This bill would require for-hire vehicle bases to provide a means to allow passengers to provide drivers with a tip (gratuity) using the same method of payment passengers use to pay for the fare. This bill would also require that if a for-hire vehicle base allows passengers to book and pay for a trip through a website, smartphone application, or any other passenger-facing booking tool, such website, smartphone application, or passenger-facing booking tool must provide passengers with preset tip options that include at least one option that is at least 20% of the fare, and would permit passengers to manually enter another tip amount or percentage at their discretion. A for-hire vehicle base would be required to remit to the driver the entirety of anything designated as a tip. Finally, the bill would impose a civil penalty of not less than $250 and up to $500 for each violation.
- Laid Over in Committee
History
Proposed Int. No. 1646-A
By Council Members Rodriguez, Espinal, Chin, Lander, Menchaca, Salamanca, Rosenthal, Dromm and the Public Advocate (Ms. James)
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to gratuity for for-hire vehicles
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 5 of title 19 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 19-547 to read as follows:
§ 19-547 Gratuity. a. Any for-hire vehicle base, or dispatch service provider operating on behalf of such a base, shall provide a means to allow passengers to provide drivers with a gratuity using the same method of payment passengers use to pay for the fare. If a for-hire vehicle base, or dispatch service provider operating on behalf of such a base, allows passengers to book and pay for a trip through a website, smartphone application, or any other passenger-facing booking tool, such website, smartphone application, or passenger-facing booking tool must provide passengers with preset gratuity options set according to the for-hire vehicle base’s discretion, but that include at least one option that is at least 20 percent of the fare, and permit passengers to manually enter another gratuity amount or percentage at the passengers’ option. A for-hire vehicle base must remit to the driver the entirety of anything designated as a gratuity collected by such base from the passenger on behalf of the driver.
b. Any for-hire vehicle base, or dispatch service provider operating on behalf of such a base, that has been found to have violated any provision of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $250 nor more than $500 for each offense.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 90 days after it becomes law, except that the taxi and limousine commission shall take such actions as are necessary for the implementation of this local law, including the promulgation of rules, prior to such date.
ACK/FM
LS #10399
7/12/2017 6:28 PM