Vehicle – Equipment.
35 RCNY § 59B-31
in effect§ 59B-31 Vehicle – Equipment.
A Base Owner must not dispatch a Vehicle from its Base unless the Vehicle is in compliance with all of the following requirements.
(a) Roof Light. A Base Owner must not dispatch a For-Hire Vehicle that is equipped with a roof light, unless the vehicle falls under one of the following categories:
(i) Staten Island Vehicles: The Vehicle operates primarily in Staten Island and is affiliated with a Base located in Staten Island. A roof light on a Staten Island Vehicle must meet the specifications in the definition of "roof light" in these rules; or
35 RCNY § 59B-31(a)(i) Fine: $350 – first violation $500 – second violation in 24 months Revocation for third violation in 36 months Appearance REQUIRED
(ii) Street Hail Livery Vehicles: The Vehicle is a Street Hail Livery. A Street Hail Livery vehicle must be equipped with a roof light meeting the requirements of 35 RCNY § 82-52.
35 RCNY § 59B-31(a)(ii) Fine: $100 Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(b) Taximeter. A Base Owner must not dispatch a For-Hire Vehicle that is equipped with a taximeter. Exception: A Street Hail Livery must be equipped with a taximeter. See 35 RCNY § 59B-51.
35 RCNY § 59B-31(b) Fine: $50 Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(c) Distress Signal Light – Livery Vehicle.
(1) Requirement. A Base Owner must not dispatch a Livery Vehicle unless it is equipped with a help or distress signaling light system meeting the specifications in 35 RCNY § 59C-03.
(2) Exemption. Vehicles affiliated only with a Black Car Base or a Luxury Limousine Base are not subject to this requirement.
(3) Requirement. A Base Owner must not dispatch a Livery Vehicle unless it is equipped with a help or distress signaling light system meeting the specifications in 35 RCNY § 59C-03.
35 RCNY § 59B-31(c) Fine: $175 and suspension of the vehicle license until the condition is corrected. Respondent must provide a condition corrected form issued by the TLC's Safety and Emissions Division. Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(d) Electronic Dispatching Device. A Base Owner must not dispatch a For-Hire Vehicle that is equipped with more than the number of electronic devices used to accept dispatches from a Base allowed under 35 RCNY § 59A-31(e).
35 RCNY § 59B-31(f)* Fine: $50 Appearance NOT REQUIRED
* Editor's note: the reference is presented here exactly as promulgated by TLC.
(Amended City Record 6/29/2015, eff. 7/29/2015; amended City Record 12/9/2020, eff. 1/8/2021)
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/0-0-0-69514Fetched: 10/24/2026