TLC RULES PROHIBITING "CROSS-CLASS DISPATCHING" ARE NOW IN EFFECT

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) reminds its licensees that the changes to the FHV Dispatch Rules adopted by the Commission at the November 20, 2014 meeting are now in effect. Beginning December 31, 2014, FHV Bases are only permitted to dispatch FHVs of the same class of service as the Dispatching Base. For example, a Black Car Base is only permitted to dispatch a Black Car, and a Livery Base is only permitted to dispatch a Livery Vehicle.

Updated requirements for bases that dispatch FHVs affiliated with a different base are also in effect. If a base dispatches an FHV that is affiliated with a different base, the Dispatching Base is required to always provide the customer with the following information:

- the Base Name of the Dispatching Base,
- the Base License Number of the Dispatching Base,
- the Base Name of the Affiliated Base, and
- the Base License Number of the Affiliated Base.

The base must clearly identify which base is the Dispatching Base and which base is the Affiliated Base. This information must be provided in all communications with the customer, and in any materials or receipts provided to the customer. Failure of the base to disclose this information to the passenger may result in a penalty of up to $400.

Additionally, the Dispatching Base is the base that is responsible for ensuring that vehicles have complied with TLC’s inspection requirements for all trips that they dispatch.

The FHV Dispatch Rules adopted by the Commission also require that FHV Bases regularly submit trip records to the TLC. TLC has been meeting with industry members to determine how best to begin collecting these records. Further information on how to comply with the trip record requirement will be provided in a future Industry Notice.