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In short: For a taxi or green cab trip that goes beyond New York City — anywhere other than Westchester, Nassau or Newark Airport — rule 80-17(f)(1) says you must (i) agree a flat rate in dollars with the passenger before the trip, and (ii) keep the meter recording the whole way. Either failure is a $100 fine. Trips to Westchester and Nassau, and to Newark, have their own rules in 80-17(f)(2) and (f)(3). Getting these wrong can also lead to an overcharge charge, which is far more serious.
What the rule says
From §80-17(f) in the TLC Chapter 80 rule book:
"(1) In General. For a trip anywhere in a Taxi or Street Hail Livery beyond the City of New York (other than to Westchester or Nassau counties or Newark Airport), the following rules and charges apply: (i) The Driver… must negotiate a flat rate trip charge with the Passenger before beginning the trip. (NOTE: A 'flat' rate means a dollar amount; 'double the meter' is NOT a flat rate.) (ii) The Driver… must place the Taximeter in a recording position at the beginning of the trip and allow it to continue recording." §80-17(f)(1) Fine: $100. Appearance NOT REQUIRED
Notice that you need both: a flat price and a running meter. The flat price is what the passenger pays. The meter keeps an accurate trip record.
Three destinations, three sets of rules
Sources: rule 80-17(f)(1)–(3) and the TLC taxi fare page, which shows the meter rate codes: "Rate #04" for Nassau or Westchester and "Rate #05" for the negotiated flat rate.
Who it applies to
Rule 80-17(f) covers yellow taxi drivers and green cab drivers. It does not apply to FHV and app trips, where the fare comes from the base's quote or estimate (rule 80-17(a)(2)).
Surcharges and taxes still apply
A flat rate is not the end of the fare calculation. Rule 80-17(g) says the MTA Tax must be charged on taxi trips (and green cab hail trips) that start in New York City and end in New York City or in Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk or Westchester County. The TLC fare page lists it as a 50-cent MTA State Surcharge, and says the $1.00 improvement surcharge and congestion charges also apply to negotiated flat-rate trips.
Two practical points follow. First, when you agree a flat rate, be clear with the passenger about whether tolls and surcharges are on top. Second, the receipt should show the amounts separately. If a passenger later says they were charged more than agreed, a clear receipt and trip record are your best evidence. For how surcharges and receipts work on every trip, see our taxi payment rules guide.
Must you take the trip?
Rule 80-20(a)(1) says you must not refuse a trip to any destination within the city, Westchester, Nassau or Newark Airport. Refusing one is a mandatory-penalty refusal — $350/$500 for a first violation. The one trip-length justification is rule 80-20(b)(8): the destination is Newark, Nassau or Westchester and you have been operating the vehicle for more than eight hours of any continuous 24-hour period.
For other places outside the city — say, Connecticut, Long Island's Suffolk County, or upstate — TLC's fare page says the driver may choose whether to accept. If you accept, the flat-rate rule applies.
How often it is charged
Most summonses under this rule cite 80-17(f)(1)(ii) — the meter was not kept recording:
Meter-not-recording summonses peaked at 168 in 2024. Because the meter creates the official trip record, an out-of-city trip without one can leave little evidence of what was agreed — for you or the passenger.
Practical steps on every out-of-town trip
What to do now
- Check the exact paragraph on the summons: (f)(1)(i), (f)(1)(ii), or a (f)(2)/(f)(3) code.
- Get the trip record from the Technology System. If the meter did record, that can answer a (ii) charge.
- Write down what was agreed and when — before the trip, or during it?
- Check for an overcharge charge on the same summons. If there is one, get advice before you plead guilty to anything. See the TLC overcharging rules guide.
Points to discuss with your lawyer
- Was the destination outside the city, or in Westchester/Nassau/Newark (different rules)?
- Was a dollar amount agreed before the trip, and is there any record of it?
- Do Technology System records show the meter recording?
- Was the amount charged consistent with what was agreed, or with the Westchester/Nassau or Newark formula?
Airport drivers: see the Newark Airport page.
Frequently asked questions
What does 80-17(f)(1) require?
For a taxi or green cab trip beyond New York City (other than to Westchester, Nassau or Newark Airport), you must agree a flat rate in dollars with the passenger before the trip, and keep the taximeter recording for the whole trip. The fine is $100.
Is 'double the meter' a flat rate?
No. The rule says a flat rate means a dollar amount, and 'double the meter' is not a flat rate.
How is a trip to Westchester or Nassau charged?
The meter amount for the part inside the city, plus twice the meter amount for the part outside the city. You must explain this before the trip and tell the passenger when you cross the city line.
Who pays the tolls on trips to Westchester, Nassau or Newark?
The passenger is responsible for the necessary tolls both to the destination and for the driver's return to the city, under rules 80-17(f)(2)(iv) and 80-17(f)(3)(iii).
Do I have to accept a trip outside NYC?
You must not refuse trips to Westchester, Nassau or Newark Airport unless a justification applies, such as having driven more than eight hours in a continuous 24-hour period. For other places outside the city, TLC's fare page says the driver may choose whether to accept.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC Rules, Chapter 80 – Drivers (updated June 6, 2025) nyc.gov
- TLC: Taxi Fare (out-of-city rates) nyc.gov
- NYC Open Data: OATH Hearings Division Case Status (query of charge_1_code 80-17(f)(1)(i) and (ii), fetched October 2026) data.cityofnewyork.us
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TLC Help is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission or OATH. Explanations on this site are general information, not legal advice. Legal representation is provided by independent attorneys and OATH-registered representatives in our network.