TLC Rule 59A-13(j)(1): FHV Owner Ignored TLC Directive

What the rule says

Section 59A-13 of chapter 59, "Personal Conduct", ends with subdivision (j), "Cooperation with the Commission". It lists three duties:

There is also 59A-13(i), cooperating with law enforcement and TLC representatives — for example, giving your name, license number and required documents when asked ($15–$150, appearance required).

Who it applies to

FHV licensees under chapter 59A — mainly vehicle owners. If you own the car you drive for an app or a base, this rule is yours. Medallion taxi owners have the same duty under 58-15(i)(1), and bases under 59B-13(j)(1), with a lower $200 fine.

Why it's so common

OATH's records show this code rising from a few hundred a year in 2014–2015 to a peak of 6,039 in 2019, and staying between about 3,200 and 4,700 every year since. In 2025 there were 3,690. This rule is a catch-all: whenever an owner doesn't respond to a TLC directive, this is the charge that can follow. The data does not say what each directive was about and has no outcome data.

What a directive usually looks like

TLC's vehicle insurance page describes one common path in its own words: "Expired or cancelled insurance may result in a TLC directive to submit proof of updated insurance coverage. Non-compliance of the directive can escalate to a summons, leading to a hearing. If found guilty, a fine may be imposed by the judge, and the TLC vehicle license suspended until compliance." Other directives can involve inspections, records, or answering questions in an investigation.

"Truthfully" matters

The rule doesn't only require an answer — it requires a truthful one. A false answer to TLC can turn a simple compliance case into something much bigger. Rule 59A-13(b) forbids "any act of fraud, misrepresentation or theft" while acting as a licensee, with a penalty of $350–$1,000 and/or suspension up to 60 days or revocation, and appearance required. If you don't know the answer to a TLC question, say so and find out. Don't guess and don't fill in a form with information you aren't sure of.

The five-business-day clock

When TLC asks you for a license or document you are required to have, 59A-13(j)(2) gives you five business days to produce it. Business days skip weekends and holidays, so a request received on a Thursday is generally due the following Thursday. Mark the date the request arrived, and send your reply in a way that leaves a record, like email or an upload confirmation. If you can't get the document in time (for example, an insurer is slow to issue a certificate), reply within the deadline with what you have and when the rest will follow. A reply like that doesn't automatically protect you, but it shows good faith and creates a paper trail.

After the hearing

If OATH finds a violation, the fine is due within 30 days of the decision under §59A-02(c). Unpaid fines trigger a written notice that the license will be suspended in 10 business days. That suspension is separate from the "until compliance" one, so you can face both.

What to do now

1. Find the original directive. Search your email (including spam) and mail, and log into TLC UP. TLC's FAQ notes it "will only email the confirmation form to the current email address on record", and you can update your email through LARS — so check that TLC has the right one.
2. Do exactly what it asked. If it asked for an insurance certificate, send that certificate. Partial answers keep the case open.
3. Keep proof — sent emails, upload confirmations, certified mail receipts.
4. Check your license status before taking any trips. Driving for hire while suspended is unlicensed activity.
5. Answer the summons by the hearing date. Appearance is required; OATH hearings are generally by phone or online.

Defenses to discuss with a lawyer (general information)

Not legal advice. A representative will usually ask: What exactly did the directive require, and by when? Was it sent to your contact information on file? Did you comply before the summons? Is the summons clear about which directive it refers to? Even if a violation is found, proof that you have now complied is what ends the suspension. See what TLC must prove.

Documents to gather

The summons, the directive, everything you sent in reply and proof of sending, TLC UP screenshots, and — for insurance directives — your FH-1 and policy pages. If insurance is the issue, see 59A-12(a) and our FHV insurance guide. If you're already suspended, read how to lift a TLC suspension.