TLC Refusal Rule 80-20(a)(1): Fines & Valid Reasons

On this page (10)

What the rule says
Who it applies to
The 15 permitted reasons (rule 80-20(b))
Penalty ladder
How often refusal summonses are filed
Why your history changes everything
What to do now
Points to discuss with your lawyer
FAQ
Sources

In short: Under rule 80-20(a)(1), a driver must not refuse, "by words, gestures or any other means," to take a passenger to any destination in New York City, Westchester County, Nassau County, or Newark Airport — unless one of the justifications in rule 80-20(b) applies. A first violation is a mandatory $350 (plead guilty before a hearing) or $500 (found guilty after a hearing). Repeat violations within 24 or 36 months can lead to suspension and revocation.

What the rule says

From §80-20(a) of the TLC Chapter 80 rule book: "Unless the Driver has justifiable grounds, the Driver must not refuse to transport… A Driver must not refuse by words, gestures or any other means, to take a Passenger, including a person with a disability and any service animal accompanying this individual, to any destination within the City of New York, the counties of Westchester or Nassau, or Newark Airport."

The penalty line says "Mandatory penalties as set forth in §80-02(e)" and Appearance NOT REQUIRED.

Note the words "or any other means." A refusal does not have to be spoken. Driving off after hearing a destination or waving someone away is still a refusal under this wording.

Who it applies to

Every TLC driver is covered by chapter 80, but street-hail refusals mostly involve yellow taxi and green cab drivers. The justification list makes clear that an FHV driver who declines a street hail is not refusing — FHVs are not allowed to take hails at all (see 80-19(c)(1)).

The 15 permitted reasons (rule 80-20(b))

This is the most useful part of the rule for a driver. If your situation fits one of these, it is not a refusal under the rules. Use the checker below, then read the exact wording in the rule book.

Did a permitted reason apply?

Answer a few questions · general information, not legal advice

Question 1Was another passenger already seated, or had you already acknowledged another person's hail who was being picked up?

Was another passenger already seated, or had you already acknowledged another person's hail who was being picked up?

Yes
Good to know: What this means for you
Rules 80-20(b)(1) and (b)(2) allow this. Caution: you must not acknowledge one hail over another in order to avoid the person you skipped.
No
Were you ending your shift or taking the car for repairs, and had you already logged off the Technology System AND locked both rear doors?
- Yes
  Good to know: What this means for you
  Rules 80-20(b)(5) and (b)(6) allow this. Records showing the log-off time help prove it.
- Logged off but doors not locked, or still logged on
  Watch out: What this means for you
  The rule requires both steps before the refusal. If either was missing, this justification may not fit. Discuss with a lawyer.
- No
  Was the destination Newark Airport, Nassau or Westchester, after you had driven more than 8 hours in a continuous 24-hour period?
  - Yes
    Good to know: What this means for you
    Rule 80-20(b)(8) allows this. Your trip records showing hours operated are the evidence.
  - No
    Was the passenger disorderly or intoxicated, smoking after two requests to stop, carrying an item you reasonably believed would damage the car, or with an animal not in a suitable container?
    Yes
    Watch out: What this means for you
    Rules 80-20(b)(3), (7), (9) and (10) cover these, with cautions: mobility aids and service animals must always be accepted, and you must not refuse solely because of behaviour caused by a disability.
    No
    Important: What this means for you
    None of the common justifications seem to fit. The full list in 80-20(b) also covers FHV and street hail livery dispatch situations. Talk to a lawyer before pleading guilty, because these penalties are mandatory.

The full list also includes: discharging your last passengers before logging off (b)(4); a green cab passenger in the Hail Exclusionary Zone (b)(11); an FHV being hailed (b)(12); a green cab or FHV already on a pre-arranged dispatch (b)(13), (b)(14); and a taxi or green cab already on an accessible dispatch trip (b)(15).

Penalty ladder

Mandatory penalties for refusals (rule 80-02(e))

Violation	Plead guilty before hearing	Found guilty after hearing
First	$350	$500
Second (any listed violation) within 24 months	$700	$1,000 and possible suspension up to 30 days
Third (any listed violation) within 36 months	$750 and revocation	$1,000 and revocation

The ladder is shared with overcharging (80-17(a)(1)) and the other refusal codes, such as refusing luggage or mobility aids and asking the destination first. After a revocation under this table, you cannot get any TLC license for one year (rule 80-02(e)(3)).

How often refusal summonses are filed

Summonses citing 80-20(a)(1) as the first charge, by year

All issuing agencies. Counts summonses filed at OATH, not findings. Outcomes and fines are blank for these rows in the official dataset.

Summonses

Show data table

Label	Summonses (summonses)
2016	81
2017	401
2018	460
2019	337
2020	145
2021	208
2022	503
2023	622
2024	504
2025	854

Source: NYC Open Data: OATH Hearings Division Case Status (jz4z-kudi) · Data as of Oct 12, 2026. Counts use the first-listed charge (charge_1_code) only. Later charge columns mostly repeat the first code, so they are not counted. Codes are normalised for case (80-13(A)(2) and 80-13(a)(2) are the same). Total 2016–2025: 4,115; 2026 so far: 147 (incomplete year, not charted). A summons is not a finding of guilt; outcomes and fines are blank in this dataset. Before 2016 this code appears rarely or not at all (0 summonses since 2014, under 1% of the peak year), often because the rule was renumbered or adopted then.

2025 had the most filings in the dataset (854). A refusal summons can start with a passenger complaint; see the passenger complaint process.

Why your history changes everything

The same refusal can cost very different amounts depending on your record. Say you pleaded guilty to an overcharge 20 months ago. A new refusal now is your second listed violation within 24 months: $700 if you plead guilty, or $1,000 and a possible suspension of up to 30 days if you are found guilty after a hearing. If you had two earlier findings within 36 months, a new one means revocation either way.

The rule counts backwards from the date of the latest violation (rule 80-02(e)(2)). So before you decide how to answer, write down every refusal and overcharge finding with its date. Our TLC fine lookup shows the full ladder.

What to do now

Find the exact time and place on the summons. Then pull your trip records for that window — were you on a trip, logged off, or on an accessible dispatch?
Write down what happened while you still remember: where you were, what was said, whether the doors were locked, and the roof light status.
Think about witnesses. A passenger already in the car, or a dispatcher, can matter. The TLC summons page says you can bring witnesses and documents to support your defense.
Respect the deadline. You can request a phone, online or in-person hearing. Missing it risks a default. See the OATH hearing guide.
Check your history. Any refusal or overcharge finding in the last 24–36 months changes the stakes completely.

Points to discuss with your lawyer

General information only. Ask a lawyer whether any of these may apply to you:

Do your trip records support one of the 80-20(b) justifications?
Is the complaint specific about the time, place and vehicle, and does it match your records?
Was there a misunderstanding about the destination, rather than a refusal?
Does the complainant intend to testify, or is the case based only on a written complaint?

More reading: TLC service refusal rules, passenger complaint summonses, and how to prepare for a TLC hearing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fine for a first refusal under 80-20(a)(1)?

It is a mandatory penalty under rule 80-02(e): $350 if you plead guilty before a hearing, or $500 if you are found guilty after a hearing.

Which destinations must a taxi driver accept?

Any destination within New York City, Westchester County, Nassau County, or Newark Airport, unless the driver has one of the justifications listed in rule 80-20(b).

Can I refuse a trip to Newark, Westchester or Nassau at the end of a long shift?

Rule 80-20(b)(8) allows it only if you have been operating the vehicle for more than eight hours of any continuous 24-hour period.

Does a refusal count together with an overcharge for repeat penalties?

Yes. The 80-02(e) table counts any combination of its listed violations: a second within 24 months or a third within 36 months brings higher penalties, up to revocation.

Can I refuse someone who is drunk or disorderly?

Rule 80-20(b)(9) allows refusing a disorderly or intoxicated passenger, with a caution: you must not refuse solely because of behaviour caused by a person's disability.

Sources

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

TLC Rules, Chapter 80 – Drivers (updated June 6, 2025) nyc.gov
TLC: Respond to a Summons nyc.gov
NYC Open Data: OATH Hearings Division Case Status data.cityofnewyork.us

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.