TLC Passenger Service Summonses: Refusals to Courtesy

In short: Passenger-service charges are a small share of TLC summonses, but some of the most serious. In 2025 the OATH data shows 854 refusal summonses (80-20(a)(1)) and 684 overcharging summonses (80-17(a)(1)), both far above their 2021 levels. Refusals and overcharges carry mandatory penalties that climb to license revocation on a third finding within 36 months. Port Authority Police write a large share of these charges.

The counts below are first charges on taxi/FHV summonses in OATH's official dataset. Rule meanings and penalties come from TLC's chapter 80 driver rules.

2025 at a glance

Refusals and overcharges over time

Both lines dropped in 2020 and have climbed since. By 2025, refusal summonses were about four times their 2021 level and overcharge summonses more than four times. The data can't say whether that reflects more complaints, more enforcement, or more incidents.

Who writes them: In 2021–2025, Port Authority Police wrote 991 of 2,691 refusal summonses (37%) and 1,349 of 2,260 overcharge summonses (60%). See Port Authority TLC summonses.

What the rules say

• Refusal, 80-20(a)(1). A driver must not refuse, "by words, gestures or any other means," to take a passenger, including a person with a disability and their service animal, to any destination in New York City, Westchester or Nassau counties, or Newark Airport, unless the driver has justifiable grounds. More in TLC service refusal rules.
• Overcharge, 80-17(a)(1). A taxi or street hail livery driver must not charge or try to charge more than TLC-approved rates, including e-hail and flex fare trips. A separate paragraph, 80-17(a)(2), covers FHV drivers charging more than the base's quote. See TLC overcharging rules.
• Meter, 80-26(b)(1). The taxi or SHL meter must go into "Hired" as soon as a passenger gets in on a hail trip. $200 and 1 point.
• Courtesy, 80-15(i). "A Driver must be courteous to Passengers." $200 if you plead guilty before a hearing, $300 if found guilty.
• Smoking, 80-15(b). $150, and you must appear.
• Threats, harassment, abuse, 80-12(e). $350–$1,000 and/or a 5- to 30-day suspension, 3 points, appearance required.

The repeat-penalty ladder

Refusals (80-20(a)(1)–(4) and others) and overcharges (80-17(a)(1)–(3)) share one mandatory-penalty scale under rule 80-02(e). Violations of any combination of these rules count together:

The 24- and 36-month periods are counted backwards from the date of the latest violation. Because the stakes rise so fast, a first refusal or overcharge summons is worth taking seriously even though the first fine is modest.

Courtesy and harassment

Courtesy summonses are almost entirely a Port Authority charge in recent years. Harassment summonses (80-12(e)) are fewer, but much heavier: they require a personal appearance and can bring a suspension. If you get one, read responding to a passenger complaint and think about getting a lawyer.

What this data can and cannot tell you

It can tell you how often each passenger-service code was the first charge on a taxi/FHV summons, by year, and how much of it came from the Port Authority.

It cannot tell you:

• Whether a summons came from a passenger complaint or from an officer's own observation.
• How many were dismissed or what penalty was imposed. Outcome fields are blank.
• How many drivers reached the second or third step of the penalty ladder.
• Where. There is no usable location field.
• Other charges on the same summons. We count the first charge only.