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FHV Trip Mandate Rule – Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the Trip Mandate Rule?

The Trip Mandate Rule requires that bases dispatch a certain percent of their total trips to a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV), regardless if the passenger specifically requested it.

Bases will be required to meet the following metrics:

The Dispatchers will be required to meet the following metrics for both on-demand and reservation-based trips.

Evaluation Period	Minimum Percent
January 2019 - June 2019	5%
July 2019 – June 2020	10%
July 2020 – June 2021	15%
July 2021 – June 2022	20%
July 2022 and beyond	25%

How do I become a part of this rule?

All bases are subject to the Trip Mandate Rule, unless they enroll in the Central Dispatch Exception.

If my base doesn’t receive any requests for WAVs, am I still required to dispatch trips to WAVs?

Yes, you must meet the minimum amount percent of trips in a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV), whether or not passengers request it.

Do I need to affiliate Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles?

No, you do not have to affiliate Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV) to meet the minimum percentage requirement.

Can I contract with another base to meet the requirement?

No, the Trip Mandate Rule requires each base to send a minimum percentage of their trips directly to WAVs. You can however, dispatch trips to vehicles not affiliated with your base.

What is the penalty for failing to meet this rule?

A base could be subject to a $50 fine for every 100 trips by which the base missed the minimum percentage.

Example:

If a base dispatches 10,000 trips between July 2019 and June 2020, it is subject to the 10% trip mandate and is required to have dispatched 1,000 of those trips to a WAV. If the base only 900 of those trips to a WAV, then it was 100 trips below the requirement. The fine would be $50.

If a base dispatches 10,000 trips between July 2020 and June 2021, it is subject to the 15% trip mandate and is required to have dispatched 1,500 of those trips to a WAV. If the base only dispatched 500 of those trips to a WAV, then it was 1,000 trips below the requirement. The fine would be $500.

Are there additional requirements for affiliated bases?

No. Bases are still required to submit trip records.

Please visit the FHV Trip Record Submission page for more information regarding trip records.

What vehicles qualify as a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV)?

Any vehicle may quality, as long as it is licensed as a For-Hire Vehicle (FHV) by the Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) and pass the TLC’s WAV inspection.

The TLC WAV inspection includes an inspection of the rear or side entry, working condition of the ramp, appropriate securement system, and anti-slip flooring. For examples of WAVs commonly used in the FHV market, see the list of WAVs approved for use as taxis.

Does this new rule apply to luxury limousine bases?

Yes, all bases are subject to For-Hire Vehicle accessibility rules, including the Trip Mandate Rule, or Central Dispatch Exception, depending on which rule structure the base chooses. This includes livery, black car, and luxury limousine bases.

Can I charge more for WAV trips?

No, you cannot charge more for WAV trips. Doing so is in violation of TLC rules and could be subject to penalty. If you suspect that a base or driver is overcharging for WAV trips, contact 311.