Glossary165· page 2 of 2
TLC & OATH glossary
The words on a summons or an OATH decision can be confusing. This glossary explains each term in plain English and links to the guides where it matters.
R
11S
17Sammy's LawA 2024 New York State law that lets NYC lower speed limits to 20 mph on individual streets, and to 10 mph on redesigned streets.Schedule CFederal form (Profit or Loss From Business) where a self-employed driver reports driving income and costs to find taxable profit.Scheduled Retirement DateThe date by which TLC rule 67-18 says a non-accessible yellow taxi must leave service; accessible taxis have no set date while they pass inspection.Security deposit (taxi lease)Money a taxi owner holds from a lease driver against unpaid lease, damage and tickets, capped at one lease term and returned within 30 days.SEP IRASimplified Employee Pension IRA: a self-employed person can contribute up to 20% of net self-employment earnings, max $72,000 for 2026.Service zone (Yellow Zone / Boro Zone)A label in TLC's taxi zone lookup table that groups the 263 taxi zones into Yellow Zone, Boro Zone, Airports and EWR. It is used in trip data, not a legal boundary.SettlementA written agreement with TLC that closes a summons on agreed terms, usually in exchange for giving up a hearing and appeal.SHL (Street Hail Livery)A green cab: a TLC-licensed for-hire vehicle with a permit to accept street hails outside the Manhattan core and the airports.Short HaulA taxi trip from a transportation terminal under a set distance or time; airport stands may use separate short- and long-haul lines.Solo 401(k)A 401(k) for a self-employed person with no employees; for 2026, a $24,500 employee deferral plus up to 20% of net earnings, total cap $72,000.Split tollingCharging a bridge toll in each direction instead of a double toll one way; at the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge since December 1, 2020.Stand-By Vehicle (SBV)A TLC-licensed spare taxi that only a fleet may use, for a limited time, in place of one of its cabs that is temporarily out of service.Statement of fees (HVFHS)The list of driver deductions, commissions and charges a high-volume service files with TLC; any fee not on it is prohibited (59D-19(d)).Staten Island Bridges Plan (PASI)A Port Authority E-ZPass plan: $8.40 per Staten Island-bound trip on the Goethals, Bayonne and Outerbridge with at least 3 such trips a month, for non-commercial plates.Street HailA rider's on-the-spot request for a taxi or green cab at the metered fare, by gesture, voice or e-hail app; FHVs may not accept them.Summary SuspensionA TLC license suspension that starts before any hearing; the licensee can request a fast (expedited) hearing within a short window.SummonsThe written charge (notice of violation) that the petitioner serves on the respondent and that starts a case at OATH.
T
18Taxi FleetUnder TLC rules, a business that controls at least 25 taxis, with one location for storage, repair and dispatch and a dispatcher on site at least 18 hours a day.Taxi Holding LotThe airport lot where yellow taxis wait before dispatch to a terminal; TLC rules call it a taxi holding area.Taxi Improvement Fund (TIF)The City fund, paid by a $1.00 surcharge on every yellow taxi trip, that gives grants to owners and payments to drivers of wheelchair accessible taxis.Taxi partitionA clear shield with a steel lower plate that separates a taxi driver from rear-seat passengers; required unless the cab has the trouble lights, emergency phone and camera exemption.Taxi Roof LightThe light on top of a yellow or green cab that displays information, chiefly whether the cab is available; it must be controlled by the taximeter.Taxi standA place authorized by NYC DOT or a terminal operator where taxicabs line up and wait for customers.Taxicab BrokerA TLC-licensed person or business that negotiates medallion sales, purchases or medallion-backed loans for a client; using one is optional.TaximeterThe TLC-approved device in a yellow or green cab that automatically calculates and shows the passenger's fare.Technology System Provider (TSP)A TLC-licensed vendor that installs and maintains the technology system (meter tablet, card reader, trip records) in taxis and green cabs, and collects and remits certain surcharges.Temporary Travel AccountA short-term E-ZPass New York account that pays tolls by license plate and a credit or debit card, meant for rented or borrowed cars.TLC PointsPoints TLC assesses on a driver's TLC license for certain rule violations; they count with DMV points toward Persistent Violator penalties.TLC UPTLC's Upload Portal (nyc.gov/tlcup) where licensees check license status and deadlines, review summons information, and upload required documents.Toll Payer AdvocateA free office at the MTA, the Port Authority and the NYS Thruway that investigates toll problems the customer service center could not resolve.Toll vehicle classThe category a tolling agency puts a vehicle in, by axles, rear wheels and weight, which sets the toll rate; a standard two-axle TLC car is Class 1 (Port Authority) or Cars (MTA).Toll violation feeA fee a tolling agency adds when a Toll Bill stays unpaid; at MTA crossings, $50 per unpaid toll after 60 days.Tolls by MailPlate-photo toll billing: when no E-ZPass account pays, a Toll Bill at the full rate is mailed to the vehicle's registered owner.Trip record dataTLC's monthly public files listing every completed taxi, green cab, FHV and Uber/Lyft trip, one row per trip, without driver identities.Trouble lightsTwo flashing amber 'lollipop' lights, front and rear, that a taxi, green cab or livery driver switches on silently to signal distress.
U
2Unlicensed ActivityProviding, soliciting or advertising TLC-regulated for-hire service without a valid license for the driver, vehicle or service; can lead to vehicle seizure.Utilization rateThe industry-wide share of app drivers' available time (53.3%) or miles (68.5%) spent carrying passengers; TLC's minimum pay rates are divided by it.
V
2Vision ZeroNew York City's initiative, started in 2014, to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries; TLC is one of its member agencies.Vision Zero Safety Honor RollTLC's annual recognition of drivers with five years free of serious crashes, traffic violations and TLC safety-rule violations (1,069 drivers in 2025).
W
3WAVWheelchair Accessible Vehicle — a TLC-licensed vehicle built or modified to carry passengers who use wheelchairs.WAV-restricted licenseAn FHV vehicle license issued under TLC's wheelchair accessible vehicle exception; it can only ever be used with a WAV.WithdrawalTLC dropping a summons on its own — for error, bad service or enforcement policy, or after a year without requesting a hearing; penalties are vacated and fines refunded.
Z
1Free summons reading
Got a TLC summons?
Snap a photo. We'll explain it in plain English, check the official OATH record, and show your options — free.