Traffic Tickets and TLC Licenses

What is a TLC License?

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) regulates and licenses all of the city’s taxis, for-hire vehicles, commuter vans, and paratransit vehicles in the city. TLC licenses are required for drivers of yellow taxis, green taxis, and for-hire vehicles such as those operating for companies like Uber and Lyft.

Obtaining a TLC license requires completing mandatory training courses, passing specific exams, medical tests, background checks, and various fees. The process is designed to ensure all TLC drivers meet the standard requirements for safely and professionally operating a vehicle. Getting one’s TLC license can be a tedious process and therefore TLC drivers need to protect their licenses as much as possible.

DMV and TLC Tickets

Traffic tickets can severely impact a driver’s TLC license. Depending on the severity of the traffic offense there may be fines, points on a driver’s record, and potentially suspension or revocation of a driver’s TLC license. These can directly affect a TLC driver’s ability to earn a livelihood. Accumulation of points after being convicted of a moving violation or TLC ticket will impact a TLC license. They are both taken into consideration by the TLC when in relation to any suspensions or revocations.

Three significant differences between New York DMV and TLC tickets are:

• DMV tickets are issued by a New York Police Department (NYPD) officer and TLC tickets are issued by a TLC Enforcement Officer.
• New York City DMV tickets are heard in one of the 8 DMV traffic courts throughout the 5 boroughs while TLC tickets are conferenced in the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) Court or heard at the TLC in Long Island City.
• The charges for TLC tickets are often eligible for reductions which can help avoid points. New York City moving violations are not eligible for point reductions. Summonses issued in Long Island, Westchester, Rockland, and throughout NY State are often negotiable.

TLC drivers can also receive tickets for violations that pertain to for-hire vehicle drivers only. Some examples of these specific violations are refusing services to passengers, rudeness to passengers, overcharging, failure to display a TLC license, unauthorized pick-ups, and more.

Whether a driver has received a DMV ticket or a TLC ticket we always recommend fighting the ticket. Accumulating points will affect a TLC license negatively and potentially impact your livelihood.

Points on a TLC License

In New York City traffic tickets carry points based on the severity of the traffic violation. Below are some of the most frequently issued tickets in NYC and the amount of points each ticket may have associated with it:

• Disobey Traffic Device = 2 points
• Improper Turn = 2 points
• NYC Redlight = 3 points
• Failure to Yield to Pedestrian = 3 points
• Speeding = 3-11 points
• Cellphone or Portable Electronic Device = 5 points

As per the Persistent Violator Program (formerly known as the TLC Critical Driver’s Program), a driver who has within a 15-month period accumulated a total of at least six but fewer than ten TLC Points or DMV Points or both combined, counting from the date of conviction, will have such driver’s TLC license suspended for up to 30 days.

Additionally, the TLC will revoke the TLC license of any Driver who has within 15 months accumulated a total of 10 or more TLC Points or DMV Points or both combined, counting from the date of conviction. TLC rules state that drivers whose prior TLC Operator license was revoked under the Critical Driver (“CD”) or Persistent Violator (“PV”) programs CANNOT apply for a new TLC license for 3 years.

Avoiding Suspension or Revocation

Conviction of a traffic violation or multiple violations can result in a driver’s license being suspended or revoked. If your license is suspended or revoked the DMV sends you a notice via mail with more detailed information on the suspension/revocation.

A suspension means your driving privileges are taken away for a certain period of time. The DMV will inform you how long the suspension lasts. Common reasons for suspension or revocation are:

• Operating a vehicle without insurance
• Convicted of an alcohol or drug driving charge
• Accumulation of too many points in an 18-month period
• Three speeding convictions received in an 18-month period

If you received an indefinite suspension the DMV will inform you what steps to take to lift the suspension.

Protect Your License

Experience matters when fighting traffic and TLC tickets in the state of New York. It is important to seek legal representation from an experienced attorney who knows how to protect your license.

Attorney Michael Block has more than 35 years of experience fighting DMV and TLC traffic tickets in the State of New York. If you receive a TLC ticket or one for a moving violation, give yourself the best chance at protecting your license. Contact our office at 212-227-9008 and we will answer any questions about your ticket.