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Driver questionGetting & keeping a TLC license

What Is 19-A Status and Why Does TLC Say Mine Is Inactive?

Article 19-A is New York's bus-driver qualification. TLC paratransit and commuter van drivers need it active, and only your employer can fix inactive status.

  • Reviewed
  • 2 min read
  • 7 official sources
On this page (8)
  1. Plain definition
  2. Who needs it at TLC
  3. CDL Class A, B or C required
  4. How to fix "Inactive 19A Status"
  5. Related rules for paratransit drivers
  6. Related terms and pages
  7. FAQ
  8. Sources

"19-A status" means you are qualified as a bus driver under Article 19-A of the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law. TLC requires active 19-A status for the Paratransit Driver License and the Commuter Van Driver License. If TLC texts you "Inactive 19A Status," only your employer can fix it: TLC says to contact your paratransit or commuter van employer "so they can contact the NYS DMV to update your records."

Plain definition

Article 19-A is titled "Special Requirements for Bus Drivers." The NY DMV says bus drivers "are not allowed to operate a bus for a motor carrier unless they are qualified" under Article 19-A. The carrier (the company you drive for) must confirm, among other things, that you have:

  • a medical exam before you start and every two years;
  • a driving record (abstract) check before you start and every year;
  • a defensive driving observation every year;
  • a road test and an oral/written test every two years.

So 19-A status belongs to the job, not just to you. The carrier keeps it current with the DMV. If you leave the job, or the carrier's paperwork lapses, your status can show as inactive.

Who needs it at TLC

The regular TLC Driver License (yellow, green, Uber/Lyft and other FHVs) does not ask for 19-A status. But rule 80-11(c)(3) treats driving a non-exempt vehicle without 19-A compliance as "the same offense as driving a For-Hire Vehicle without a Valid License": $350 and suspension until compliance for a first violation, $500 and suspension for a second within 36 months, and revocation for a third.

CDL Class A, B or C required

TLC's paratransit and commuter van pages require a commercial Class A, B or C license, minimum age 18, a valid Social Security number, no fines owed to the DMV or TLC, and no more than 5 DMV points in 15 months. A Class E chauffeur's license is enough for the TLC Driver License but not for these two; see Class E chauffeur license.

How to fix "Inactive 19A Status"

  1. Read the TLC text

    'Inactive 19A Status' is on TLC's list of missing requirements.

  2. Call your paratransit or commuter van employer

    Ask them to send the DMV what it needs to show you as an active 19-A driver. TLC's page says to 'check with your employer that he or she has provided proper documentation to the DMV.'

  3. Finish any carrier checks

    If a medical exam, road test or written test is due, the carrier can't report you as qualified until it's done.

  4. Ask the carrier to confirm when the DMV is updated

    Then watch for the item to clear in TLC UP. If it doesn't, email LicensingInquiries@tlc.nyc.gov.

  5. Keep the 90-day clock in mind

    Paratransit and commuter van applications must be complete within 90 days or TLC denies them; fees are non-refundable.

Example. You apply for a paratransit license while moving between two companies. Your old carrier dropped you from its 19-A list and your new one hasn't added you yet, so the DMV shows you as inactive. TLC texts "Inactive 19A Status." The fix is the new carrier adding you with the DMV, not anything you upload. For questions about the carrier side, DMV's page lists its Bus Driver Unit at (518) 473-9455.

  • Fitness: rule 56-04(e) accepts a physician's certification on TLC's form or "as part of Applicant's qualification process under Article 19-A," and requires vision of at least 20/40 in each eye (glasses allowed). See the TLC medical form guide.
  • Tell your employer: rule 56-14(h) requires you to notify your employer of any traffic infraction, collision or conviction, as section 509-i of Article 19-A requires. Fine: $25–$250 and/or up to 30 days' suspension.

Frequently asked questions

What is 19-A status?

Article 19-A of the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law sets 'Special Requirements for Bus Drivers.' A driver is 19-A qualified when the motor carrier that employs them has completed the checks 19-A requires and reported the driver to the NY DMV.

Who needs active 19-A status for TLC?

Applicants for a TLC Paratransit Driver License or Commuter Van Driver License. TLC also says stretch limousines can only be operated by drivers with active 19-A status, and rule 80-11(c)(3) applies 19-A to drivers of for-hire vehicles that are not exempt from NYS DOT authority and inspection.

How do I fix 'Inactive 19A Status' on my TLC application?

TLC says to contact your paratransit or commuter van employer so they can contact the NYS DMV to update your records. You can't fix it yourself at TLC.

Do I need a CDL for 19-A jobs with TLC?

For paratransit and commuter van licenses, yes. TLC's pages require a commercial Class A, B or C license. A Class E license is not enough for those two licenses.

Sources

Last reviewed against the official sources on .

  1. TLC: Licensing Requirements Checklist (Inactive 19A Status) nyc.gov
  2. TLC Rules, Chapter 56 (Paratransit Drivers) — §56-04, §56-14(h) nyc.gov
  3. TLC: Get a Paratransit Driver License nyc.gov
  4. TLC: Get a Commuter Van Driver License nyc.gov
  5. TLC: Renew a For-Hire Vehicle License (stretch limousines) nyc.gov
  6. TLC Rules, Chapter 80 (Drivers) — §80-11(c)(3) nyc.gov
  7. NY DMV: Article 19-A Information dmv.ny.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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