In 2022, as New York City policymakers worked to assist businesses impacted by COVID-19 recovery, the Livery Roundtable (LRT) and the Livery Base Owners Association (LBOA) reached out to the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC), urging the agency to allow drivers who lost their for-hire vehicle (FHV) licenses due to the pandemic the opportunity to renew them. According to the LRT, the TLC said a renewal application constituted a “new” license and these drivers were barred from renewal by the city’s moratorium on new FHV licenses.
The LRT and LBOA met with Senator Luis Sepúlveda and Assembly member Kenny Burgos in 2023. Both legislators drafted and sponsored their own COVID-19 For-Hire Vehicle Recovery Act bills, which would require the City to allow FHV drivers who lost their license during Covid-19 to renew with no restrictions – meaning they would not be forced to change vehicles or eliminate geographic areas of operation. Shortly thereafter, the city promised to help the livery sector administratively, according to the LRT.
Next up was the livery industry’s outdated in-vehicle camera rule. According to the LRT, TLC commissioners were asked to amend the rigid camera requirements forcing livery drivers to purchase overly expensive, outdated cameras. When nothing concrete was done, livery industry leaders headed to Albany, where they garnered support from Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar and Senator Roxanne J. Persaud, who “worked tirelessly, moving their bills through the various committees and bringing them to the ‘ready-to-be-voted-on’ bill status.”
After passing the Senate, a House bill was poised to pass when the LRT said they received a letter from the TLC affirming the agency’s intention to eliminate the in-vehicle camera requirement for liveries (not including SHLs). Those wishing to install a camera for their safety can do so with no specific requirements.
Source: Livery Roundtable
