TLC Rule 80-19(c)(1): FHV Street Hail Pickup Penalties

In short: A for-hire vehicle (FHV) driver — including Uber, Lyft and black car drivers — may only pick up passengers by prearrangement through a licensed base that can dispatch that vehicle. Picking up or soliciting a street hail breaks rule 80-19(c)(1). A first violation is $200–$350; a third within 36 months means revocation. In Manhattan below 96th/110th Street and at the airports, the separate rule 80-19(c)(2) sets higher penalties.

What the rule says

Section 80-19(c)(1) of the TLC Chapter 80 rule book: "A Driver of a For-Hire Vehicle must not solicit or pick up Passengers other than by prearrangement through a licensed Base of the class that can dispatch the Driver's For-Hire Vehicle."

Three parts to notice:

• "Solicit or pick up." You do not need to complete a trip. Offering a ride ("Taxi? Where are you going?") can be enough.
• "Prearrangement." The trip must be arranged before pickup through a base.
• "Of the class that can dispatch the Driver's For-Hire Vehicle." The base must be one allowed to dispatch your car. A trip from a base your vehicle is not affiliated with, or that cannot dispatch it, may not count.

The rule book also lists, among the justified reasons to refuse a passenger, "The Vehicle is a For-Hire Vehicle and the Passenger is attempting to Hail the Driver" (rule 80-20(b)(12)). In other words, saying no to a street hail is exactly what the rules expect from an FHV driver.

Who it applies to

All TLC-licensed drivers operating a for-hire vehicle: app-based drivers, black car drivers, livery drivers and luxury limousine drivers. It does not cover green cabs on hail trips in the Hail Zone, which have their own rules.

Penalties

Because the first-violation fine is a range, the judge decides the amount within it if you are found guilty. If you receive a settlement offer from TLC, it will state its own amount; TLC says settlement offers come by mail, or you can ask in person in Long Island City or by email to Settlements@tlc.nyc.gov (TLC summons page).

How often this charge is filed

Filings peaked in 2018 (3,240) and have been around 400–700 a year since 2021. In 2026 so far, 443 have been filed — already more than all of 2025 — but partial-year numbers can change as summonses are keyed in. The dataset does not say where each summons was written, so it cannot show how many came from the airports.

Common situations

• Airport arrivals areas, where people look for a ride and approach waiting cars. These are also inside the enhanced 80-19(c)(2) zone.
• Outside clubs, stadiums and train stations late at night.
• A passenger who "already booked" but the trip in your app does not match them.
• A friend or relative you drive for money without a base trip.

What "prearranged" means in practice

The rule does not list every way a trip can be arranged. It asks one question: did the trip come through a licensed base that is allowed to dispatch your vehicle, before the pickup? For most app drivers, the base is the app company's licensed base, and the proof is the trip offer you accepted in the app. For livery and black car drivers, it is the dispatch record from your base.

That is why your own records matter so much. An inspector or officer may only see a person get into your car. Your app history can show that the person had booked you minutes earlier, with a pickup pin at that spot. If there is no matching trip, the case is much harder. Ask your lawyer before you rely on a screenshot alone; a full trip export with times and locations is usually stronger evidence than one picture.

Remember too that refusing a hail is what the rules expect of an FHV driver (rule 80-20(b)(12)). If someone tries to wave you down, the safe answer is to tell them to book through the app or base.

What to do now

1. Get your trip records. Download the trip history from your app or base for the date and time on the summons. A matching prearranged trip is the strongest evidence.
2. Check the location. Was it inside Manhattan south of East 96th / West 110th Street, or at an airport? The summons may cite (c)(1) or (c)(2).
3. Check your history. A finding in the last 24 or 36 months changes the penalty tier and can mean suspension or revocation.
4. Answer by the hearing date. Hearings are generally by phone or written online defense. See the OATH phone hearing guide.

Points to discuss with your lawyer

• Was there a prearranged trip, and was the base one that can dispatch your vehicle?
• Did you actually solicit or pick up, or were you only approached?
• What does the officer's or inspector's statement say happened, and is it specific?
• Does the location on the summons match where your trip data shows you were?

For the wider picture on hail and unlicensed-activity enforcement, read our street hail and unlicensed activity guide and the JFK Airport and LaGuardia Airport pages.