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In short: Rule 80-19(a)(4)(i) says a yellow taxi driver must not solicit, or cruise to solicit, passengers at Kennedy, LaGuardia or Newark airports. The only lawful way to take a fare at the airport is the official taxi line. The fine is $100 if you plead guilty before a hearing or $150 if found guilty after one. Chapter 80 lists no points, and you don't have to appear. Among TLC rules written only for the airports, it is the most-charged in OATH's data: 867 summonses from 2016 to October 2026.
This page is general information, not legal advice.
What the rule says
Section 80-19(a)(4) of TLC Chapter 80:
A Driver of a Taxicab must not solicit or cruise for the purpose of soliciting Passengers: (i) At Kennedy, La Guardia or Newark Airports (ii) Within 100 feet of any authorized Taxi Stand (iii) Within the private streets of Lincoln Center (iv) In any area of the City of New York where Taxicab cruising is prohibited
§80-19(a)(4) Fine: $100 if plead guilty before a hearing; $150 if found guilty following a hearing. Appearance NOT REQUIRED
In plain English:
- Solicit: try to get a passenger. That includes calling out to travelers, waving them over, offering a ride at the curb, or having someone find riders for you.
- Cruise for the purpose of soliciting: drive slowly past arrivals or circle the terminals to pick up a fare.
- At the airports: all three airports are named, including Newark, which is in New Jersey.
The rule doesn't stop you from taking the passenger a dispatcher sends you at the terminal stand. Rule 80-19(a)(1) lets a taxi driver use "a dispatcher at a public transportation terminal" to find passengers.
Who it applies to
Yellow medallion taxi drivers. Other drivers face different, usually bigger, penalties for similar conduct:
So 80-19(a)(4)(i) is the light end of airport enforcement. That's because a yellow cab may take airport passengers through the line. The offense is skipping the line. See 80-19(f) and 80-19(c)(2) for the FHV rules.
The Port Authority's own rules ban the same conduct. Rule V.B says no person shall solicit ground transportation inside an airport, or operate a vehicle there "for the purpose of soliciting ... or to attract ground transportation passengers" (Airport Rules and Regulations).
Who writes it and where
Port Authority Police wrote much of this code until 2021, then almost stopped (7 from 2022 to October 2026). TLC wrote 56–58 a year in 2024, 2025 and 2026 so far. OATH's location fields aren't usable for taxi rows, so the data doesn't show which airport. More on the airport solicitation statistics page.
Common situations
- A traveler walks up to your cab at the departures curb after a drop-off and asks for a ride, and you take them.
- You circle back past arrivals after a drop-off, slowing near people with bags, instead of going to the holding area.
- You accept an e-hail while at the airport. TLC's fare page says the Port Authority "does not currently allow taxis to be E-Hailed at the airport".
- You were stopped at the curb for another reason (loading your own passenger, a breakdown) and were charged with soliciting.
Does the summons fit?
Penalty and points
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Plead guilty before a hearing | $100 |
| Found guilty after a hearing | $150 |
| TLC points | None listed in Chapter 80 |
| Appearance | Not required |
What to do
Where to find the code, the hearing date and the appearance box on your summons:
- Read the summons. Check the code, date, time and which airport is written on it. If you were driving a green cab or FHV, not a yellow taxi, raise that with your representative.
- Pull your trip records for that hour. A completed dispatched trip from the stand, or a drop-off with no pickup, is the key evidence.
- Ask about video. The Port Authority's 2025 annual report says it uses CCTV cameras in airport enforcement. Ask your representative whether footage can be requested for your case.
- Write down what happened while you remember it: where you stopped, who approached whom, and what was said.
- Decide before the hearing date. Pleading guilty early costs $50 less than losing at a hearing. Never ignore the date: missing it means a default.
Points to discuss with a lawyer or registered representative: whether there was any act of soliciting or cruising rather than just being present, whether a dispatcher assigned the passenger, and whether the summons describes a specific act.
See also: Port Authority airport rules, the JFK taxi line, the access fee, the airport fee on an Uber receipt, airport pickups by hour, where airport trips start, NYC airport trip statistics, LaGuardia Airport and the airports topic.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fine for 80-19(a)(4)(i)?
$100 if you plead guilty before a hearing, or $150 if you are found guilty after one. Chapter 80 lists no TLC points for it, and you don't have to appear in person.
Does this rule apply to Uber or Lyft drivers?
No. It is a taxicab rule. An FHV driver who picks up a passenger at the airport without a base booking is charged under 80-19(c)(2), which starts at $500. An FHV driver who accepts an app dispatch while parked at a pickup area at JFK or LaGuardia faces 80-19(f), $250.
Does it cover Newark Airport?
Yes. The rule names Kennedy, La Guardia and Newark airports. NYC taxis have no right to take passengers from the Newark taxi line anyway, under Port Authority rules.
Who writes these summonses?
Both TLC and Port Authority Police. In OATH data from 2016 to October 12, 2026, TLC wrote 536 and Port Authority Police 331. Since 2022, almost all have come from TLC.
Is taking a passenger from the taxi line soliciting?
No. Taking the passenger the dispatcher sends you at the terminal taxi stand is the normal, lawful way to get an airport fare. Rule 80-19(a)(1) lets a taxi use a dispatcher at a public transportation terminal.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC Rules Chapter 80: Rules for all TLC-licensed drivers (PDF dated June 5, 2025) nyc.gov
- NYC Open Data: OATH Hearings Division Case Status (jz4z-kudi), queried Oct 12, 2026 data.cityofnewyork.us
- Port Authority Airport Rules and Regulations (July 27, 2022), section V panynj.gov
- TLC: Taxi Fare (e-hail at airports) nyc.gov
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.