§ 53-10 Driver Duties Regarding Passengers Who Use Wheelchairs and Passengers with Other Disabilities.
RCNY § 53-10
(a)Assisting the Passenger. An Approved Driver (1) Must assist a passenger who uses a wheelchair or a passenger with other disabilities when: (i) Entering the vehicle from the sidewalk; and (ii) Exiting from the vehicle to the curbside.
(2)Must secure passenger with a disability and their mobility device within the Vehicle. 35 RCNY § 53-10(a)Fine: $50 and suspension if plead guilty before a hearing; $150 if found guilty following a hearing and suspension. The suspension is deferred for 60 days; if the Driver completes the Vision Zero and Accessibility Remedial course within the 60-day period the Driver will not be suspended. Appearance NOT REQUIRED (b) Packages. An Approved Driver must place the packages and parcels in the Vehicle and secure them and must retrieve them for the Passenger at the end of the trip upon request. 35 RCNY § 53-10(b)Fine: $50 and suspension if plead guilty before a hearing; $150 if found guilty following a hearing and suspension. The suspension is deferred for 60 days if the Driver completes the Vision Zero and Accessibility Remedial course within the 60-day period, the Driver will not be suspended. Appearance NOT REQUIRED (c) Service Animal(s) and Companions. An Approved Driver must accept and provide transportation in the Accessible Taxicab for a Service Animal(s) of a passenger with a disability and for as many companions as can be legally seated in the vehicle. 35 RCNY § 53-10(c)Fine: Mandatory penalties as set forth in 35 RCNY § 80-02(e).Appearance NOT REQUIRED (d) Waiting for the Passenger with a disability. An Approved Driver who has accepted a dispatch must wait for the Passenger with a disability to appear curbside at the pick up point for at least ten minutes after the time of arrival reported by the Driver for on-demand trips, and at least ten minutes after the scheduled pickup time indicated by the Dispatcher for advance reservation trips. 35 RCNY § 53-10(d)Fine: $50 and suspension if plead guilty before a hearing; $150 if found guilty following a hearing, and suspension. The suspension is deferred for 60 days if the Driver completes the Vision Zero and Accessibility Remedial course within the 60-day period the Driver will not be suspended. Appearance NOT REQUIRED (e) Notice to Accessible Taxi Dispatcher. An Approved Driver who has accepted a dispatch must notify the Accessible Taxi Dispatcher in the proper manner: (1) What time the driver has arrived at the pickup location, and what time the meter was turned on; (2) Whether the Driver has picked up any Passengers; (3) If the Passenger did not show, what time the Vehicle left the location; and (4) When the trip is completed. 35 RCNY § 53-10(e)Fine: $50Appearance NOT REQUIRED (f) Assist with payment. Upon a Passenger's request, the Driver must assist Passenger with completing payment, such as helping the Passenger to access the credit card reader and counting cash aloud. 35 RCNY § 53-10(f)Fine: $50Appearance NOT REQUIRED (Amended City Record 12/15/2016, eff. 1/14/2017; amended City Record 12/9/2020, eff. 1/8/2021; amended City Record 6/20/2024, eff. 7/20/2024)
