TLC Rule 80-19(e)(2): Airport Holding Area Relief Rule

On this page (10)

What the rule says
Why the rule exists
Who it applies to
Who writes it and how often
Common situations
Does the summons fit?
Penalty and points
What to do
FAQ
Sources

In short: At an airport or other terminal with a taxi holding area, Rule 80-19(e)(2) gives you three rules for breaks. Park in the holding area before you go on relief. Rejoin at the end of the feed line when you come back. Never bring passengers into the holding area. The fine is $50, with no points listed and no appearance required. It is rarely written: OATH's data shows only 2 summonses citing it first from 2016 to October 2026.

This page explains the rule. It is not legal advice.

What the rule says

Section 80-19(e) of TLC Chapter 80, "Taxicab Passenger Pick Up at Airports and Terminals":

(2) Where a terminal provides Taxicab or Street Hail Livery holding areas: (i) Drivers must park the Vehicle in a taxi holding area before leaving on relief time. (ii) Upon returning from relief time, the Driver must join the end of the Feed Line. (iii) Drivers are not permitted to bring Passengers into a holding area.

§80-19(e)(2) Fine: $50 Appearance NOT REQUIRED

Key words, from TLC's Chapter 51 definitions and plain English:

Holding area: the lot where taxis wait before being sent to a terminal. At JFK and LaGuardia it is the airport's taxi hold lot. See taxi holding lot.
Feed Line: "the line of Taxicabs that feeds into the specific pick-up location to pick up a Passenger."
Relief time: time off duty during a shift, such as a meal or bathroom break.

Why the rule exists

Chapter 80 doesn't explain the purpose, but the effect is to keep the airport line in order. A cab left empty in the feed line holds up every cab behind it, and a driver who comes back from a break must not slip in ahead of drivers who waited. Rule 80-19(e)(1) also applies all ordinary taxi stand rules to airport feed lines, so other stand rules apply as well:

Stand rules that also apply in airport feed lines

Rule	What it says	Fine
80-19(e)(2)	Park in the holding area before relief; rejoin at the end of the feed line; no passengers in the holding area	$50
80-19(d)(4)	Take the rear position on the line; don't overcrowd the stand	$100 plead / $150 after hearing
80-19(d)(5)	Occupy a stand only on duty, or up to one hour on relief or personal off-duty time	$50
80-19(d)(6)	First two cars: driver stays in the seat, ready; others within 15 feet unless off duty	$75
80-19(e)(3)	Short-haul ticket: no long-haul passenger, and the reverse	$100

Chapter 80 doesn't set a separate time limit for relief breaks taken from a holding area. The one-hour limit in 80-19(d)(5) is about occupying a taxi stand. Ask the airport's dispatch staff about any local lot rules, and follow posted signs.

Who it applies to

Drivers of yellow taxis, and of green cabs where a terminal has a street hail livery holding area. The rule says "Taxicab or Street Hail Livery holding areas". At JFK and LaGuardia, green cabs can't take a stand position, because the airports are in the Hail Exclusionary Zone (Rule 80-19(d)(1)(i)). In practice, this rule is about yellow cabs at the airport hold lots. App and black car drivers wait in separate FHV lots, and their airport rule is 80-19(f).

Who writes it and how often

That is very few for a rule that applies at every airport taxi line. Its neighbor 80-19(e)(3), on short-haul and long-haul tickets, had no first-charge summonses in the same period. A summons is an allegation, not a finding, and OATH's data has no usable location field for taxi rows. More context: airport solicitation summonses.

Common situations

You walk away from your cab in the feed line to use a restroom, instead of first parking in the holding area.
You come back from a break and drive straight to the front of the feed line or the stand.
A passenger gets in at the terminal and you drive through the holding area with them.
An inspector writes the summons, but the terminal had no holding area at all. The rule applies only "where a terminal provides" one.

Does the summons fit?

Questions to work through

Answer a few questions · general information, not legal advice

Question 1Does the terminal have a taxi holding area?

Does the terminal have a taxi holding area?

Yes
What does the summons describe?
- Leaving the cab for a break outside the holding area
  Note: What this means for you
  Ask whether you were actually on relief time and where the cab was parked. Times on your trip record may help.
- Rejoining the line ahead of others
  Note: What this means for you
  The rule says to join the end of the feed line. Any dispatch ticket or instruction from airport staff to go elsewhere may matter.
- Bringing a passenger into the holding area
  Watch out: What this means for you
  Passengers are not allowed in a holding area. Note why you entered it with a passenger, for example a staff instruction or a road closure.
No / not sure
Note: What this means for you
The rule applies only where a terminal provides a holding area. Note exactly where you were, and photograph signs or lot markings if you can.

Penalty and points

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

What to do

Find the code, the hearing date and the appearance box on your summons:

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.

Check the facts on the summons: which terminal, what time, and what it says you did.
Gather your trip record for the hour before and after, to show when you were on duty and when you picked up.
Note any instruction you got from dispatch or Port Authority staff. Rule V.A of the Port Authority's airport rules bars interfering with the dispatch service, so following staff directions is part of using the line.
Answer by the hearing date. For a $50 summons, compare the time cost of a hearing with paying. Either way, don't default.

Frequently asked questions

What does 80-19(e)(2) require?

Where a terminal has a taxi or street hail livery holding area: park in the holding area before you leave on relief time, join the end of the feed line when you come back, and never bring passengers into a holding area.

What is the fine?

$50. Chapter 80 lists no TLC points for it, and you don't have to appear at the hearing.

How often is it charged?

Rarely. In OATH data from 2016 to October 12, 2026, only 2 summonses listed 80-19(e)(2) as the first charge: one by TLC in 2022 and one by Port Authority Police in 2024.

Does it apply to green cabs?

The rule covers "Taxicab or Street Hail Livery holding areas", so it can apply to green cab drivers at terminals that have them. Green cabs can't use taxi stands at the NYC airports, which are in the Hail Exclusionary Zone.

Sources

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

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.