§ 59B-18 Operations – Owners' Responsibilities with Respect to Drivers.
RCNY § 59
(a)Create and Enforce Good Conduct Rules.
(1)A Base Owner must create, maintain and enforce rules governing the conduct of affiliated Drivers while performing their duty as For-Hire Vehicle Drivers.
(2)These rules must be submitted in writing to the Commission within seven days of their creation (not including holidays and weekends) and whenever these rules are updated or amended. 35 RCNY § 59B-18(a)Fine: $25 - $100Appearance REQUIRED (b) Rules for Conduct in Area Surrounding the Base.
(3)For the purposes of this subdivision, "restricted area" is defined as all public streets and sidewalks located on either side of the Base's street or within the city block front where the Base is located, including both sides of the street on which the Base is located.
(4)In the "restricted area," "Base personnel" must not do any of the following: (i) Double park.
(ii)Park on the sidewalk.
(iii)Park across a driveway.
(iv)Park by or at a fire hydrant or bus stop.
(v)Park, stop, or stand in any manner that violates the Vehicle and Traffic Laws of the State of New York and the New York City Traffic Rules.
(vi)Do mechanical maintenance or make repairs on any Vehicle, except to emergency repairs that are necessary to move a disabled Vehicle (Examples of disabling conditions: a dead battery or a flat tire). 35 RCNY § 59B-18(b)(1)-(4)Fine: $50 for first occasion; $100 - $250 for the second and subsequent occasions; non-renewal of Base License for violations on six dates within 12 monthsAppearance REQUIRED (5) A Base Owner must ensure that "Base personnel" obey all applicable traffic and parking regulations within the "restricted area". 35 RCNY § 59B-18(b)(5)Fine: $50Appearance REQUIRED (6) A Base Owner must ensure that "Base personnel" do not create a nuisance such as engaging in unnecessary horn honking, littering, or playing loud audio material within the "restricted area". 35 RCNY § 59B-18(b)(6)Fine: $50Appearance REQUIRED (c) Special Requirements for Street Hail Liveries: Credit Cards for Hail Trips.
(e)Limits on Hours of Driving.
(i)Generally. A Base or Associated Base must not dispatch a Driver to transport any Passenger(s) for hire in excess of the daily and weekly limits detailed in this subdivision. A. Daily and weekly driving hours will be calculated by adding up the time that passengers are being transported for hire. Time between trips will not be counted as driving hours. B. If any time exceeds the daily limit and serves as the basis for a violation of the daily limit, such time cannot also be counted toward a violation of the weekly limit. C. It is a defense to a violation of the limits set forth in this subdivision that any such limit was exceeded because of a single trip that began before the limit was reached.
(8)Collective Bargaining Exception. The provisions of this subdivision do not apply to Bases and Drivers whose business relationship is governed by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement.
(g)Vehicle Leases. Any Vehicle lease agreement entered into between a Base and Driver must comply with all provisions of 35 RCNY § 59A-21. Failure to comply with any provision of 35 RCNY § 59A-21 shall subject the Base to the penalties contained therein. 35 RCNY § 59B-18(g)Fine: Penalties as set forth in 35 RCNY § 59A-21.Appearance REQUIRED (h) Business Requirements – Nondiscrimination. No Base may discriminate against or impose any negative consequences on a Driver based on whether or not the Driver chooses to operate a For-Hire Vehicle with an Interior Advertising System, or based on the brand or affiliation of the Interior Advertising System. Negative consequences and/or discrimination include but are not limited to: deactivating the Driver, reducing the compensation provided to the Driver, either directly or indirectly through manipulating the number or type of rides assigned to the Driver, or disciplinary action. 35 RCNY § 59B-18(h)Penalty: First Violation: $1,000 fine Second Violation: $1,000 and/or Suspension for up to 30 days. Appearance NOT REQUIRED (Amended City Record 9/20/2016, eff. 10/20/2016; amended City Record 2/13/2017, eff. 3/15/2017; amended City Record 10/12/2018, eff. 11/11/2018; amended City Record 12/11/2018, eff. 1/10/2019; amended City Record 12/9/2020, eff. 1/8/2021; amended City Record 6/30/2021, eff. 7/30/2021; amended City Record 3/13/2023, eff. 3/13/2023; amended City Record 2/4/2025, eff. 3/6/2025)
