In an effort to protect the rights of drivers, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) approved changes to its driver pay rules on November 15, 2022, raising the minimum rates of pay for drivers working for High-Volume For-Hire Services. The increased minimum pay rates were scheduled to take effect on December 19, 2022.

However, on January 6, 2023, a judge struck down TLC’s proposed pay rate increase for drivers of High-Volume For-Hire Services (Lyft and Uber), as a result of legal action initiated by Uber. This means that the current minimum pay rates, available on TLC’s website, will remain in effect until further notice.

TLC firmly believes that drivers should be paid fairly for their work and is carefully reviewing the judge’s written decision. The agency will continue to do what is within its legal authority to protect this important pay standard. Despite this setback, TLC remains committed to ensuring that drivers are treated fairly and will take all necessary steps to achieve this goal.

This decision highlights the ongoing struggle for fair pay and working conditions for drivers of high-volume for-hire services such as Uber and Lyft. It also raises questions about the role of the TLC in regulating the pay and working conditions of these drivers. The agency will continue to review the situation and take action as appropriate.

In the meantime, drivers are advised to check the TLC website for updates on the minimum pay rates and any other relevant information. The TLC encourages drivers to contact them with any questions or concerns about their pay and working conditions.

It’s important to note that this court ruling might only affect New York City and not in the whole country. However, it brings attention to the ongoing struggle for fair pay and working conditions for drivers of high-volume for-hire services such as Uber and Lyft.

It is not uncommon for people to obscure their license plate numbers in order to protect their privacy or avoid being tracked by law enforcement or other parties. This can be done using a variety of methods, such as using a license plate cover, a frame that covers part of the plate, or even spray-painting the plate.

However, it is important to note that obscuring a license plate is generally not legal in most states, including New York. This is because the license plate must be clearly visible at all times in order to facilitate the identification of vehicles for law enforcement and other purposes. Obscuring a license plate can result in fines and other legal consequences, and in some cases, the police may even impound the vehicle if the license plate is not visible.

Despite these risks, some people continue to obscure their license plate numbers in order to protect their privacy or avoid being tracked. It is important to weigh the potential benefits and risks of obscuring a license plate before taking this action. If you are considering obscuring your license plate, it is a good idea to check with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to understand the specific laws and regulations in your area.

In the state of New York, it is generally not legal to obscure or cover up any part of a license plate, including the numbers and letters, with any material that makes it difficult to read the plate. This includes using a license plate cover, a frame that covers part of the plate, or any other material that obstructs the view of the plate.

The license plate must be clearly visible at all times and must be kept clean and legible. It must be displayed on the front and back of the vehicle and must be issued by the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

There may be some exceptions to this rule for certain types of vehicles, such as historical vehicles or vehicles that are used in parades or other special events. In these cases, a temporary cover or frame may be allowed, as long as it does not obstruct the view of the plate. However, it is important to check with the DMV before using any type of cover or frame on a license plate in New York.

Obscuring a license plate can have serious consequences, including fines and points on your driver’s license. If you are caught obscuring a license plate, you may be ticketed and required to pay a fine. In some cases, the police may even impound your vehicle if the license plate is not visible.

“MTA and law enforcement agencies announced Friday, May 20, 2022, that they are cracking down on motorists who use fake, obscured, or covered license plates to avoid paying tolls.

The collaborative effort aims to combat deliberate attempts to prevent tolling cameras from identifying license plates through increased enforcement and by sharing information and best practices to identify bad actors on the road.

The coordinated law enforcement effort aims to not only crack down on the evasion of tolls through forged or obstructed license plates but to curtail motorists who use similar deceptive tactics to hide more serious crimes and to evade speed and red-light cameras across the region.”

It is important to follow the laws regarding license plates in New York to avoid any legal issues. If you have any questions about the legality of a license plate in New York, it is a good idea to contact the DMV for more information. A more detailed article regarding to penalties and cost to the drivers incurring in this practice is here.

 

There has been a noticeable increase in reckless driving on the streets since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people seem to have lost their respect for traffic laws, with some disregarding stop signs and red lights. Even the car belonging to Selvena Brooks-Powers, the chair of New York City’s transportation committee, has received multiple tickets for speeding in school zones. Since taking office in March 2021, the car has received a total of 34 tickets and has been linked to over $2,000 in fines and penalties. The owner of the car may be required to take a driver safety course or risk having their wheels impounded. It is unclear how often Brooks-Powers herself drives the car.

The car belonging to Selvena Brooks-Powers, the chair of New York City’s transportation committee, has received a significant number of speeding tickets. This has triggered the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement law, which was implemented in 2020. According to this law, the owners of cars with more than 15 speed camera violations or 5 red light camera violations within any 12-month period are required to take a safety course. If the owner does not complete the safety course within 30 days of receiving a notice, the car will be seized by the city sheriff’s office.

It is unclear if the owner of Brooks-Powers’ car has received such a notice or how often she personally drives the car. However, a spokesperson for Brooks-Powers claimed that she only uses the car “occasionally.” Despite her statement in April that she would “slow down,” the car has continued to receive multiple speeding tickets, including 29 in school zones.

In August, a state law expanded the city’s speed camera program to allow for the automatic issuance of tickets 24/7. Data from the city Department of Transportation shows that this shift has helped discourage reckless driving, with the number of monthly speeding violations issued by the cameras falling by 25% from August to November. Danny Harris, the executive director of the street safety advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, emphasized the importance of responsible driving in order to prevent harm to families. He stated, “Whether you think it’s OK to speed or be distracted, or to turn your attention away from the road, the realities are that families are being impacted forever. Your actions behind the wheel matter.”

 

Pedestrianization of streets can have a number of benefits, including improving safety for pedestrians, encouraging more walking and physical activity, and potentially reducing air pollution and noise. It can also potentially create more space for outdoor dining, retail, and other activities that support local businesses and contribute to the vibrancy of a community.
However, it is important to carefully consider the potential impacts and unintended consequences of any policy change. For example, reducing the number of lanes for automobiles could potentially lead to increased traffic congestion and delays. It is also important to ensure that the needs of all road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers, are taken into account and that appropriate accommodations are made.

Benefits:
• Improved safety: Pedestrianization can reduce the number of conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians, which can improve safety for both groups. This is particularly important in areas with high pedestrian volumes, such as near schools, parks, and retail areas.
• Health benefits: Walking is a healthy and low-impact form of physical activity. Encouraging more walking by creating a pedestrian-friendly environment can help increase overall physical activity levels, which can have a number of health benefits.
• Environmental benefits: Pedestrianization can potentially reduce air pollution and noise, as vehicles emit less pollution when they are traveling at lower speeds or not traveling at all.
• Economic benefits: Pedestrianization can potentially create more space for outdoor dining, retail, and other activities that support local businesses and contribute to the vibrancy of a community. This can also attract more visitors and tourists to the area.
Considerations:
• Traffic congestion: Reducing the number of lanes for automobiles could potentially lead to increased traffic congestion and delays. It may be necessary to consider alternative routing or transportation options to mitigate these impacts.
• Accessibility: It is important to ensure that pedestrianization does not create barriers or challenges for individuals with disabilities or mobility issues. This may require the implementation of additional accommodations, such as ramps or accessible crossings.
• Emergency response: It is important to consider how pedestrianization may impact the ability of emergency vehicles to access and navigate an area. This may require the implementation of measures such as designated emergency lanes or the ability to temporarily lift pedestrianization restrictions in the event of an emergency.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) announced in its newsletter that Starting May 18, 2020, it will issue a new design for TLC driver’s licenses. This change It is done to streamline the driver license renewal and application processes, allowing TLC to reduce the time it takes to print and mail a TLC license. In principle, only New York State drivers will be licensed with the new design when their current license expires.

The current TLC driver’s license is still valid. The New York State licensed drivers with current design They will receive a license with the new design when they renew their license. TLC will continue to issue licenses in the current format to non-New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) license holders until further notice.
For more information on the new driver’s license from the TLC, visit the website

Everyone who is eligible for a economic impact payment , the IRS lets you track the status of your check through its “Get My Payment” web page. Due to high traffic on the IRS page, you may see a message that you have to wait before you can access the site.

Visit the IRS’ Get My Payment page and click on the link Get My Payment button to check the status of your economic impact payment. On the next page about authorized use, click OK.

After access the Get My Payment page, enter your social security number (SSN) or individual tax ID (ITIN), your date of birth on the format suggested, your street address and your ZIP or postal code. Then Tap Continue and that’s it.

Next page will show your payment status, whether it has been scheduled or if the service is still unable to determine your status. If you haven’t set up direct deposit with the IRS, the service can guide you through those steps so that your check is sent directly to your bank account. If you want to know how to set up direct deposit visit the non-filers IRS web page.

Due Covid-19 pandemic, all sector of the economic has been affected and the Taxi Services is one of them. Even Though this service have been cataloged as essential service, demand of taxis on New York city has gone down closer 10 percent. Sometime drivers has to wait at least one hour or more to receive a call. Much of Taxi Services companies and Yellow cabs have reduce the quantity of car available for pick up. Many Drivers have embrace “Stay at Home policy” to avoid contagious and cooperate with authorities on this fight against Coronavirus.

In response to the COVID-19 Crisis, Drivers of Uber, Lyft and other FHV will receive benefits for unemployment. This group can start applaying now. Yellow cab lease and owner drivers, benefits will begin after New York State setup a especial program form independent contractors called “Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)”. Such program will grants
and additional $600 above the weekly New York State unemployment rate and you are eligible to receive it every week until July 31st.

• Apply online at labor.ny.gov/signin.
• Apply by phone by calling 1-888-209-8124
• Click here to download a flowchart of the application process
• Click here for a factsheet from the NYS Department of Labor

Applying for unemployment does not disqualify you from the stimulus check. We will be sharing more information on the latest federal stimulus package in the coming days. If you live out of state but work in New York, you should apply for unemployment in New York state. All rideshare and taxi drivers–even those outside New York–should look into unemployment benefits.

This information was extracted and updated from a email send by TLC External Affairs on April 20, 2020. To keep posted of new updates, please visit New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) website or NYTWA, including when and how to apply, see the resources here.