On this page (11)
In short: Once a passenger is in your yellow taxi, you must not pick up anyone else during that trip unless the passenger asks you to. A rider who says "let's grab my friend on 23rd Street" is fine. Stopping for a stranger's hail while you have a fare is not. The fine is $100, with no TLC points and no required appearance. It is rarely written: 21 summonses in OATH data from 2016 to October 2026.
This page is general information, not legal advice.
What the rule says
Section 80-19(a)(2) of TLC Chapter 80:
A Driver of a Taxicab must not pick up additional Passengers during a trip except at the Passenger's request.
§80-19(a)(2) Fine: $100 — Appearance NOT REQUIRED
In plain English:
- "During a trip" means from the moment your passenger gets in until the trip ends.
- "Except at the Passenger's request" means the decision belongs to the person who hired the cab. If they ask, you may stop for more riders. If they don't, you can't.
- The next rule matters too. Rule 80-19(a)(3) says you must not even suggest to your passenger that another person be accepted. So you can't ask, "Do you mind if I take this man too?" See 80-19(a)(3).
How the fare works with extra riders
The taxi meter rate in rule 58-26(a)(1) of Chapter 58 applies "regardless of the number of passengers or stops." TLC's taxi fare page also says there is no charge for extra passengers. So when your passenger asks you to pick up a friend:
- keep the meter running as one trip;
- do not add any "extra person" charge (that could be an overcharge under rule 80-17);
- extra stops don't change the rate either; how the riders split the fare is up to them. (The JFK flat fare has its own multiple-stop rule, 58-26(b)(2), explained in our JFK flat fare guide.)
Why the passenger decides
The person who hails the cab is paying for the whole vehicle. Riding with a stranger raises safety, privacy and route questions, and the passenger may be in a hurry. TLC's Green Taxi Passenger Bill of Rights states it directly: a passenger has the right to "not share a ride, unless you want to." The yellow taxi version promises the most direct route or the route of the passenger's choice, which an unrequested detour for a second rider also breaks.
Complaints about a driver go to TLC through 311. If a passenger complaint becomes a summons, there are special rules about when TLC must bring the complaining passenger to the hearing. Read passenger complaint summons for how that process works.
Who it applies to
The number of riders is a separate question. How many people may ride depends on the seats in your vehicle; see how many passengers can ride in a NYC taxi.
Who writes it and how often
This is one of the least-used codes in Chapter 80: no more than 7 in any year since 2016. Port Authority Police wrote 6 of the 21. OATH's data has no usable location field for taxi rows, so it cannot show whether those were at an airport.
Common situations
- Allowed: your passenger asks you to stop and pick up a coworker on the way.
- Allowed: a group gets in together and asks you to drop each person at a different address.
- Not allowed: while driving a passenger, you stop for a second person's hail and take them too.
- Not allowed: at a busy curb, you let a stranger into the front seat "because it's the same way."
- Grey area to discuss with a representative: your passenger says yes only after you asked. Asking is itself an 80-19(a)(3) issue.
Does the summons fit?
Penalty and points
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Fine | $100 |
| TLC points | None listed in Chapter 80 |
| Appearance | Not required |
What to do
- Check the code and the story. The summons should describe a second pickup during an existing trip.
- Pull the trip record. One trip with several stops looks different from two trips.
- Find the first passenger if you can. A rider who asked for the extra stop is the strongest proof. If the trip came through an e-hail app, the app record may help.
- Respond before the hearing date. Missing the date can mean a default decision.
See also: can a taxi pick up another passenger mid-trip, can a passenger change the destination, pickups while logged off, green cab off-duty pickups, forcing a shared FHV ride and the passengers topic.
Frequently asked questions
Can my passenger ask me to pick up a friend on the way?
Yes. Rule 80-19(a)(2) allows extra pickups at the passenger's request. The meter keeps running, and TLC's fare page says there is no charge for extra passengers.
What is the fine for 80-19(a)(2)?
$100. Chapter 80 lists no TLC points, and you don't have to appear in person.
Can I suggest that a stranger share my passenger's cab?
No. Suggesting it is a separate violation, 80-19(a)(3), with a $50 fine. The idea must come from your passenger.
Does the rule apply to green cabs and Uber drivers?
Green cabs have the same rule at 80-19(b)(3), also $100. FHV and app drivers have 80-19(c)(3), which bars forcing a passenger to share a ride.
How common is this summons?
Rare. OATH data shows 21 summonses with 80-19(a)(2) as the first charge from 2016 to October 12, 2026: 15 by TLC and 6 by Port Authority Police.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC Rules Chapter 80: Drivers (PDF, updated June 6, 2025), §80-19(a)(2)–(3), §80-19(b)(3) nyc.gov
- TLC Rules Chapter 58: Taxicabs (PDF, Feb 27, 2026), §58-26 rate of fare nyc.gov
- TLC: Taxi Fare nyc.gov
- NYC Open Data: OATH Hearings Division Case Status (jz4z-kudi), queried Oct 12, 2026 data.cityofnewyork.us
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it against the official source.
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.