TLC Rule 59A-27(d): FHV Defect Directive Not Followed

What the rule says

Section 59A-27 of chapter 59, "Vehicles – Meets Safety Standards", has five parts. 59A-27(d) is the one about following up: it doesn't punish the defect itself, but the failure to obey TLC's notice to correct it.

Who it applies to

The vehicle owner — the holder of the For-Hire Vehicle License. For app drivers who own their car, that's you. If you drive a leased or rented TLC car, the owner gets the summons, but the car stops earning when it's suspended, so tell the owner about any defect notice the same day and keep a copy.

How defect notices happen

Most 59A-27(d) cases begin in one of three ways:

• A failed inspection. The Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR) lists defects and a compliance date. TLC's inspections page says FHVs "have 4 attempts to pass the required licensure inspection" before that date, and "you cannot transport passengers in your vehicle until it has passed inspection."
• An on-street inspection. Under 59A-26(b), TLC officers or police can inspect any FHV on the street and order it to report to TLC's facility.
• A paperwork directive. TLC's insurance page says expired or cancelled insurance "may result in a TLC directive to submit proof of updated insurance coverage", and that ignoring it "can escalate to a summons". Paperwork directives are more often charged under 59A-13(j)(1), the general duty to comply with TLC.

A rising charge

In OATH's records this code held between about 600 and 2,500 a year from 2014 to 2024, then jumped to 3,559 in 2025 — its highest year — and it was already past 2,600 in 2026 at the time of the data fetch. The data doesn't explain the rise or show outcomes. But it does mean more owners are getting these summonses now than at any time in the past decade.

The suspension is the real penalty

Most TLC penalties are a fixed amount. This one has an open-ended part. The suspension starts when TLC suspends the license and ends only when "the defective condition is corrected". A $50 fine paid on time does nothing to end it. And while the license is suspended, driving for hire is unlicensed activity under §59A-02(a) — a far more serious charge that can lead to seizure of the vehicle. Don't take trips until you've confirmed the suspension is lifted.

Common situations

• The car failed at a DMV facility or at Woodside and the owner fixed it but never went back for the reinspection, so TLC's records still show the defect open.
• Parts were on back order and the compliance date passed. A dated parts order helps explain the delay, but it does not stop the suspension.
• The car changed hands. A new owner, or a leasing company, didn't learn about a notice sent before the change.
• A notice went to an old email. TLC sends most messages to the contact details on file, so keep them current in LARS.

After the hearing

If OATH finds you in violation, chapter 59A says the $50 fine is due within 30 days of the decision (later if you file a timely appeal). If it isn't paid, TLC sends written notice that the license will be suspended in 10 business days until the fine is paid. That is a second, separate suspension on top of the "until corrected" one, so paying on time matters even for a small fine. See paying TLC fines.

What to do now

Defenses to discuss with a lawyer (general information)

Not legal advice. Questions a representative may explore: Was a notice or directive actually issued to you, and what did it require? Did it give a deadline? Was the defect fixed before the summons date? Does the summons describe the same defect as the notice? See what TLC must prove at a hearing.

Documents to gather

The summons; the notice, directive or VIR; repair invoices; the passing re-inspection report; photos of the repair; and TLC UP screenshots of your license status. The taxi version of this rule is 58-30(b). Daily safety checks are 59A-27(e), and missed periodic inspections are 59A-26(a)(1). Read how to lift a TLC suspension next.