§19-506(c)(1): 'Taxi' or 'Livery' Signs Without a License

In short: §19-506(c)(1) is about looking like a licensed service when you are not. It bans driving a vehicle marked "taxi," "cab," "livery," "limousine," "van service" and similar words unless the vehicle has the matching TLC license and the driver is licensed. It also bans advertising or holding yourself out as a taxi, limousine, livery, for-hire or commuter van service without a license for each vehicle used. The penalty at OATH is $200 to $1,500 per violation, and the vehicle can be seized if the owner has a recent prior violation.

What the law says

Admin Code §19-506(c)(1) has two parts.

1. Markings on a vehicle. "No person shall operate or permit to be operated any vehicle bearing the words 'hack,' 'taxi,' 'taxicab,' 'cab,' 'coach,' 'for hire vehicle,' 'livery,' 'limousine,' 'commuter van service,' 'van service,' 'commuter van,' 'van' or other designation of similar import unless the vehicle is licensed as a taxicab, coach, for-hire vehicle, or commuter van, as appropriate, and the driver has an appropriate driver's license."

2. Advertising and holding out. Nobody may advertise or hold themselves out as a taxi, taxicab, hack or coach service without "a vehicle license and medallion for each vehicle used," or as a limousine, livery or for-hire vehicle service without "a for-hire vehicle license ... in effect for each vehicle used." Similar rules apply to commuter van and wheelchair accessible van services.

Note the words "for each vehicle used." A business with some licensed cars can still be charged if it advertises and uses an unlicensed one.

Who receives this summons

• A car with a "TAXI" or "LIMO" sign, light or decal that is not TLC-licensed for that service.
• A business, website or social media page offering "taxi" or "car service" without the licenses behind it.
• A licensed FHV operator using a vehicle that is not licensed.

Licensed businesses have a related duty under §19-506(c)(2): print and broadcast ads must conspicuously state the license number and that the activity is licensed by the TLC. For street hail liveries, TLC rule 82-12(c) separately bars an unlicensed person from holding out as a "taxi," "Street Hail Livery," "Taxicab" or "hack" service ($1,500 and/or up to 30 days' suspension).

Advertising the right way

If you are licensed, the law tells you what your ads must say. Under §19-506(c)(2), "any person required to obtain a license under this chapter shall conspicuously state in all print and broadcast advertising, with respect to such licensed activity, the vehicle license number and that the activity is licensed by the commission." For an FHV base or wheelchair accessible van base, the number to show is the base license number. Owners of five or more taxicabs don't have to list vehicle numbers. Commuter van services must show their authorization number.

Why the law cares: §19-506(g) tells TLC to run a public awareness campaign urging riders to use only licensed taxis and FHVs and, when choosing from an ad, "to look for the commission license number in any such advertisement." A missing or wrong number is one of the first things an inspector checks.

Practical checks for a small car service:

• Every vehicle you send out is licensed for the service you advertise.
• Your website, social posts and printed cards show your license number and say the service is TLC-licensed.
• Signs on cars match the license type. A livery or black car should not say "TAXI."
• Old ads for a service you no longer run are taken down.

How often it appears

This is a rare charge, with a few dozen summonses a year. The count has risen each year since 2021, reaching 42 in 2025. A separate 122 summonses cite plain "19-506(c)" without a paragraph number; they are not included here.

Penalties

The §19-506(f) ad penalties apply only when the person "was not licensed by the commission at the time of such violation." Two or more violations of §19-506(b), (c) or (k) within 36 months can also expose the owner's vehicle to forfeiture (§19-506(h)(2)).

What to do now

Points to discuss with your lawyer

General information only:

• Was the vehicle or service licensed on the date shown? Licensing records may answer the case.
• Are the words on the car "of similar import"? The law lists words; a judge decides whether others are similar.
• Who posted the ad? The charge must be against the person who advertised or held out.
• Prior record. Seizure and forfeiture depend on earlier §19-506 findings.

If TLC offers a settlement, it comes from TLC, not OATH; see TLC settlement offers. Related pages: unlicensed vehicle (§19-506(b)(1)), unlicensed business activity (§19-528(a)), TLC decals and trade dress, and the enforcement topic hub.