OATH Phone Hearing for TLC Drivers: What to Expect

A phone hearing is the most common way a TLC summons is heard. OATH says most hearings are held by phone, and the TLC or police representative also appears by phone (OATH: Hearings and defaults). You ask for it in advance, OATH emails you a PIN, and on the hearing date you call in, tell your side, and send evidence by email when the hearing officer tells you where.

This page walks through a phone hearing from the request to the decision, with the small details that trip people up. For a comparison of all hearing methods, see OATH hearings for TLC drivers.

Step 1: Ask for the phone hearing in the right window

You must use OATH's online form at least 3 business days, but not more than 1 month, before your hearing date (OATH: Request a phone hearing). "Business days" leaves out weekends and holidays, so count carefully. If your hearing is on a Monday, three business days before is the Wednesday of the week before.

On the form you give:

• the summons number (or numbers),
• your name and email address,
• whether your name appears on the ticket,
• the hearing date and time from the summons or reschedule notice, and
• the borough listed as the OATH hearing location on the summons.

The form goes to the Clerk's Office, not to the judge. OATH says nothing you write on the form is sent to the hearing officer, so don't put your defense there. The upload boxes on the form are only for lists of extra summons numbers (Word files, 3MB total). OATH says plainly they are not for evidence.

After you submit, you see a "Thank You" page. OATH says this page will not be emailed to you, so take a screenshot or print it. It is your proof that you asked on time.

If you don't have email, or the window has passed, call OATH at 844-OATH-NYC (844-628-4692) before the hearing date to ask what you can still do. Don't just skip the date; a missed hearing becomes a default.

Step 2: Watch for the PIN email

Some time after your request, the Clerk's Office sends a second email with a case-specific PIN and instructions for calling in. OATH tells you to check your spam or junk folder if it hasn't arrived by the day before your hearing (OATH). Real OATH emails come from an @oath.nyc.gov address. If someone "from OATH" writes from Gmail or any other domain, it is not OATH.

Write the PIN on paper too. Phones die, and you don't want to search your inbox while on hold.

Step 3: Get ready the night before

A phone hearing is still a real hearing. The hearing officer makes a decision on the record, and the decision can include fines, points, or a suspension. Set yourself up like this:

Gather your evidence before the day. Our evidence guide explains what tends to matter and how the hearing officer weighs it, and the hearing document checklist lists items by charge type.

Step 4: The call itself

Follow the call-in instructions in your email at the scheduled time. Under OATH's TLC rule, you are on time if you appear and are ready to go no more than 90 minutes after the scheduled time (48 RCNY §5-01a). That window exists because hearings run in a queue, not because you should be late. TLC's own guide for passengers says the TLC prosecutor may call a passenger witness anywhere from 5 minutes before to 60 minutes after the scheduled time for the same reason (TLC).

Once the hearing starts, OATH's rules set a usual order (48 RCNY §6-11). The hearing officer can change it:

A few things to know while you are on the line:

• Every witness is sworn. You promise to tell the truth. So do your witnesses (§6-11).
• You can question TLC's witnesses. Each side may present evidence, examine and cross-examine witnesses, and argue (§6-11). See witnesses at an OATH hearing.
• Only OATH records. The hearing is recorded by OATH, and that recording is the official record. You may not make your own recording without written permission (§6-11).
• Send evidence when told. OATH says the hearing officer will give you the correct email address during the hearing (OATH). After the hearing ends, you can't send more without the hearing officer's permission.
• Ask for an interpreter. OATH offers free phone interpretation in up to 250 languages for phone hearings (OATH LAIP 2024). Details are in our interpreter guide.

If TLC doesn't show up, or the line goes quiet

For TLC summonses, OATH's rule says: if TLC fails to appear within 30 minutes of your on-time appearance, and hasn't properly asked to reschedule, the summons is dismissed. If the hearing hasn't started within 3 hours of both sides appearing on time, it is dismissed without prejudice, which means TLC could refile (48 RCNY §5-01a(b)–(c)). Keep a note of when you called in and who you spoke to, in case timing matters later.

If you get cut off, call back right away using the same instructions. If you can't get through, call 844-OATH-NYC. OATH warns that if you don't complete the hearing at the listed time, you can be found in default and face higher penalties and possible license suspension (OATH).

How busy is the TLC calendar?

The chart shows how many taxi and FHV summonses in OATH's public dataset have a hearing date in each month. Past months are already held, and later months are already scheduled. It shows volume only. The dataset doesn't record whether a hearing happened, was moved, or ended in a default, and it shows no outcomes.

After the call

The hearing officer decides each charge in writing, with findings of fact and conclusions of law. If a charge is sustained, the penalty comes from TLC's rules and can include fines, penalty points, or suspension or revocation (§6-17). OATH says decisions are usually mailed within 30 days (OATH: Hearing in person).

Two clocks start from the decision date:

1. Payment. TLC's rules make fines due 30 days after you are found guilty. If you don't pay, TLC notifies you that your license will be suspended until you do (35 RCNY §68-02(c)). See paying TLC fines.
2. Appeal. If you think the decision is wrong, the appeal deadline calculator and our appeal guide explain the timing.

This page is general information, not legal advice. If your license, a large fine, or points are at stake, talk to an attorney or an OATH-registered representative before the call.