Vehicles – Markings & Advertising.
35 RCNY § 59B-29
in effect§ 59B-29 Vehicles – Markings & Advertising.
A Base Owner must not dispatch a Vehicle unless the Vehicle complies with the following requirements.
(a) Valid License Decals.
(1) Three Valid Commission License Decals must be plainly visible and affixed to the Vehicle in the following locations:
(i) One Decal must be on the lower front right side of the windshield.
(ii) One Decal must be on the lower rear corner of each of the two rear quarter windows; if there are no rear quarter windows, the Decals must be on the lower rear window just above the rear door.
(iii) The Decals must be affixed by Commission staff.
(2) When the Vehicle License is renewed or when the Vehicle is replaced, changes affiliation, or changes its license plates, the Vehicle must be brought to the Commission Safety and Emissions Division to have new Decals placed on the Vehicle.
(3) Exception for Luxury Limousines. Any For-Hire Vehicle that is a Luxury Limousine will only be required to have a single Commission Decal affixed to the lower right side of the front windshield.
35 RCNY § 59B-29(a) Failure to have proper Decals: $500 for the first offense in 12 months; $1,000 for the second and subsequent offenses within a 12-month period. Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(b) Valid Registration Sticker. A valid registration sticker from an authorized state motor Vehicle department must be affixed to the left front windshield so as to be plainly visible.
35 RCNY § 59B-29(b) Fine: $100 Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(c) Inspection Sticker. A Valid New York State DMV inspection sticker that has at least eight months left before the sticker expires must be clearly visible on the left side of the front windshield.
35 RCNY § 59B-29(c) Base Owner Fine: $350 Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(d) Taxicab Yellow Prohibited. No part of a For-Hire Vehicle can be painted any shade of Taxicab yellow.
35 RCNY § 59B-29(d) Fine: $350 for the first violation; $500 for the second violation in 24 months; Revocation for the third violation in 36 months Appearance REQUIRED
(e) Prohibited Advertising.
(1) A Vehicle must not display advertising on the outside or the inside unless the Commission has authorized the advertising and has given the Vehicle Owner a permit specifying that the advertising complies with the Administrative Code.
(2) The Commission will not approve any roof top advertising for For-Hire Vehicles, except for Street Hail Liveries.
(3) Street Hail Liveries: Optional Rooftop Advertising Fixture.
(i) A Street Hail Livery Licensee may equip a Taxicab with an authorized Rooftop Advertising Fixture in accordance with 35 RCNY § 82-63.
(4) A Vehicle must not display or attempt to display any interior advertising unless the advertising has been authorized by the Commission and a License has been issued to the Interior Advertising Provider in accordance with the provisions of Subchapter 59E of 35 RCNY Chapter 59.
35 RCNY § 59B-29(e) Fine: $100 if plead guilty before a hearing; $200 if found guilty following a hearing. Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(f) Motor Vehicle Tax Stamp.
(1) For Vehicles registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles before April 30, 1999, a Valid NYC commercial use motor vehicle tax stamp must be affixed to the front right side of the windshield of the Vehicle and clearly visible.
(2) For Vehicles registered after April 30, 1999, the Owner must show proof that the required commercial use motor vehicle tax for the current tax period has been paid.
35 RCNY § 59B-29(f) Fine: $100 Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(g) Livery Base Station Affiliation Signs. A For-Hire Livery Vehicle must identify its affiliated Base Station on the outside of the Vehicle as follows:
(1) The name of the Base Station, its License number and telephone number in one of the following ways:
(i) In letters and numerals at least one-and-one-half inches in height, on the outside of a door or doors on both sides of the Vehicle, below the windows and at least six inches above the bottom of the door(s);
(ii) In letters and numerals at least one inch in height in one location on the rear of the Vehicle below the rear window, and at least six inches above the bottom of the rear of the Vehicle, or
(iii) Both on the doors and rear of the Vehicle.
(2) The letters and numerals must be of a color that contrasts with the color of the body of the Vehicle so that it is easy to see and read.
(3) Lettering and numbering must be spaced to provide easy legibility and, if placed on doors on both sides of the Vehicle must be identical on both sides of the livery.
(4) All Decals must be semi-permanent adhesive stickers.
(5) Exemption. Luxury Limousines and Black Cars are exempt from the requirements of this subdivision.
35 RCNY § 59B-29(g) Fine: $25 Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(h) Required Signage for Accessible Vehicles. Any Accessible Vehicle licensed by the Commission must display signs that identify the Vehicle as an Accessible Vehicle. The signs design will be provided by the Commission on its Web site or through other appropriate means as announced on its Web site. The signs must be placed on the Vehicle as follows:
(1) Must be located on the exterior of the C-pillars of a sedan or an SUV or on the exterior of the D-pillars of a minivan, on both sides of the Vehicle.
(2) Must be visible to Passengers entering the Accessible Vehicle.
35 RCNY § 59B-29(h) Fine: $75 Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(i) Required Signage for Clean-Air Vehicles. Any Clean Air For-Hire Vehicle licensed by the Commission must display signs that identify the Vehicle as a Clean Air Vehicle. The signs design will be provided by the Commission on its Web site or through other appropriate means as announced on its Web site. The signs must be placed on the Vehicle as follows:
(1) Must be located on the exterior of the C-pillars of a sedan or an SUV or on the exterior of the D-pillars of a minivan, on both sides of the Vehicle.
(2) Must be visible to Passengers entering the Clean Air Vehicle.
35 RCNY § 59B-29(i) Fine: $75 Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(j) Markings – Special Requirements for Street Hail Liveries.
(1) Street Hail Liveries must comply with the markings requirements of 35 RCNY § 82-33.
(2) A Street Hail Livery Base must not permit a Street Hail Livery affiliated with it to operate unless it has the proper markings.
35 RCNY § 59B-29(j)(2) Fine: $100 Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(k) Color – Special Requirements for Street Hail Liveries.
(1) The exterior of the Street Hail Livery vehicle must be painted Street Hail Livery color to be designated, except for the trim. The specifications for Street Hail Livery color to be designated will be posted on the Commission's Web site.
(2) A Street Hail Livery Base must not permit a Street Hail Livery affiliated with it to operate unless it is painted as required by this section.
35 RCNY § 59B-29(k)(2) Fine: $100 Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(l) Required Sticker. Each For hire-vehicle must display an internal safety sticker, with the following inscription: "Turning? People are Crossing." The dimensions of the sticker are 3.5 inches wide by 2.5 inches high. The sticker must be obtained pursuant to the instructions on the Commission's website or through other appropriate means announced on the website. If displayed, the sticker must be placed in the Vehicle as follows:
(1) On the inside of the front windshield, in the center and adjacent to the top of the windshield directly behind the rearview mirror.
(2) In such a manner not to obstruct the driver's view.
35 RCNY § 59B-29(l)(1) and (2) Fine: $75 Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(m) Optional Sticker. For hire-vehicles may display an optional external sticker, with the following inscription: "The choices you make behind the wheel matter." The dimensions of the sticker are 15 inches wide by 4 inches wide. The sticker may be obtained pursuant to the instructions on the Commission's website or through other appropriate means announced on the website. If displayed, the sticker must be placed on the Vehicle as follows:
(1) On the rear bumper of the vehicle.
(n) Required Sticker. Each For Hire-Vehicle must display an internal safety sticker, with the following inscription: "ATTENTION: Assaulting A Driver Is Punishable By Up to Twenty-Five Years in Prison." The dimensions of the sticker are 8.0 inches wide by 2.0 inches high. The sticker must be obtained pursuant to the instructions on the Commission's website or through other appropriate means announced on the website. The sticker must be placed in the Vehicle as follows:
(1) Incorporated into the Livery Bill of Rights.
The provisions of this subdivision do not apply to black cars and luxury limousines.
35 RCNY § 59B-29(n)(1) Fine: $50 if plead guilty before a hearing, $75 if found guilty following a hearing Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(o) Optional Sticker. Each For Hire-Vehicle may display an external safety sticker, with the following inscription: "Taxi and Limousine Drivers Are Protected By New York State Law ATTENTION: Assaulting A Driver Is Punishable By Up to Twenty-Five Years in Prison." The dimensions of the sticker are 3.5 inches wide by 3.5 inches high. The sticker may be obtained pursuant to the instructions on the Commission's website or through other appropriate means announced on the website. The sticker must be placed in the Vehicle as follows:
(1) On a rear passenger window.
(p) Required Decal. Each For-Hire Vehicle with Hearing Induction Loop capability must display a Hearing Induction Loop Decal. The decal will feature the International Symbol of Access for Hearing Loss, described as the profile of an ear with a wide diagonal line running from the bottom left to the top right. The symbol contrast shall be light on dark or dark on light. A "T" will be placed in the lower right-hand corner of the decal. The decal will be placed as follows:
(1) As directed by the Chairperson.
35 RCNY § 59B-29(p)(1) Fine: $50 if plead guilty before a hearing, $75 if found guilty following a hearing Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(q) Required Decal. Each For-Hire Vehicle must display decals provided by the Commission warning passengers to look for cyclists before opening the door. Such decals must be placed on the inside of both rear passenger doors.
35 RCNY § 59B-29(q) Fine: $50 if plead guilty before a hearing; $75 if found guilty following a hearing. No penalty for missing decal if condition is corrected within 10 days Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(Amended City Record 1/28/2016, eff. 2/27/2016; amended City Record 2/4/2025, eff. 3/6/2025; amended City Record 9/25/2025, eff. 10/25/2025)
Source: City of New York, Charter, Administrative Code and Rules (American Legal Publishing XML export, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCrules/0-0-0-69425Fetched: 10/24/2026