TLC Rule 82-31(b): SHL Defect Notice Not Corrected

In short: When TLC tells a Street Hail Livery (SHL) owner to fix a defect, the owner has to do it. Rule 82-31(b) says "a Licensee must comply with all notices and directives to correct defects in the Street Hail Livery." The fine is only $50, but it comes with a suspension until the defect is corrected, which keeps the car off the road. The fastest way out is to fix the problem, get proof, and show it.

What the rule says

Rule 82-31 has three parts, and it helps to know which one you have:

The chapter 82 rule book places this under "Vehicle Condition – Meet Safety Standards." The City law behind it is Admin Code §19-504(f): an owner "shall be ordered by the commission to repair or replace his or her licensed vehicle where it appears that it no longer meets the reasonable standards for safe operation," and if the owner fails "to comply with any such order within ten days after service thereof, the license shall be suspended."

Who it applies to

The SHL licensee, meaning the holder of the Street Hail Livery License. If you lease the car to drivers, the notice and the summons still come to you. The parallel rules for other vehicles are 58-30(b) for medallion taxis and 59A-27(d) for FHVs.

Common situations

• An on-street inspection finds a broken light or worn tire and the inspector issues a defect notice. Rule 82-30(e) says SHLs are subject to on-street inspections by TLC or any other agency authorized by law.
• A scheduled inspection at the TLC facility lists items to fix, and the vehicle isn't brought back.
• The repair was done, but proof never reached TLC, so the record still shows the defect as open.

How often it appears

The count peaked at 1,579 in 2015 and has been under 100 a year since 2021 (95 in 2025). The SHL fleet is far smaller now, with 603 active permits in TLC's October 2026 license list.

What to do now

Because appearance is not required, you may be able to plead guilty and pay. Before you do, remember the suspension lasts until the defect is fixed, not until you pay. Paying the $50 alone won't put the car back on the road.

If you contest it, OATH hearings are usually by phone or written defense online, if eligible. TLC's summons page says to request a phone hearing at least 3 business days before the hearing date. If you miss the hearing, a judge may decide without you; see missed hearing defaults.

When the decals come off

If the problem is serious enough that TLC or DMV finds the vehicle unsafe or unfit, the case moves to rule 82-31(c), and the consequences are bigger:

• If the TLC Chairperson made the finding, the decals "will be confiscated."
• If DMV or a DMV inspection facility made the finding, you must return the decals to the Chairperson within 72 hours.
• You must surrender the license and rate card to TLC for storage, and the license is suspended.
• The Chairperson can order any SHL believed to be unsafe or unfit to report to TLC's inspection facility.
• Operating an SHL that has been found unsafe or unfit means the license "will be summarily suspended."

So a small defect notice that is ignored can lead to inspections, removed decals and a long suspension. Treat every notice as urgent.

Watch the longer clocks

A defect suspension can turn into something bigger if it drags on. Admin Code §19-504(f) says that if an owner does not comply with a repair or replace order "within one hundred twenty days after service thereof, the license may, at the discretion of the commission, be deemed to have been abandoned by nonuser." For accessible SHLs, rule 82-30(f) says the license is suspended 10 days after a repair-or-replace notice unless you comply, and is terminated if not reinstated within 120 days.

Points to discuss with your lawyer

General information only:

• Was the notice served, and when? The ten-day and 120-day periods run from service.
• Was the defect already fixed before the summons? Dated invoices may answer the charge.
• Is it really (b)? An equipment problem found while driving may be charged under (a); a vehicle declared unsafe under (c). The penalties and the appearance rule differ.

Read more in the vehicle and equipment summons guide, the biannual inspection rule 82-30(b), and our page for green cab drivers.