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Yes. If you are found guilty (or plead guilty) and do not pay the fine within 30 days, TLC will send you a written notice. Your TLC license is then suspended 10 business days after that notice, and it stays suspended until the fine is paid (TLC Rules §68-02(c); the same rule appears for drivers in §80-02(c)).
You can stop it at any point before the suspension starts by paying, or by showing TLC, in person or in writing, that you already paid.
The timeline
Notice that the notice period counts business days, not calendar days. Weekends and holidays don't count, but the window is still only about two weeks.
Who you pay, and how
TLC fines are paid to TLC, not OATH. OATH's payment page says "All payments must be made to TLC directly" and links to TLC's LARS system (OATH: Pay a Penalty). On LARS, e-check payments have no fee, and card payments carry a nonrefundable 2% fee. Keep the receipt: it is the proof TLC asks for if a notice arrives after you paid. More options are in TLC fine payment options.
Things that change the clock
An appeal is the one step that formally defers payment. For TLC cases you also don't have to pay before appealing. See do I have to pay before appealing.
Don't drive while suspended
A suspended license is not a valid license. Providing for-hire service while your license is suspended is unlicensed activity under TLC rule §80-02(a), and unlicensed activity can lead to vehicle seizure. Pay first, then confirm your status in TLC UP before you log back in to any app or base. The steps to get back on the road are in how to lift a TLC suspension.
If you think the fine is wrong
Paying doesn't stop you from fixing a real error, but it is safer to raise problems before the due date:
- Never got the summons or the decision? See what if I never received my TLC summons.
- Missed the hearing? You may be able to reopen it: what happens if I miss my OATH hearing.
- Lost at the hearing? You have 30 days (35 if mailed) to appeal: how long do I have to appeal.
Common mix-ups
- Paying OATH instead of TLC. Many other city summonses are paid through OATH's payment page. For TLC summonses, OATH says payment goes to TLC directly.
- Waiting for a bill. TLC's rule starts the 30 days from the guilty finding. Don't wait for a reminder before paying.
- Assuming a reopened case cancels the fine. If OATH grants a new hearing after a default and you already paid, OATH considers a refund only after the new decision (48 RCNY 6-21).
Frequently asked questions
How long after the decision is my TLC fine due?
TLC rules say fines are due within 30 days of the day you are found guilty or plead guilty. If you file a timely appeal, payment is deferred until 30 days after the appeal decision.
Does TLC warn me before suspending my license?
Yes. Under §68-02(c)(3), TLC notifies you in writing that the license will be suspended 10 business days after the notice, unless you show TLC, in person or in writing, that the fine has been paid.
How long does a suspension for unpaid fines last?
Until the fine is paid. The rule says the license is suspended until the fine is paid.
Can I keep driving while my license is suspended?
No. Driving for hire on a suspended TLC license is unlicensed activity under TLC rule §80-02(a), which can lead to new charges and, in some cases, vehicle seizure.
Where do I pay a TLC fine?
To TLC, not OATH. OATH's payment page says all payments for TLC summonses must be made to TLC directly, for example through TLC's LARS system.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC Rules, Chapter 68: Adjudications (§68-02) nyc.gov
- TLC Rules, Chapter 80: Drivers (§80-02) nyc.gov
- OATH: Pay a Penalty nyc.gov
- TLC: LARS online services 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.