TLC Route Rule 80-16(a): Long-Hauling and Route Requests

In short: Rule 80-16(a) has two parts. (a)(1): follow every reasonable and lawful route the passenger asks for. (a)(2): if they don't ask, take the shortest reasonable route to their destination. Either one costs $100 if you plead guilty before a hearing or $150 if found guilty after one, with no points listed. A route complaint is really a question about what happened on one trip, so your trip data is the heart of any defense.

What the rule says

From §80-16, "Comply with Reasonable Passenger Requests," in the TLC Chapter 80 rule book:

"(a) Specific Route. (1) The Driver must comply with all reasonable and lawful routing requests of the Passenger. (2) Unless a Passenger makes a specific request, a Driver must proceed to the Passenger's destination by the shortest reasonable route." §80-16(a) Fine: $100 if plead guilty before a hearing; $150 if found guilty following a hearing. Appearance NOT REQUIRED

Read the key words carefully:

• "Reasonable and lawful" — you don't have to follow a request that is unsafe or illegal, such as a wrong-way turn or driving in a bus lane.
• "Shortest reasonable route" — not simply the fewest miles. The rule does not define "reasonable," so the judge looks at the facts: traffic, closures, bridges and tunnels, time of day.
• "Unless a Passenger makes a specific request" — once the passenger chooses a route, their choice controls, even if it is longer.

The passenger can also change the plan

Rule 80-16(b) says passengers can ask you to change the destination or end the trip early, and you must do it "unless it is impossible or unsafe." On a hail trip, the passenger pays what the meter shows when the trip ends. On pre-arranged FHV trips, or Flex Fare trips, the change can mean a different fare. Not following a change request is a separate violation: $50 / $100, appearance required.

The other passenger-request rules in §80-16

Route is the first of nine passenger-request rules in §80-16. They often come up in the same complaint, so it helps to know them all. From the current rule book:

• 80-16(c) Luggage — load and unload luggage, wheelchairs, crutches or other property on request, and close the door or trunk securely: $50.
• 80-16(d) Receipts (taxi and green cab hail trips) — offer a receipt at the end of the trip, and give one when asked, with the listed details including your hack license number and the 311 complaint number: $50 / $75 and 1 point.
• 80-16(e) Audio — adjust or turn off audio on request; the passenger chooses what plays; normal volume only: $25.
• 80-16(f) Heat and A/C — turn them on or off on request: $25.
• 80-16(g) Your details — give your name, TLC license number and the vehicle's license number on a reasonable request: $100 / $200, appearance required.
• 80-16(h) Other reasonable requests — comply with all other reasonable requests: $50, appearance required.
• 80-16(i) Passenger screens — passengers must be able to turn off or mute any passenger-facing screen: $250 / $350, appearance required.

Who it applies to

All TLC drivers. Taxi and green cab hail trips are metered, so a longer route means a higher fare. On pre-arranged FHV trips the fare comes from the base's quote or estimate, but the route rule still applies to the way you drive.

How a route summons usually starts

How often it is charged

Until 2022 these summonses cited 80-16(a) without a paragraph. Since then, most cite 80-16(a)(2) — the shortest-route rule:

Total route summonses (all three versions) rose from 73 in 2022 to 190 in 2025. The data cannot tell us why.

Route vs overcharge

A route complaint and an overcharge complaint are close cousins. The route rule is about how you drove. The overcharge rule, 80-17(a)(1), is about charging more than approved rates, and it has mandatory penalties that start at $350 and can end in revocation. If your summons cites both, the overcharge is the one with the most at stake. Our TLC overcharging rules guide explains how fares are set, and the TLC taxi fare page lists the current rates.

What to do now

1. Get the trip record: start and end points, time, distance, fare. For app trips, export the route map if the app lets you.
2. Reconstruct the route. Why did you go that way? Note closures, construction, events, or a bridge or tunnel choice. If the passenger asked for the route, write down exactly what they said.
3. Compare alternatives. A map of the route you took next to the one the passenger expected is easy for a judge to follow.
4. Look at every code on the summons. If there is an overcharge charge too, get advice before you plead guilty to anything.
5. Check the deadline with our summons deadline calculator.

Points to discuss with your lawyer

• Was the route you took reasonable given traffic, closures or the time of day?
• Did the passenger request the route, or approve it during the trip?
• Was any requested route unsafe or unlawful?
• Does the fare match the distance and time on your trip data?

Related: evidence for a TLC hearing, responding to a passenger complaint, and the courtesy rule.