TLC Summons Decoder: What Your Rule Code Means

In short: Every TLC summons cites a rule or law by its code. Type that code here and the decoder tells you which rule book or law it comes from, what that part covers and — if the rule is in our checked library — what it means, the penalty and the points. It turns "80-24(a)(2)" into "TLC license not displayed in a for-hire vehicle".

Where to find the code on your summons

The charge section of the summons lists each rule you are accused of breaking, usually as a code followed by a short description. A summons can list more than one code, and the same code can appear twice. Decode each one separately.

How the decoder works

1. It identifies the source. The number before the first dash tells you the rule book chapter. Codes starting 80- are the driver rules for medallion taxi, street hail livery and for-hire drivers. 58- is medallion taxicab service, 59A/59B are for-hire vehicles and bases, 82- is street hail livery service. Codes starting 19-5 are not TLC rules at all: they are sections of the NYC Administrative Code, Title 19, Chapter 5 — for example §19-506(b)(1) on operating a vehicle for hire without a vehicle license.
2. It looks for an exact match in our violation library. If your code is more specific than anything we have (say, a sub-item we haven't written up), it shows the closest parent rule and says so. If your code is broader, it lists the matching rules under it.
3. If nothing matches, it still shows the chapter so you can find the rule in the official rule book.

Worked example: decoding 80-13(a)(3)(vii)

Type "80-13(a)(3)(vii)" and the decoder shows the traffic signal violation card. The rule book's hazardous-violation table lists $300 if you plead guilty before a hearing, $400 if found guilty after one, and 3 points for this item. Change the last part to "(viii)" and you get the stop sign violation instead — one letter on your summons changes what TLC has to prove.

Old codes still show up

TLC renumbered its driver rules when Chapter 80 took effect on October 26, 2016, replacing chapters 54 and 55. You can see the switch in OATH's own records: the share of summonses citing old chapters falls away and Chapter 80 takes over.

Some records carry formats such as 1-11A or 506B from older systems. The decoder won't guess what those mean, and neither should you: ask OATH, TLC or a representative.

Next steps

Once you know what the code is, check what it costs in the TLC fine lookup, confirm your hearing date with a summons status check, and read got a TLC summons? what to do first. If the charge carries points, run the points calculator.