TLC Rule 80-12(a)(2): Tipping Airport Dispatchers

In short: Never give a tip, gift or anything of value to an airport or terminal worker who dispatches, directs traffic, provides security, handles bags, or gives ground transportation information. Rule 80-12(a)(2) bans it, and the penalty is a $10,000 fine and revocation of your TLC license, with a required appearance. It doesn't matter how small the tip is or whether you got anything for it. Summonses are rare (8 in OATH's data since 2016), but one finding ends your license.

This page explains the rule. It is not legal advice. If you have this summons, talk to a lawyer before the hearing.

What the rule says

Section 80-12, "Comply with Laws – Proper Conduct", of TLC Chapter 80:

(a) Bribery. (1) Bribery. An Applicant or Licensee must not offer or give any gift, gratuity or thing of value to any employee, representative or member of the Commission or any other public servant. (2) Do Not Offer Gift to Airport or Transportation Terminal Staff. A Licensee must not offer or give any gift, gratuity, or thing of value to anyone at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, LIRR, Metro-North, or any similar airport or other transportation terminal who is employed to do the following: (i) Ground transportation information services, (ii) Dispatching service, (iii) Security services, (iv) Traffic and parking control, or (v) Baggage handling.

§80-12(a)(1)-(2) Fine: $10,000 and revocation · Appearance REQUIRED

What the words cover:

• "Offer or give": offering is enough. The tip doesn't have to be accepted.
• "Any gift, gratuity, or thing of value": cash, gift cards, food, favors. There is no minimum.
• "Anyone at ... any similar airport or other transportation terminal": not only JFK and LaGuardia, but also Newark, train stations served by LIRR and Metro-North, and similar terminals.
• The five jobs: information, dispatching, security, traffic and parking control, and baggage handling.

Who it applies to

Every TLC licensee covered by Chapter 80: yellow taxi, green cab, app and black car drivers. Green cab owners have a parallel rule in Chapter 82: §82-16(a)(4) bars gifts to the same kinds of airport and terminal staff, "whether or not the person or persons are employed by the Port Authority", with a fine of $250–$1,000.

The Port Authority's own rule V.A adds that "no person shall interfere with the taxi dispatch service" or with "the duties of personnel associated with the taxi dispatch service" (Airport Rules and Regulations).

Who writes it and how often

Port Authority Police wrote most of these, which fits a rule about airport staff. The OATH dataset leaves hearing results blank for taxi rows, so it can't show how any of these cases ended. A summons is an allegation, not a finding.

Common situations

• Handing a few dollars to a dispatcher in the hold lot "to say thanks" or to get sent to a busier terminal.
• Giving a traffic agent at the curb something so you can wait longer.
• Tipping a baggage handler or skycap to steer travelers to your car. For a taxi driver, using another person to solicit passengers can also break 80-19(a)(1) ($50) or 80-19(a)(4)(i), and the Port Authority's rule V.B.
• Bringing food or gifts to lot staff during a holiday.

None of these is allowed under the rule's wording, whatever the intent.

If someone asks you for money

Rule 80-12(b) says a licensee "must immediately report to the Commission and the NYC Department of Investigation any request or demand for a gift, gratuity or thing of value by any employee, representative or member of the Commission or any other public servant." Not reporting is $1,000 and/or a 5- to 30-day suspension. The rule doesn't say whether contract dispatch staff count as "public servants", so if anyone at the airport asks you for money, refuse and ask TLC how to report it.

Does the summons fit?

Penalty and points

What to do

Find the hearing date and the appearance box on your summons:

1. Don't ignore it and don't miss the hearing. Appearance is required.
2. Get a lawyer. Revocation is on the line.
3. Write down exactly what happened: who was involved, their job, where, when, and what was said or handed over.
4. Don't contact the airport worker about the case.

Related: airport taxi dispatcher, Port Authority airport rules, the JFK taxi line, the airport access fee, checking the car after airport trips, the holding-area rule, Uber and Lyft tipping statistics, can Port Authority Police give TLC summonses?, Port Authority TLC summonses and the airports topic.