Operations – Passenger and Driver Safety.
35 RCNY § 56-14
in effect§ 56-14 Operations – Passenger and Driver Safety.
(a) [Reserved.]
(b) Reckless Driving Rule. A Driver must not operate a Paratransit Vehicle in a manner or speed that unreasonably endangers users of other vehicles, pedestrians, or the Passengers.
35 RCNY § 56-14(b) Fine: $350 - $1,000 and/or suspension up to 30 days or revocation if Driver is found guilty of having violated this rule more than three times within an 18-month period. Appearance REQUIRED
(c) Report Before Leaving Scene.
(1) A Driver who knows or should have known that a Collision involving the Driver's Paratransit Vehicle resulted in personal injury to another or damage to another's property, must stop before leaving the scene of the Collision, and if the other involved party is present, must:
(i) Show his or her Chauffeur's License, Paratransit Driver's License, and Vehicle License to the party sustaining the damage.
(ii) Give the other involved party his or her name, Chauffeur's License number, the Vehicle owner's name, the affiliated Base name and telephone number, Paratransit Driver's License number, and Vehicle License number, as well as the name of the Vehicle's insurance carrier and the insurance policy number.
35 RCNY § 56-14(c)(1) Fine: $350 and/or suspension up to 30 days or revocation if Driver is found guilty of having violated this rule more than three times within a 12-month period. Appearance REQUIRED
(2) Notify Paratransit Vehicle Owner of Collision. If the Driver is involved in a Collision, the Driver must immediately report the Collision to the owner of the Paratransit Vehicle and to the affiliated Base.
35 RCNY § 56-14(c)(2) Fine: $100 Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(d) Driving While Impaired. A Driver must not operate a Paratransit Vehicle if his or her driving ability is impaired by either alcohol or Drugs. A Driver must not consume alcoholic beverages or Drugs while occupying the vehicle.
35 RCNY § 56-14(d) Fine: $50 - $300 and/or suspension or revocation. Appearance REQUIRED
(e) [Reserved.] TLC can Require Drug Test.
(f) Not Allowed to Drive More than 12 Consecutive Hours. A Driver must not operate a Paratransit Vehicle for more than 12 consecutive hours. If a Driver has accepted a passenger prior to the conclusion of the twelfth hour the Driver can complete that trip provided he or she is able to drive safely.
35 RCNY § 56-14(f) Fine: $25. Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(g) Handling Passengers with Infectious Diseases.
(1) Drivers must obey any Federal, State or City laws and regulations regarding the handling of passengers with infectious diseases. This includes providing passengers with things such as masks and gloves when required.
(2) Drivers must adhere to any Federal, State or City laws and regulations regarding cleaning Paratransit Vehicles after transporting passengers with infectious diseases and the disposal of contaminated materials. It is the responsibility of the owner of the Paratransit Vehicle to provide protective clothing (goggles, gloves, gowns and masks) to any employee who disinfects the vehicle.
(i) The New York State Department of Health has recommended the following as an appropriate disinfectant solution: One (1) part sodium hypochlorite solution (bleach) to nine (9) parts water – fill the bucket with water first and then add the solution.
(ii) If a stretcher is contaminated, it can be cleaned and disinfected by wiping. If it is saturated, however, Drivers (or owners) are required to dispose of it in an appropriate manner. The Driver (or owner) must dispose of any contaminated linen. Note: Dispose of contaminated material by placing the items in a buff-colored impervious plastic bag and seal the bag and tag it as "contaminated" and dispose of the material in the manner approved at a local hospital.
(iii) In the case of gross contamination, where the vehicle is saturated or encrusted, then the vehicle must be sterilized with steam, gas or liquid agents.
35 RCNY § 56-14(g) Fine: $25 - $1,000 possible suspension or revocation (OATH). Appearance REQUIRED
(h) Collision Notification.
(1) A Driver must immediately notify the Vehicle owner if the Driver and the Paratransit Vehicle are involved in a Collision.
(2) A Driver must immediately notify his or her employer of any traffic infraction, Collision or conviction as required in section 509-i of Article 19A of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
35 RCNY § 56-14(h) Fine: $25 - $250 and/or suspension up to 30 days Appearance REQUIRED
(i) Use of an Electronic Communication Device.
(1) A Driver must not Use an Electronic Communication Device while operating a Vehicle. A Driver can Use an Electronic Communication Device only while the Vehicle is lawfully standing or parked.
35 RCNY § 56-14(i)(1) Fine: $250 if plead guilty before a hearing; $350 if found guilty following a hearing. Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(2) In addition to the penalties provided above for any violation of this Rule, a Driver convicted of a violation of this Rule must complete a Distracted Driving Course no later than 60 days after the date of conviction. The license of a Driver who does not complete the Distracted Driving Course within the 60 day period will be suspended until compliance. Penalty: Suspension until compliance if course not completed within 60 days of the date of conviction. The Driver must provide proof that the course was completed.
(3) Affirmative Defense. A Driver can offer an affirmative defense to a charge of Using an Electronic Communication Device under this Rule if all of the following are true:
(i) The communication was to an emergency response operator;
(ii) The communication reports an imminent threat to life or property;
(iii) The Driver could not safely stop the Vehicle to make the report; and
(iv) The Driver provides documentary proof of communication with an emergency response provider.
(j) Serious Crashes. A serious crash is one in which any person has suffered Critical Injury or death. "Critical Injury," for purposes of this section, means any injury determined to be critical by the emergency medical service personnel responding to such crash.
(i) If a Driver has been issued a summons for or charged with one or more traffic related violations or crimes in a Serious Crash, the Driver's License may be Summarily Suspended, upon a finding that the Driver's conduct was a substantial cause of the Serious Crash. Upon conviction of the Driver of one or more of the violations or crimes stated in the summons or charges and upon a determination that one or more of the violations or crimes for which conviction occurred was a cause of Critical Injury or death, the Driver's License will be revoked. A Summary Suspension pursuant to this section may be lifted pursuant to this Title or upon dismissal of all such charges or upon a finding of not guilty of all of the stated traffic related violations and crimes, except that the Chairperson may continue to suspend the license pursuant to an investigation into the Driver's fitness, and such license may be revoked if the Driver is found not Fit to Hold a License (see subdivision (ii)). This section does not limit in any way the Chairperson's authority to Summarily Suspend a Driver for other reasons.
(ii) After any Serious Crash of which the TLC is notified involving a Driver operating a Licensed Vehicle, the TLC will review whether the Driver is Fit to Hold a License under 35 RCNY § 56-08(b). The TLC can seek Suspension or Revocation of the Driver's License and can Summarily Suspend the Driver's License while any fitness review or enforcement action is pending, in accordance with 35 RCNY § 68-15.
(Amended City Record 6/30/2016, eff. 7/30/2016; amended City Record 9/22/2016, eff. 10/22/2016)
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/0-0-0-65978Fetched: 10/24/2026