearance required. OATH's data shows only 2 summonses citing it as the first charge from 2016 to October 12, 2026. See 80-19(e)(2).
Who runs the dispatch
The Port Authority's Airport Rules and Regulations say in section V.A: "No person shall interfere with the taxi dispatch service operated by persons employed by, or employed pursuant to a contract with, the Port Authority." TLC Rule 80-12(i)(5) also says a driver "must cooperate with all dispatchers at public transportation terminals" ($150 / $200). And giving a dispatcher any gift or tip is a $10,000 fine plus revocation (80-12(a)(2)). More: airport taxi dispatcher.
The 2014 RFID decals (history)
TLC Industry Notice 14-08 (February 26, 2014) announced that the Port Authority was upgrading taxi dispatch at JFK and LaGuardia with RFID decals on the inside of the windshield. Its contractor, Gateway Group One, fitted them at stations "in the taxi hold at both airports", and drivers needed a decal "as of April 14, 2014 ... to get a fare from LGA or JFK airport." The notice said the system would send cabs "to terminals where demand is highest."
That notice is twelve years old. We could not confirm which contractor or technology runs the hold today, so ask the dispatch staff if your cab is new to the airport.
Where you will see this term
- At the airport entrance, on signs for the taxi hold.
- On a summons citing 80-19(e)(2).
- In our step-by-step guides: the JFK taxi line and the LaGuardia taxi line.
Common mix-ups
App drivers: see can Uber drivers wait at JFK or LaGuardia?, JFK for app drivers and LaGuardia for app drivers. Comparing airports: JFK vs LaGuardia vs Newark. Airport overview: JFK Airport.
More on the airports topic.
Frequently asked questions
What is the taxi holding lot?
The lot at an airport or other terminal where yellow taxis wait before they are sent to a terminal feed line. TLC's rules call it a taxi holding area.
What rules apply in the holding area?
Rule 80-19(e)(2): park in the holding area before going on relief time, join the end of the feed line when you return, and never bring passengers into the holding area. Fine: $50.
Is the taxi hold the same as the Uber lot?
No. App drivers wait in separate FHV lots and join the app's virtual queue. Yellow taxis use the taxi hold and the airport's taxi dispatch.
Do taxis still need an RFID decal for the JFK hold?
In 2014 TLC said taxis needed a Port Authority RFID decal to be dispatched at JFK and LaGuardia. We could not confirm the current system, so ask the dispatch staff at the hold.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC Rules Chapter 80: Drivers, §80-19(e) (PDF dated June 5, 2025) nyc.gov
- Port Authority Airport Rules and Regulations (July 27, 2022), section V panynj.gov
- TLC Industry Notice 14-08: Upgrade to airport dispatch operations (Feb 26, 2014) nyc.gov
- NYC Open Data: OATH Hearings Division Case Status (jz4z-kudi), queried Oct 12, 2026 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.