TLC Rule 80-19(d)(2): FHV Pickup at a Taxi Stand

On this page (11)

What the rule says
Who it applies to
How the penalty ladder counts
How it relates to other FHV pickup rules
Who writes it and how often
Common situations
Does the summons fit what happened?
What to do and points to discuss with your lawyer
Related rules
FAQ
Sources

In short: An 80-19(d)(2) summons says you, as a for-hire vehicle (FHV) driver, picked up a passenger at a taxi stand. The penalty climbs fast: $350 the first time, $500 for a second within 24 months, and revocation of your TLC license for a third within 36 months. There is no cheaper plead-guilty amount. If you only want to know whether you may pick up at a stand, the answer is no: see can Uber drivers pick up at a taxi stand. This page is for drivers who already have the summons.

What the rule says

Section 80-19(d)(2) of the TLC Chapter 80 rule book is one sentence:

A For-Hire Driver must not pick up Passengers at any Taxi Stand.

The penalty line: "First Violation: $350. Second Violation in 24 months: $500. Third Violation in 36 months: Revocation. Appearance NOT REQUIRED."

A Taxi Stand is "a place where Taxicabs are authorized (either by NYC Department of Transportation or a transportation terminal operator) to line up and wait for customers" (TLC Chapter 51). On the street that is a DOT sign. The most common legend in DOT's sign records is "TAXI HAILING (SYMBOL) TAXI STAND" (NYC Open Data). Stands at airports and train stations count too.

Who it applies to

Every FHV driver: app drivers (Uber, Lyft), black car, livery and luxury limousine drivers. Yellow taxis have a right to stand positions, and green cabs have one in the Hail Zone (80-19(d)(1)).

How the penalty ladder counts

The look-back period is different for each step, so read it carefully:

The rule does not explain how earlier violations are counted, so ask your representative how a prior plea or finding would count. Before you plead guilty to a first or second charge, think about the next three years. If you are already at step two, talk to a lawyer before you do anything.

How it relates to other FHV pickup rules

An FHV pickup at a stand can fit more than one rule, and the code on your summons decides the penalty:

FHV pickup rules in 80-19 (Chapter 80)

Rule	What it covers	Penalty	Summonses 2016 – Oct 2026 (first charge)
80-19(d)(2)	Any pickup at a taxi stand	$350 / $500 in 24 mo / revocation in 36 mo	10
80-19(c)(1)	Any pickup not pre-arranged through a licensed base of the right class	$200–$350 / $350–$500 + up to 30 days' suspension in 24 mo / revocation in 36 mo	10,240
80-19(c)(2)	Same, but in Manhattan south of E 96th / W 110th St or at NYC airports	$500 / $750 in 24 mo / revocation in 120 mo	4,489 (almost all 2016–2018)
80-19(f)	Accepting a dispatch while at a JFK or LaGuardia pickup location	$250	13

The key difference: (c)(1) and (c)(2) are about how the trip was booked. (d)(2) is about where you picked up, so a properly booked app trip can still break it.

Who writes it and how often

These counts are from the OATH Hearings Division data (NYC Open Data), queried October 12, 2026, using the first-listed charge. By year: 1 in 2016, 1 in 2017, 4 in 2018, 4 in 2019. A summons is an allegation, not a finding. The data has no usable location field, so it can't show which stands. The numbers do suggest that FHV pickups near stands are usually charged under other codes, mainly 80-19(c)(1).

Common situations

Your app rider is standing in the taxi line at a train station or hotel, and you pull onto the stand to get them.
A person waves you down on a stand and gets in. That is also a street hail, which (c)(1) covers.
You stop on a stand to pick up a rider at night, when the stand sign has hours (for example "10PM-4AM ALL DAYS") that you think were not in effect.
At an airport, you pick up from the taxi line instead of the ride-app pickup area. Airport cases may also bring Port Authority rules into play: see can Uber drivers wait at JFK or LaGuardia.

Does the summons fit what happened?

Questions to work through

Answer a few questions · general information, not legal advice

Question 1Was the place marked as a taxi stand (a DOT sign or a terminal taxi line)?

Was the place marked as a taxi stand (a DOT sign or a terminal taxi line)?

Yes
Did the sign show hours?
- Yes
  Was the pickup inside those hours?
  - Yes
    Did the passenger get in on the stand itself, or a few car lengths away?
    On the stand
    Watch out: What this means for you
    The facts may match the rule. Check how many FHV pickup findings you already have in the last 24 and 36 months before you plead.
    Away from the stand
    Note: What this means for you
    The rule says 'at' a taxi stand. Trip GPS data, photos and measurements of where you stopped may matter. Discuss with a lawyer.
  - No
    Good to know: What this means for you
    A stand with posted hours may not have been a stand at that time. Your trip record's pickup time and a photo of the sign are the evidence.
- No, it was a full-time stand
  Did the passenger get in on the stand itself, or a few car lengths away?
  - On the stand
    Watch out: What this means for you
    The facts may match the rule. Check how many FHV pickup findings you already have in the last 24 and 36 months before you plead.
  - Away from the stand
    Note: What this means for you
    The rule says 'at' a taxi stand. Trip GPS data, photos and measurements of where you stopped may matter. Discuss with a lawyer.
No / not sure
Note: What this means for you
The rule needs an authorized taxi stand. Go back, photograph every sign on the block and check DOT's sign records. Raise it with your representative.

What to do and points to discuss with your lawyer

These are general questions, not legal advice:

Your record. Ask TLC or your representative how many prior findings count toward the 24- and 36-month windows. That decides whether this is a $350, $500 or revocation case.
The sign. Was there a taxi stand sign, was it readable, and did it have hours? DOT's records include several timed legends. A few signs read "TAXI HAILING (SYMBOL) TAXI / FHV STAND" (NYC Open Data); if your stop was at one of those, raise it.
Where exactly. Pickup GPS from the app and your own photos can show whether you were on the stand.
The code. If the facts describe a street hail away from any stand, the right code may be a different one, with a different penalty.

Reading a TLC driver summons

A simplified illustration. Real summonses differ by issuing agency and year, so fields may sit in different places.

Summons numberThe unique number for this summons. Use it to check the official OATH record (or our summons lookup) and write it on anything you send.
Respondent & licenseWho is charged and their TLC license number. Check both are yours and tell your representative about any error.
Date, time & placeWhen and where the officer says the violation happened. Compare it with your trip records, app history and dashcam.
Rule or law violatedThe TLC rule or NYC law you're charged under, such as §80-13(a)(2). Look the code up in the violation library or the summons decoder to see what it means and the listed penalty.
Hearing date & methodYour OATH hearing date. You must respond by this date — by paying (where allowed) or by having your hearing — or OATH can enter a default. See hearing options.
Appearance requiredSome charges can't simply be paid: you (or your representative) must have a hearing. Check whether this is marked on your summons.
PenaltyIf an amount is shown, check it against the rule. Many TLC rules list a lower amount if you plead guilty before the hearing and a higher one if you're found guilty after it.
Issued byWho wrote the summons: a TLC inspector, Port Authority police, or NYPD. The layout differs by issuing agency.

Bring: the summons, the trip record or app receipt showing pickup time and place, photos of the stand signs, and any dashcam video. TLC's summons page explains how to answer.

All stand rules are in taxi stand rules, and who can pick up where covers every license type. Other stand codes: 80-19(d)(5) (time limits), 80-19(d)(6) (leaving the car) and 80-19(a)(4)(ii) (cruising near a stand). More on the places hub.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fine for 80-19(d)(2)?

$350 for a first violation, $500 for a second within 24 months, and revocation of your TLC license for a third within 36 months. There is no lower plead-guilty amount and no TLC points are listed.

Does it matter that the rider booked through the app?

Not under the words of the rule. It says a for-hire driver must not pick up passengers at any taxi stand. It does not make an exception for pre-arranged trips.

Do I have to go to the hearing in person?

Chapter 80 marks appearance as not required. But a third violation within 36 months can cost you your license, so think hard before pleading guilty to a second one, and consider getting advice first.

How common is this summons?

Rare. The OATH data shows 10 summonses with 80-19(d)(2) as the first charge from 2016 to October 12, 2026: 9 from TLC and 1 from Port Authority Police, none after 2019.

Which summons do most FHV hail cases get instead?

80-19(c)(1), pickups not pre-arranged through a licensed base. It was the first charge on 10,240 summonses in the same period.

Sources

Last reviewed against the official sources on Oct 12, 2026.

TLC Rule Book, Chapter 80 (updated June 6, 2025), §80-19(c)–(d) nyc.gov
TLC Rule Book, Chapter 51 (Definitions): Taxi Stand nyc.gov
NYC Open Data: OATH Hearings Division Case Status (jz4z-kudi), queried 2026-10-12 data.cityofnewyork.us
NYC Open Data: Parking Regulation Locations and Signs (nfid-uabd), queried 2026-10-12 data.cityofnewyork.us
NYC TLC: Receive a Summons nyc.gov

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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.