TLC Rule 82-13(a)(1): Green Cab Hail Inside the No-Hail Zone

In short: Green cabs, officially Street Hail Liveries (SHLs), may pick up street hails only in the Hail Zone: everywhere in the city except Manhattan south of East 96th and West 110th Streets and the airports. Rule 82-13(a)(1) makes the SHL license holder responsible for making sure drivers follow that line. A first violation is $500 and a suspension; a third within 120 months means revocation. Appearance at the hearing is required.

The zones in plain English

TLC's definitions chapter sets three areas:

Two exceptions in the rule: regular paratransit service by a licensed paratransit vehicle, and service for the MTA's transportation of people with disabilities, are not "Pre-Arranged Trips" for this rule. And the rule does not stop an SHL from driving through the exclusionary zone to finish a trip that started outside it, or when not driving for hire.

What the rule says

Rule 82-13(a)(1): "A Street Hail Livery Licensee must ensure that the Driver of the Street Hail Livery accepts passengers by hail from the street only in the Hail Zone and does not accept a Pre-Arranged Trip beginning in the Pre-Arranged Exclusionary Zone."

Rule 82-13(a)(2) explains why owners are charged: "A finding that a Driver of a Street Hail Livery accepted a passenger by hail in the Hail Exclusionary Zone or accepted a Pre-Arranged Trip in the Pre-Arranged Exclusionary Zone will be evidence that a Street Hail Livery Licensee failed to make a good faith effort to deter the commission of that violation." It also lets TLC seize an SHL on probable cause that its driver is seeking a hail or a prearranged trip in the exclusionary zones.

Owner vs. driver: two summonses for one pickup

The City law says the same. Admin Code §19-506(k) bars HAIL-licensed drivers from accepting hails where not permitted ($500, then $750, then driver license revocation after two prior convictions within 120 months), and says a driver's finding is evidence the HAIL license holder failed to make a reasonable good faith effort to deter it. A driver's third conviction within 120 months "shall result in revocation of a HAIL license" if each happened in vehicles under that holder's license.

If your driver got a summons too

Owner and driver cases are separate, but they rest on the same facts: where the passenger was picked up and how the trip started. Talk to your driver early, ask for a copy of their summons, and collect the trip record for that time. If the driver's case ends in a finding, that finding can be used as evidence against you under 82-13(a)(2); if it is dismissed, ask your lawyer how that affects your case. Drivers can start with our guide on what to do after getting a TLC summons. FHV drivers (not SHLs) who pick up street hails face a different rule; see 80-19(c)(2) for the Manhattan and airport tier.

How often it appears

This charge was common in the early SHL years (712 in 2014) and is now rare, a handful a year. With 603 active SHL permits in TLC's October 2026 license list, the fleet is much smaller than at its start.

A serious extra risk: fleeing

Admin Code §19-506(l) makes it a misdemeanor for an SHL driver stopped in a zone where hails aren't allowed to flee a TLC enforcement officer or police officer after being told to stay stopped, by driving more than 300 feet or driving recklessly. The penalty is $750–$1,000 and/or up to 90 days in jail, in criminal court. Always stop when directed.

What owners can do to deter violations

The rule turns on whether the licensee made a "good faith effort to deter." The rule book doesn't list required steps for this section, but practical measures include written zone rules in every lease, a map of the 96th/110th line in the car, and keeping records that you trained and warned drivers. Ask your lawyer which records will help.

Points to discuss with your lawyer

General information only:

• Where exactly was the pickup? The line is East 96th / West 110th Street; exact location matters.
• Was it a hail, a prearranged trip, or a trip that began outside the zone?
• What did you do to deter it? Training records and lease terms may be relevant.
• Prior findings. The penalty ladder counts violations within 24 and 120 months.

More: green cab drivers, Manhattan, LaGuardia, and the City-law charge for operating beyond your license, §19-506(b)(2).