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No. Locking the rear doors to keep a passenger in the car until they pay breaks TLC rule §80-15(c)(1). With the passenger inside, the penalty is $300 to $400 and/or a 5- to 30-day suspension, plus 2 points, and you must appear at the hearing. TLC gives taxi drivers a different tool: record the fare and take the dispute to the police. Not paying a taxi fare can be a crime, but deciding that is the police's job, not yours.
What the rules tell you to do (taxi and green cab hail trips)
The rule does not tell you to hold the passenger. Do not block the doors, take their property, or follow them on foot. Each of those can turn your unpaid fare into a summons against you.
Why locking is treated so seriously
Points count toward the Persistent Violator Program. Two serious charges from one argument can put a license at risk.
Locking is allowed only with the passenger's consent or request, or for a reason the rules list — for example, after you have logged off at the end of a shift, rule 80-20(b)(5) refers to locking both rear doors before refusing new passengers. None of the listed reasons covers holding a passenger until payment. See the 80-15(c)(1) violation page for detail.
The law is on your side — through the police
New York's theft of services law, Penal Law §165.15(3), covers getting taxi and other public transportation service by force, deception, stealth or by unjustifiable refusal to pay. It is a class A misdemeanor. That is why the rule sends you to the precinct: it puts the decision with officers who can act on it.
App and base trips
For an FHV trip booked through an app or base, payment usually runs through the company. Report a fare problem to your base or app with the trip details. Never ask the rider for more than the quoted fare: rule 80-17(a)(2) makes that an overcharge.
Protect yourself with records
- Keep the trip record accurate; it is the first document anyone checks.
- If your vehicle has a camera system, do not delete or alter its footage — tampering with in-vehicle camera system (IVCS) images or video is a violation (80-22(j): $250 and/or a 5- to 30-day suspension). Personal dashcams have their own rules: see dashcams in TLC vehicles.
- Write down the precinct, time and officer's name.
If the passenger later files a complaint against you, read responding to a passenger complaint. Payment rules in general are in taxi payment rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep the doors locked until the passenger pays?
No. Rule 80-15(c)(1) says that while on duty you must not lock the rear doors except with the passenger's consent or request or for a reason the rules allow. With a passenger inside, the penalty is $300 (plea) or $400 (after hearing) and/or a 5- to 30-day suspension, plus 2 points.
What do the TLC rules tell a taxi driver to do?
Rule 80-17(b): put the meter in the off or 'Vacant' position, record the fare in the trip record through the Technology System (or the written trip record if it is down), go directly to the nearest police precinct, present the facts, and follow police instructions.
Is skipping a taxi fare a crime in New York?
Yes. NY Penal Law §165.15(3), theft of services, covers obtaining taxi and other public transportation service by refusing to pay, among other methods. It is a class A misdemeanor. Whether to charge anyone is a police decision.
What about Uber or Lyft passengers who dispute the fare?
The fare on a pre-arranged FHV trip is set by the base or app, and rule 80-17(a)(2) bars charging more than that quote or estimate. Report the problem to your base or app; the 80-17(b) precinct procedure is written for taxis and green cab hail trips.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC Rules, Chapter 80: Drivers (§80-12(e)-(f), §80-15(c), §80-17(a)-(b)) nyc.gov
- NY Penal Law §165.15 (theft of services) nysenate.gov
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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.