Over the past couple decades, I have often been critical – not only of the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC), but City government itself – for not adequately protecting their licensed, professional drivers. TLC drivers have also seemed like the low-hanging fruit when it comes to generating income for the city through citations and other areas of enforcement.
The current state of the industry – which has obviously been influenced by the Great Recession, the relatively unregulated entry of 100,000+ additional cars to NYC through Uber and Lyft, and Covid – has often seemed dire. But for once, I’m seeing a concerted effort to address many of the issues that have made an already- difficult job even harder, while allowing the people who keep the city moving to earn a decent wage, with some amount of financial stability.
All at once, the city is attempting to reduce outdated fines, improve parking, lower insurance costs, ramp up EV charger installations, protect the privacy of our mostly-immigrant driver force, and direct their efforts towards illegal hustlers, rather than targeting hard-working drivers.
It’s too early to tell if all of the city’s efforts will succeed. The parking situation, in particular, is getting a fair amount of public pushback. However, it’s clear that people are listening and trying to do the right thing.
I recommend keeping an eye on the following proposed legislation and having your voice heard by attending meetings, speaking up and protesting, when necessary.
TLC wants to allow FHV and taxi parking at commercial meters. This rule would allow for-hire vehicles (FHVs) and taxis to park in commercial parking meter areas. “The change would give for-hire vehicle drivers access to approximately 13,000 commercial metered parking spaces throughout New York City and would represent a meaningful and practical improvement to the daily working conditions of for-hire vehicle drivers,” said Ira Goldstein, Executive Director of The New York Black Car Fund (BCF), in testimony to the TLC. “Drivers may spend many hours traveling throughout the city, often far from their homes or operating bases, with very limited options for legally parking when they need to use a bathroom, eat a meal, rest, or address another basic personal need. We support this proposal as we feel that it connects directly with The Black Car Fund’s work to support drivers’ health and well-being.”
TLC is proposing to reduce fines and fees that negatively affect licensees, as well as update and improve Medallion Relief Program rules. In January, Mayor Mamdani issued Executive Order 11, requiring City agencies to review fees and penalties applicable to small businesses and identify andcodifyreformstoreduceunduehardships. The TLC is proposing several changes to benefit drivers: They seek to eliminate the $25 driver license replacement fee; the $50 fine for a lost, stolen, or unreadable license; and the $200 fine imposed on drivers who complete an annual drug test more than 30 days late. They are also looking to eliminate the fines for missed vehicle inspections, while retaining suspensions until compliance.
“By removing fines and fees that do not meaningfully add to compliance, the TLC is not retreating from safety or accountability,” explains the BCF’s Ira Goldstein. “It is improving the way those goals are enforced. Drivers will remain responsible for meeting drug-testing, inspection, and licensing requirements, but they will not be unnecessarily pushed deeper into financial hardship.”
I encourage everyone to read more at https://rules.cityofnewyork.us/proposed-rules/
The Medallion Relief Program Supplemental Loan Deficiency Guaranty. TLC is also proposing further relief to medallion owners seeking medallion loan debt relief through the Medallion Relief Program Supplemental Loan Deficiency Guaranty (MRP+), aimed at supporting the recovering yellow taxicab industry with financial assistance and free legal representation to help negotiate with lenders to reduce loan balances and lower monthly payments. Specifically, the proposed rules would permit the estate of a deceased medallion owner to transfer the medallion(s) to immediate family members upon their death. Members of an existing partnership that owns one or more medallions can also remove a partner from the entity upon mutual agreement by all partners.
TLC’s new enforcement agents will focus on unlicensed and illegal hustlers. Having sworn in 22 new officers, the TLC says enforcement will pivot away from the kinds of traffic stops conducted by the NYPD and instead crack down on unlicensed drivers trying to take advantage of unsuspecting passengers – along with unlicensed apps trying to operate outside of the TLC’s rules and regulations.
TLC press secretary Jason Kersten told The New York Daily News the TLC issued more than 3,500 summonses for unlicensed operations in the first six months of 2026 – compared to 4,369 issued in all of 2025. The agency also seized 73 unlicensed FHVs in the first six months of 2026, up from seven in the first six months of 2025.
NYC to add 600 new curbside EV chargers. Transitioning the entire TLC-regulated fleet to electric vehicles (EVs) seems practically insurmountable but to that end, the city is adding nearly 1,000 new EV charging points across all five boroughs – including 600 curbside chargers – over the next three years.
NY joins lawsuit against feds over drivers’ privacy issues. New York Attorney General Letitia James secured a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from seizing millions of commercial drivers’ personal records. In August, James joined 21 other attorneys general in a suit to stop the federal government from seizing the names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers of 17 million commercial drivers nationwide, including nearly 500,000 New Yorkers. The administration will be kept from seizing the data… at least for now.
As I mentioned above, there are still quite a few obstacles to overcome in the weeks, months and years ahead, but it’s refreshing to at least see some movement in the right direction. Stay tuned!
