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Driver questionOATH hearings & process

Can a Friend or Family Member Represent Me at OATH?

Yes, with your written authorization. Family can represent you without registering; anyone representing more than one person a year must register with OATH.

  • Reviewed
  • 2 min read
  • 4 official sources
On this page (6)
  1. Who can represent you
  2. The authorization form
  3. Things to think about before you send a friend
  4. Hiring someone who represents many drivers
  5. FAQ
  6. Sources

Yes. At OATH you can appear yourself, or through an attorney, a registered representative, or another person you authorize in writing (48 RCNY 6-09). A family member or friend can speak for you if you sign an authorization.

The catch is registration: a non-lawyer who represents more than one respondent in a calendar year must register with OATH. People who represent only family members don't have to (OATH: Registered Representatives).

Who can represent you

Who may appear for you at OATH

WhoAllowed?Registration with OATHWhat they need
YouYesNoYour summons and evidence
Family memberYesNo, if they represent only familyYour signed authorization
Friend, one case this yearYesNo (only one respondent this year)Your signed authorization
Friend or agent, several drivers a yearYesYes, register every two yearsYour signed authorization, photo ID for in-person filings
AttorneyYesNoEngagement with you
Suspended or disbarred attorneyNoNot allowed as a representative—

Sources: OATH: Registered Representatives and the definition of "Representative" in 48 RCNY 6-01.

The authorization form

Whoever stands in for you needs your signed authorization. OATH's rules say representatives must have a signed authorization form, keep the original, and include a copy with related emails; a missing form can lead OATH to reject a hearing request (48 RCNY 6-16). OATH offers the form in several languages, and you should sign the version in the language you read best.

  1. Pick your representative

    Decide who will speak for you, and confirm they can attend the hearing date and time.

  2. Sign OATH's authorization

    Use OATH's representative authorization form, in your preferred language. Keep a copy.

  3. Request the hearing format

    For a phone hearing, the request email must include each summons number, the hearing date and time, your name as on the summons, and the representative's relationship to you.

  4. Share your evidence

    Give them the summons, your documents, photos and witness contacts before the hearing.

  5. Get the decision

    Ask your representative to send you the decision right away. Fine and appeal deadlines start from its date.

The phone-hearing details come from OATH: Hearing by Phone. Registered representatives must also attach a copy of the authorization for each respondent to that request.

Things to think about before you send a friend

  • The decision binds you. A guilty finding, fine, points or suspension land on your TLC license, not theirs.
  • They must know the facts. A representative who wasn't there can still present your documents. But if you were the only witness, your own testimony may matter. You can attend too.
  • Language. If language is the reason you want a friend to speak, remember OATH provides interpreters. See interpreters at OATH hearings.
  • No screening. OATH does not certify or screen representatives, and hiring one is "at your own expense and risk."
  • Deadlines don't move. If your representative misses the hearing, it's a default against you.

If you are deciding between a friend and a professional, read do I need a lawyer for a TLC hearing. For the paperwork to bring, see documents for a TLC hearing, and for the bigger picture, OATH hearings for TLC summonses.

Hiring someone who represents many drivers

Some agents and representatives handle hearings for many drivers. OATH's rules put extra duties on them. A representative must have enough staff to finish all of their hearings, and short staffing can be treated as misconduct. When one representative has several summonses on the same day, the tribunal decides the order of the hearings. Representatives appearing on 15 or more summonses in one day face additional requirements (48 RCNY 6-09, 6-16). Registration lasts two years and is renewed in odd-numbered years, and registered representatives must show government photo ID for in-person filings (OATH). Before you hire one, ask whether they are registered and who will actually join your hearing. Either way, prepare your side with how to prepare for a TLC hearing.

Frequently asked questions

Does my representative have to be a lawyer?

No. OATH lets a respondent appear through an attorney, a registered representative, or another person authorized in writing.

When does a non-lawyer have to register with OATH?

Representatives who represent more than one respondent per calendar year must register. Registration is not required for attorneys or for people representing only family members.

What paperwork does my representative need?

A representative needs an authorization form signed by you. OATH's rules say they must keep the original and include a copy with related emails, such as a phone hearing request.

Can a suspended or disbarred lawyer represent me as a non-lawyer?

No. OATH's rules say an attorney suspended or disbarred in any state or territory may not serve as a representative.

Does OATH check whether a representative is any good?

No. OATH does not certify or screen representatives, and hiring one is at your own expense and risk.

Sources

Last reviewed against the official sources on .

  1. OATH: Registered Representatives nyc.gov
  2. OATH Rules, Subchapter C: Hearings (48 RCNY 6-09, 6-16) nyc.gov
  3. OATH Rules, Subchapter A: General Matters (48 RCNY 6-01) nyc.gov
  4. OATH: Hearing by Phone nyc.gov

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.

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