TLC Updates During COVID-19

During the COVID-19 health crisis, TLC and the City are taking steps to support TLC drivers, vehicle owners and businesses. Below you will find the current status of TLC operations as well as available City resources. The TLC is monitoring the situation and will continue to provide additional support or information as needed. Please follow us on twitter at twitter.com/nyctaxi for the latest updates.

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TLC Vehicles are Essential Services

For-hire yellow taxi, green taxi, FHV, paratransit and commuter van service have been designated as essential services and are exempt from restrictions imposed by the Governor’s March 20, 2020 Executive Order. You may continue driving for hire during this period.

TLC will continue to provide regular updates on this State of Emergency as well as resources available to drivers and all TLC licensees.

TLC Operations

Licensing (Long Island City)
- Office remains open and operational but capacity for in person visits has been reduced.
- Only individuals with existing appointments will continue to be served. Visit NYC TLC Online Appointment System to schedule an appointment.
- Existing appointments: Individuals with existing appointments will continue to be served. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please follow the instructions provided in your appointment confirmation email.
- Online information and transactions: Please contact the TLC online for any of the following information:
  - To check the status of your license, application date, expiration date, upcoming drug tests and other requirements, visit TLC UP 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  - To update your contact information, please visit LARS 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  - Still have questions or need help? TLC staff are available to answer your questions remotely. Please email licensinginquiries@tlc.nyc.gov or call the TLC Call Center 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday:
    - License and application questions: (718) 391-5501
    - Summonses and settlements: (718) 391-5584
Prosecution (Long Island City)
- Hearings: OATH remains open but is rescheduling hearings for anyone who requests a new hearing date. Please visit the OATH website for more information.
- TLC Settlements: Please email all requests for settlements at settlements@tlc.nyc.gov. To reduce the number of people in the waiting room, individuals who appear at TLC’s LIC office seeking a settlement may be asked to return at a different day or time. Prosecution staff are available to handle settlement requests remotely.
Vehicle Inspections (Woodside)
- Vehicle Inspections: TLC’s Woodside Inspection Facility remains open and operational. Owners with existing appointments should appear for their scheduled inspection. Owners with notices of violations should correct the defect and appear for reinspection as directed on the notice.
The TLC's Beaver Street facility is open for appointment visits only.

For-Hire Vehicle Storage Option

Effective immediately the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission will allow For-Hire Vehicle Owners to place their TLC Vehicle License “on-hold” for a period of no more than 90 (ninety) days. The license will be placed on hold through a “storage” process that is outlined below. Visit For-Hire Vehicle Page for latest information.

TLC Driver Food Delivery

Visit the TLC Driver Food Delivery page to learn more about how TLC drivers can earn money while supporting the City´s COVID-19 response.

Resources Available for Drivers, Vehicles Owners and Businesses

Taxi Loan Assistance: Multiple lenders are working with borrowers to lower or stop collecting monthly loan payments. We are encouraging all lenders to take similar action to support taxi owners. Please contact your lender to learn if you are eligible for relief during the health crisis.
City Assistance: Assistance is available for any New Yorker who needs it. Visit the NYC Human Resources Administration website to learn about available assistance.
Worried or Stressed? NYC Well counselors can provide short-term counseling, access to other mental health services, and appointment scheduling assistance in more than 200 languages. Visit NYC Well, text “WELL” to 65173 or call 1-888-NYC-WELL.
Struggling to Pay Bills? Get FREE confidential financial counseling at the NYC Financial Empowerment Center.
Sign Up for Medical Insurance: MetroPlus is the plan of choice for over half a million New Yorkers. In addition to Medicaid Managed Care, MetroPlus offers dozens of quality health plans, including Child Health Plus; several Medicare Plans; a Medicaid Special Needs Plan (SNP).

What you need to know about COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COVID-19 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause mild illnesses like a cold, to more serious illnesses like pneumonia.
Infections with this new virus have been reported in many countries, including the U.S. For an updated list of affected areas, visit cdc.gov/coronavirus.
The virus is likely to be spread from person to person, but it is currently unclear how easily it spreads.
Commonly reported symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
Most people (80%) with COVID-19 will feel like they have a bad cold or the flu. Some people will require hospitalization. People who are at most risk for severe illness are elderly or have other health conditions.

WHAT SHOULD TLC-LICENSED DRIVERS, VEHICLE OWNERS AND OPERATORS DO?

TLC-licensed drivers, vehicle owners and operators should go about their daily lives, but take certain precautions:

IF YOU FEEL SICK, STAY HOME.
TLC-licensed drivers, vehicle owners and operators are encouraged to clean their vehicles at least daily.

Standard cleaning and disinfection products are recommended (e.g. Clorox, Purell, Peroxide multi-purpose cleaner).

- Pay special attention to disinfecting surfaces and objects that are touched often, such as door handles, arm rests, and seatbelts, as appropriate.

COVID-19 is not known to transmit through the air or casual contact, such as riding in the same elevator or car. While not necessary to reduce transmission risk, drivers can consider setting vehicle ventilation to non-recirculated air or opening windows.

Get the flu shot—it’s not too late. Although the flu shot will not protect you from COVID-19, it will help prevent the flu which has similar symptoms to this coronavirus.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands).
Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
If you have fever, cough and/or shortness of breath, and recently traveled to an area with ongoing spread of coronavirus, or have been in close contact with someone who has recently traveled to any of those areas, go to your doctor.
If you have these symptoms, but no travel history, stay home and call your doctor.
If you need connection to a health care provider, call 311.
Hospital staff will not ask about immigration status. Receiving health care is not a public benefit identified by the public charge test.

WHAT SHOULD TLC-LICENSED DRIVERS, VEHICLE OWNERS AND OPERATORS WHO ARE INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS DO TO PROTECT THEMSELVES?

Avoid nonessential travel to affected areas.
Visit cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers for the latest travel health notices.
If you were recently outside of the U.S and do not have a fever, cough and/or shortness of breath go about your daily life but monitor yourself for these symptoms. If they develop go to your doctor.
If you were recently outside of the U.S. and have a fever, cough and/or shortness of breath, go to your doctor.
If you doctor asks you to stay home:
- Avoid going in public or to work until you have been fever-free for at least 72 hours without the use of fever reducing drugs like Tylenol or ibuprofen.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve, not with your hands.
- Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE SEPARATE FACTS FROM FEAR AND GUARD AGAINST STIGMA.

A lot of information circulating about coronavirus on social media and even in some news reporting is not based in the facts.
- Support your friends, neighbors and colleagues by proactively sharing this message and countering misinformation.
- Obtain information about COVID-19 from trusted sources like the NYC Health Department, the CDC, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
If you are being harassed due to your race, nation of origin or other identities, you can report discrimination or harassment to the NYC Commission on Human Rights by calling 311 and saying “human rights.”
If you are experiencing stress or feel anxious, contact NYC Well at 888-NYC-WELL (888-692- 9355) or text WELL to 65173. NYC Well is a confidential help line that is staffed 24/7 by trained counselors who can provide brief supportive therapy, crisis counseling, and connections to behavioral health treatment, in more than 200 languages.

Factsheet

Novel Coronavirus Outbreak Factsheet
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