What's happening
The bill allows commuter vans in New York City to accept street hails from passengers, amending existing restrictions.
Why it matters
Expands transportation options. for New Yorkers, especially in areas underserved by traditional taxis or public transit, by letting commuter vans legally pick up passengers on the street, not just through prearrangement.
Potentially increases competition. among transportation providers, which could lower prices or improve service but might also impact existing taxi and for-hire vehicle businesses, especially those reliant on street hails.
May improve accessibility. for riders who don’t have smartphones or credit cards needed for ride-hailing apps, since they can now flag down commuter vans like they would a taxi.
Could raise regulatory and safety concerns. as increased street hails might complicate enforcement around licensing, insurance, and passenger safety standards for commuter vans.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Commuter Vans Take Hails
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to cities
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Let Vans Pick Up Riders
In Assembly Committee · Cities · Sponsor N. Nick Perry
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6621
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 7, 2017
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to allowing commuter vans to accept hails from prospective passengers in the street; and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating thereto
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision p of section 19-502 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 115 of the city of New York for the year 1993, is amended to read as follows:
p. "Commuter van" means a commuter van service having a seating capacity of at least nine passengers but not more than twenty passengers or such greater capacity as the commission may establish by rule and carrying passengers for hire in the city duly licensed as a commuter van by the commission [and not permitted to accept hails from prospective passengers in the street]. For purposes of the provisions of this chapter relating to prohibitions against the operation of an unauthorized commuter van service or an unlicensed commuter van and to the enforcement of such prohibitions and to the imposition of penalties for violations of such prohibitions, the term shall also include any common carrier of passengers by motor vehicle not subject to licensure as a taxicab, for-hire vehicle, or wheelchair accessible van or not operating as an authorized bus line pursuant to applicable provisions of law. The commission shall submit to the council the text of any proposed rule relating to the maximum capacity of commuter vans at the time such proposed rule is published in the City Record.
§ 2. Paragraph 1 of subdivision a of section 19-504 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as amended by local law number 115 of the city of New York for the year 1993, is amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07041-02-7
S. 6621 2
(1) A taxi-cab, coach, wheelchair accessible van, commuter van or for-hire vehicle shall operate within the city of New York only if the owner shall first have obtained from the commission a taxicab, coach, wheelchair accessible van, commuter van or for-hire vehicle license for such vehicle and only while such license is in full force and effect. Vehicle licenses shall be issued for a term of not less than one nor more than two years and shall expire on the date set forth on the license unless sooner suspended or revoked by the commission. No motor vehicle other than a duly licensed taxicab or commuter van shall be permitted to accept hails from passengers in the street. No commuter van shall be operated within the city of New York unless it is operated as part of a current, valid authorization to operate a commuter van service duly issued by the commission pursuant to section 19-504.2 of this chapter.
§ 3. The section heading and subdivision a of section 19-516 of the administrative code of the city of New York, the section heading as amended by local law number 115 of the city of New York for the year 1993 and subdivision a as amended by chapter 9 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
Acceptance of passengers by for-hire vehicles [and commuter vans]. [a.] For-hire vehicles that do not possess a valid HAIL license may accept passengers only on the basis of telephone contract or prearrangement. The commission or successor agency may establish such disciplinary actions as it deems appropriate for failure to abide by the provisions of this chapter.
§ 4. Subdivision b of section 19-516 of the administrative code of the city of New York is REPEALED.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to allowing commuter vans to accept hails from prospective passengers in the street; and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating thereto
Purpose
To provide consumers additional methods of transportation.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends subdivision p of § 19-502 of the adminis- trative code of the city of New York to alter the definition of commuter van by removing the provision which prohibits accepting hails from prospective passengers in the street.
Section two of the bill amends paragraph one of subdivision a of § 19-504 of the administrative code of the city of New York to add commu- ter vans as vehicles that are authorized to accept hails from passengers in the street.
Section three of the bill amends the section heading and subdivision a of 19-516 of the administrative code of the city of New York to make technical changes.
Section four of the bill repeals subdivision b of § 19-516 of the admin- istrative code of the city of New York to eliminate the provision that limits commuter vans to providing transportation services only to passengers who contact them through the telephone or through some other pre-arranged method. This section also repeals the associated violation relating to this subdivision.
Section five of the bill provides the effective date.
Justification
Commuter vans provide a service to many individuals throughout New York State. Whether it is helping transport people to the airport, to work, or to an event, commuter vans offer a service which gets people to a location in a safe manner. However, potential passengers are limited in how they can utilize the commuter van service. Currently, commuter vans are not permitted to accept hails from prospective passengers in the street and consumers can only make use of the service if they have made arrangements with the company to employ the service beforehand. Elimi- nating the pre-arrangement element will legitimize how commuter vans operate along the roads and will provide additional methods of transpor- tation to passengers resulting in constituents getting to their desig- nated places faster and safer.
Prior legislative history
2017: S.6621 - Referred to Rules / A.7948 - Referred to Cities
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.