A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring signs regarding penalties for assaulting taxi and livery drivers.

By Council Members Lancman, Koo, Levine, Rose, Vacca, Rosenthal, Dromm, Richards, Weprin, Garodnick, Van Bramer, Constantinides, Chin, Levin, Cohen, Menchaca, Barron, Miller, Lander, Vallone, Deutsch, Crowley, Kallos and Mealy

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. This local law shall be referred to as the "Taxi and Livery Driver Protection Act."

§ 2. Chapter 5 of title 19 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 19-543 to read as follows:

§ 19-543 Requirement to have signs in taxicabs and for-hire vehicles regarding penalties for assaulting drivers. Except as provided below, every owner of a taxicab, for-hire vehicle, commuter van, or wheelchair accessible van shall post in at least one conspicuous place in the rear passenger compartment of such vehicle a sign stating the following: "ATTENTION: Assaulting A Driver Is Punishable By Up to Twenty-Five Years in Prison" and shall ensure that such sign remains displayed in such vehicle. The commission shall promulgate rules, consistent with this section, including but not limited to the size of the sign, the number of signs per vehicle, the specific location within the vehicle of such signs, and the penalty for failing to post such signs. The provisions of this section shall not apply to black cars and luxury limousines.

§ 3. This local law shall take effect 180 days after its enactment into law, except that the Taxi and Limousine Commission shall take all necessary action, including the promulgation of rules, prior to such effective date.

LF/KET 10/14/14 6:36M

LS 554/2014