TLC Rule 80-19(d)(5): How Long You Can Stay on a Stand

On this page (11)

What the rule says
Who it applies to
How the one-hour rule fits with relief stands
Who writes it and how often
Common situations
Does the summons fit what happened?
Penalty and points
What to do and points to discuss with your lawyer
Related rules
FAQ
Sources

In short: Rule 80-19(d)(5) says you may occupy a taxi stand only when you are on duty, or for no more than one hour while on relief time or off duty for personal use. Break it and the fine is $50, with no TLC points listed and no appearance required. The rule is mostly written at terminals: 8 of the 12 summonses in the OATH data since 2016 came from Port Authority Police. If you need a longer break, use a relief stand, which has its own rule.

What the rule says

Section 80-19(d)(5) of the TLC Chapter 80 rule book reads:

A Driver must only occupy a Taxi Stand when on duty or for no longer than one hour while on relief time or for Personal Use-Off Duty.

Penalty line: "Fine: $50. Appearance NOT REQUIRED."

What the three states mean on a stand:

Time on a taxi stand under 80-19(d)(5)

Your status	How long you may stay on the stand	What else applies
On duty, waiting for passengers	No time limit in this rule	First two cars: stay in the seat (80-19(d)(6)). Join at the rear (80-19(d)(4))
On relief time (a break during the shift)	Up to 1 hour	First two cars: stay in the seat. 3rd or later: stay within 15 ft (80-19(d)(6))
Off duty, personal use	Up to 1 hour	3rd or later: the 15-ft rule does not apply. First two cars: the seat rule has no off-duty exception
Any status, doing repairs	Not allowed, except minor emergency repairs	80-19(d)(3), $50

Chapter 80 does not define "relief time" or "Personal Use-Off Duty" in this section. In plain words, relief time is a break during your shift, and Personal Use-Off Duty means you are off duty and not working.

Who it applies to

Any TLC driver who occupies a taxi stand: in practice yellow taxis, and green cabs at stands in the Hail Zone. FHV drivers may not pick up at stands at all (80-19(d)(2)).

At airports and other terminals, rule §80-19(e)(1) says stand rules "also apply to special Taxi Stands and Feed Lines at air, rail, bus and ship terminals". Terminals with holding areas have an extra rule, §80-19(e)(2): park in the holding area before you leave on relief, and when you come back, join the end of the feed line ($50).

How the one-hour rule fits with relief stands

The rule exists so that stands are used for picking up passengers, not for parking. The City provides a different place for breaks:

Relief stands are DOT curbs where "drivers [may] park and leave their vehicles for up to one hour." DOT adds: "Relief stands are not taxi stands – taxi stands require drivers to stay in their cars while waiting to pick up passengers" (NYC DOT).
Relief stands follow §80-19(d)(7): take any vacant spot, but obey the posted vehicle types and time limit ($50).
Their signs say so. DOT's sign records include "TAXI (SYMBOL) TAXI/FHV RELIEF STAND 1 HOUR LIMIT" and "TAXI (SYMBOL) TAXI RELIEF STAND 1 HOUR LIMIT", some with hours such as "7AM-7PM ALL DAYS" (NYC Open Data). A taxi stand sign reads "TAXI HAILING (SYMBOL) TAXI STAND" instead.

So both kinds of curb have a one-hour idea, but on a taxi stand the limit applies only when you are not working the line. Find one near you with the relief stand finder.

Who writes it and how often

These counts come from the OATH Hearings Division data (NYC Open Data), queried October 12, 2026, first-listed charge only. By year: 6 in 2017, 2 in 2019, then 1 each in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025. A summons is an allegation, not a finding. The data has no usable location field, but Port Authority Police patrol the airports and other Port Authority facilities, which fits a rule about sitting on stands and feed lines. Compare the stay-in-your-seat rule, 80-19(d)(6), with 29 summonses, and line-jumping, 80-19(d)(4), with 1,842.

Common situations

You park on a street stand, go off duty and have a long meal nearby.
At a terminal, you leave your cab in the feed line to take a break instead of parking in the holding area first.
You sleep on a stand between shifts.
You stay on a stand while waiting for a mechanic, which may also be §80-19(d)(3) (repairs).

Does the summons fit what happened?

Work through your 80-19(d)(5) summons

Answer a few questions · general information, not legal advice

Question 1Was the spot a taxi stand, or a relief stand?

Was the spot a taxi stand, or a relief stand?

Taxi stand (or terminal feed line)
What was your status?
- On duty, waiting for a fare
  Good to know: What this means for you
  The one-hour limit does not apply to drivers on duty. Your trip records and Technology System status for that time are the evidence.
- On a break or off duty
  Had you been on the stand more than one hour?
  - Yes
    Watch out: What this means for you
    The facts may fit. The fine is $50 with no points listed; weigh that against the time a hearing takes.
  - No
    Note: What this means for you
    The limit is one hour. Trip records showing when you arrived or last dropped off, and any video, can show how long you were there.
Relief stand
Note: What this means for you
Relief stands follow 80-19(d)(7) and their posted limits, not (d)(5). Check whether the code on the summons matches the place.
Not sure
Note: What this means for you
Photograph the sign. 'TAXI STAND' and 'RELIEF STAND 1 HOUR LIMIT' signs are different rules.

Penalty and points

	Amount
Fine	$50
TLC points	None listed in Chapter 80
Appearance	Not required

What to do and points to discuss with your lawyer

General questions, not legal advice:

Your duty status. The rule only limits time on relief or off duty. Technology System records can show when you were logged on and available.
How long. The summons should say when the inspector saw you. Your last drop-off time can help show you had not been there an hour.
Which kind of stand. A relief stand or an unsigned curb is not a taxi stand.

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.

TLC's summons page explains how to plead or schedule a hearing.

The short version for drivers planning a break is can I leave my cab at a taxi stand. The full stand rule set is in taxi stand rules, and break spots are in taxi relief stands. Two more rules matter while you sit on a stand. Rule §80-22(a) bans idling for more than three minutes ($25), so a long wait with the engine running is a separate problem. And if you stopped because something broke, §80-19(d)(3) allows only minor emergency repairs on a stand, while 80-22(b) says you must not drive on until the brakes, tires, lights and belts are in good working order. More on the places hub.

Frequently asked questions

How long can I stay on a taxi stand?

As long as you like while you are on duty and waiting for passengers. If you are on relief time or off duty for personal use, no longer than one hour.

What is the fine for 80-19(d)(5)?

$50. Chapter 80 lists no TLC points for it and no appearance is required.

Is a relief stand the same as a taxi stand?

No. A relief stand is a DOT curb where drivers may park and leave the car, usually for up to one hour. A taxi stand is a line for cabs waiting for passengers. Relief stands have their own rule, 80-19(d)(7).

Who writes 80-19(d)(5) summonses?

In the OATH data, 12 summonses listed it as the first charge from 2016 to October 12, 2026: 8 by Port Authority Police and 4 by TLC.

Sources

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

TLC Rule Book, Chapter 80 (updated June 6, 2025), §80-19(d)–(e) nyc.gov
NYC DOT: Taxi and For-Hire Vehicle Relief Stands 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

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.