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Taxi and Limousine Commission
Created in 1971 under Local Law 12, the Taxi and Limousine Commission is the Charter-mandated agency responsible for licensing and regulating New York City's medallion taxis, for-hire vehicles, commuter vans, and paratransit vehicles. Its nine-member Board, led by a salaried Chair, oversees a licensee base of more than 200,000 drivers and vehicle owners who together complete roughly one million trips a day across the five boroughs.
What's working
- How many days does it take to close a TLC driver complaint?: 13.6 days — decreasing sharply since TLC began contacting drivers earlier and improved how it identifies repeat complainants
- How long does it take to conduct a safety and emissions inspection of a medallion taxi?: 0 hr 23 min — beats target by 37 min
- What percent of medallion taxi safety and emissions failure rate – Initial inspection?: 29.9% — beats target by 15.1%
- and 6 more below
What's getting worse
- On average, what is the wait time at Long Island City facility?: 0 hr 28 min — decreasing overall, though rising again recently as demand outpaces staffing
- How many patrol summonses issued for illegal street hails for drivers and vehicle owners are there?: 679 summonses — decreasing overall, though rebounding as enforcement shifted focus
- How many patrol summonses issued for unlicensed activity for drivers and vehicle owners are there?: 3,421 summonses
Critical indicators
With a numeric target
On average, what is the wait time at Long Island City facility?
0 hr 28 min — decreasing overall, though rising again recently as demand outpaces staffingMisses target by 3 min
On average, what is the wait time at Long Island City facility?
0 hr 28 min — decreasing overall, though rising again recently as demand outpaces staffingMisses target by 3 min
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 0 hr 33 min | 0 hr 25 min |
| FY23 | 0 hr 37 min | 0 hr 25 min |
| FY24 | 0 hr 22 min | 0 hr 25 min |
| FY25 | 0 hr 23 min | 0 hr 25 min |
| FY26 (YTD) | 0 hr 28 min | 0 hr 25 min |
This wait time tracks visit and call volume at TLC's Long Island City licensing office relative to staffing. It rose in Fiscal 2023 as visits jumped 31 percent, then fell sharply in Fiscal 2024 as TLC expanded online services that let more customers avoid an in-person visit. TLC's own preliminary Fiscal 2026 report says wait times rose again because in-person demand increased without additional staffing.
Researched July 16, 2026 — TLC, Fiscal 2023 Mayor's Management Report, TLC, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, TLC, Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
Mayor John Lindsay created the Taxi and Limousine Commission in 1971 through Local Law 12, taking taxi and for-hire vehicle regulation away from the NYPD's Hack Bureau, which had overseen the industry since 1925 but struggled with rising complaints about unsafe vehicles and driver misconduct as the industry grew. Today TLC licenses and inspects drivers and vehicles, requiring fingerprinting, drug testing, driver education, and ongoing vehicle inspections, and it enforces those standards through a dedicated Uniformed Services Bureau. The agency has also had its own controversies, including a role in years of medallion price inflation that a state investigation later scrutinized.
Wikipedia - New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, TLC - Licensing and Standards
How long does it take to conduct a safety and emissions inspection of a medallion taxi?
0 hr 23 minBeats target by 37 min
How long does it take to conduct a safety and emissions inspection of a medallion taxi?
0 hr 23 minBeats target by 37 min
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 0 hr 22 min | 1 hr |
| FY23 | 0 hr 23 min | 1 hr |
| FY24 | 0 hr 31 min | 1 hr |
| FY25 | 0 hr 22 min | 1 hr |
| FY26 (YTD) | 0 hr 23 min | 1 hr |
0 hr 23 min in FY26 — met the City's own target for this indicator (37 min below the 1 hr target), though it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Mayor John Lindsay created the Taxi and Limousine Commission in 1971 through Local Law 12, taking taxi and for-hire vehicle regulation away from the NYPD's Hack Bureau, which had overseen the industry since 1925 but struggled with rising complaints about unsafe vehicles and driver misconduct as the industry grew. Today TLC licenses and inspects drivers and vehicles, requiring fingerprinting, drug testing, driver education, and ongoing vehicle inspections, and it enforces those standards through a dedicated Uniformed Services Bureau. The agency has also had its own controversies, including a role in years of medallion price inflation that a state investigation later scrutinized.
Wikipedia - New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, TLC - Licensing and Standards
What percent of medallion taxi safety and emissions failure rate – Initial inspection?
29.9%Beats target by 15.1%
What percent of medallion taxi safety and emissions failure rate – Initial inspection?
29.9%Beats target by 15.1%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 29.3% | 35% |
| FY23 | 25.9% | 35% |
| FY24 | 21% | 35% |
| FY25 | 31.5% | 45% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 29.9% | 45% |
29.9% in FY26 — met the City's own target for this indicator (15.1% below the 45% target), and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Mayor John Lindsay created the Taxi and Limousine Commission in 1971 through Local Law 12, taking taxi and for-hire vehicle regulation away from the NYPD's Hack Bureau, which had overseen the industry since 1925 but struggled with rising complaints about unsafe vehicles and driver misconduct as the industry grew. Today TLC licenses and inspects drivers and vehicles, requiring fingerprinting, drug testing, driver education, and ongoing vehicle inspections, and it enforces those standards through a dedicated Uniformed Services Bureau. The agency has also had its own controversies, including a role in years of medallion price inflation that a state investigation later scrutinized.
Wikipedia - New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, TLC - Licensing and Standards
What percent of for-hire vehicles safety and emissions failure rate – Initial inspection?
25.2%Beats target by 19.8%
What percent of for-hire vehicles safety and emissions failure rate – Initial inspection?
25.2%Beats target by 19.8%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 25.8% | 35% |
| FY23 | 26.2% | 35% |
| FY24 | 22.7% | 35% |
| FY25 | 26% | 45% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 25.2% | 45% |
25.2% in FY26 — met the City's own target for this indicator (19.8% below the 45% target), and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Mayor John Lindsay created the Taxi and Limousine Commission in 1971 through Local Law 12, taking taxi and for-hire vehicle regulation away from the NYPD's Hack Bureau, which had overseen the industry since 1925 but struggled with rising complaints about unsafe vehicles and driver misconduct as the industry grew. Today TLC licenses and inspects drivers and vehicles, requiring fingerprinting, drug testing, driver education, and ongoing vehicle inspections, and it enforces those standards through a dedicated Uniformed Services Bureau. The agency has also had its own controversies, including a role in years of medallion price inflation that a state investigation later scrutinized.
Wikipedia - New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, TLC - Licensing and Standards
How long does it take to conduct a safety and emissions inspection of a for-hire vehicle?
0 hr 18 minBeats target by 42 min
How long does it take to conduct a safety and emissions inspection of a for-hire vehicle?
0 hr 18 minBeats target by 42 min
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 0 hr 18 min | 1 hr |
| FY23 | 0 hr 20 min | 1 hr |
| FY24 | 0 hr 23 min | 1 hr |
| FY25 | 0 hr 15 min | 1 hr |
| FY26 (YTD) | 0 hr 18 min | 1 hr |
This indicator has swung sharply within the lookback window — a simple up/down label would oversimplify it, so no trend badge is shown here. See the chart and table above for the full picture.
Why this is tracked
Mayor John Lindsay created the Taxi and Limousine Commission in 1971 through Local Law 12, taking taxi and for-hire vehicle regulation away from the NYPD's Hack Bureau, which had overseen the industry since 1925 but struggled with rising complaints about unsafe vehicles and driver misconduct as the industry grew. Today TLC licenses and inspects drivers and vehicles, requiring fingerprinting, drug testing, driver education, and ongoing vehicle inspections, and it enforces those standards through a dedicated Uniformed Services Bureau. The agency has also had its own controversies, including a role in years of medallion price inflation that a state investigation later scrutinized.
Wikipedia - New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, TLC - Licensing and Standards
How long does it take to conduct a safety and emissions inspection of a boro taxi?
0 hr 22 minBeats target by 38 min
How long does it take to conduct a safety and emissions inspection of a boro taxi?
0 hr 22 minBeats target by 38 min
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 0 hr 21 min | 1 hr |
| FY23 | 0 hr 21 min | 1 hr |
| FY24 | 0 hr 27 min | 1 hr |
| FY25 | 0 hr 21 min | 1 hr |
| FY26 (YTD) | 0 hr 22 min | 1 hr |
0 hr 22 min in FY26 — met the City's own target for this indicator (38 min below the 1 hr target), and it has stayed essentially flat over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Mayor John Lindsay created the Taxi and Limousine Commission in 1971 through Local Law 12, taking taxi and for-hire vehicle regulation away from the NYPD's Hack Bureau, which had overseen the industry since 1925 but struggled with rising complaints about unsafe vehicles and driver misconduct as the industry grew. Today TLC licenses and inspects drivers and vehicles, requiring fingerprinting, drug testing, driver education, and ongoing vehicle inspections, and it enforces those standards through a dedicated Uniformed Services Bureau. The agency has also had its own controversies, including a role in years of medallion price inflation that a state investigation later scrutinized.
Wikipedia - New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, TLC - Licensing and Standards
What percent of boro taxi safety and emissions failure rate — Initial inspection?
40.6%Beats target by 4.4%
What percent of boro taxi safety and emissions failure rate — Initial inspection?
40.6%Beats target by 4.4%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 34.4% | 45% |
| FY23 | 39.5% | 45% |
| FY24 | 37.2% | 45% |
| FY25 | 41.4% | 45% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 40.6% | 45% |
40.6% in FY26 — met the City's own target for this indicator (4.4% below the 45% target), though it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Mayor John Lindsay created the Taxi and Limousine Commission in 1971 through Local Law 12, taking taxi and for-hire vehicle regulation away from the NYPD's Hack Bureau, which had overseen the industry since 1925 but struggled with rising complaints about unsafe vehicles and driver misconduct as the industry grew. Today TLC licenses and inspects drivers and vehicles, requiring fingerprinting, drug testing, driver education, and ongoing vehicle inspections, and it enforces those standards through a dedicated Uniformed Services Bureau. The agency has also had its own controversies, including a role in years of medallion price inflation that a state investigation later scrutinized.
Wikipedia - New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, TLC - Licensing and Standards
What percent of accessible dispatch trips fulfilled as a percent of requested trips?
88%Beats target by 4%
What percent of accessible dispatch trips fulfilled as a percent of requested trips?
88%Beats target by 4%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 86% | Not available |
| FY23 | 86.4% | Not available |
| FY24 | 86.8% | 84% |
| FY25 | 88% | 84% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 84% |
88% in FY25 — met the City's own target for this indicator (4% above the 84% target), and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Mayor John Lindsay created the Taxi and Limousine Commission in 1971 through Local Law 12, taking taxi and for-hire vehicle regulation away from the NYPD's Hack Bureau, which had overseen the industry since 1925 but struggled with rising complaints about unsafe vehicles and driver misconduct as the industry grew. Today TLC licenses and inspects drivers and vehicles, requiring fingerprinting, drug testing, driver education, and ongoing vehicle inspections, and it enforces those standards through a dedicated Uniformed Services Bureau. The agency has also had its own controversies, including a role in years of medallion price inflation that a state investigation later scrutinized.
Wikipedia - New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, TLC - Licensing and Standards
How many days does it take to close a TLC driver complaint?
13.6 days — decreasing sharply since TLC began contacting drivers earlier and improved how it identifies repeat complainantsBeats target by 36.4 days
How many days does it take to close a TLC driver complaint?
13.6 days — decreasing sharply since TLC began contacting drivers earlier and improved how it identifies repeat complainantsBeats target by 36.4 days
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 22.4 days | 50 days |
| FY23 | 33.2 days | 50 days |
| FY24 | 43.9 days | 50 days |
| FY25 | 27.1 days | 50 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | 13.6 days | 50 days |
TLC attributes the rise in resolution time through Fiscal 2024 to a surge in driver complaints (up sharply as ridership recovered post-pandemic) combined with staff shortages in the Prosecution Division. TLC's Fiscal 2025 report and preliminary Fiscal 2026 report describe specific process changes since then, including contacting drivers earlier and improving how repeat complainants are identified, that cut resolution time substantially.
Researched July 16, 2026 — TLC, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, TLC, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, TLC, Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
Mayor John Lindsay created the Taxi and Limousine Commission in 1971 through Local Law 12, taking taxi and for-hire vehicle regulation away from the NYPD's Hack Bureau, which had overseen the industry since 1925 but struggled with rising complaints about unsafe vehicles and driver misconduct as the industry grew. Today TLC licenses and inspects drivers and vehicles, requiring fingerprinting, drug testing, driver education, and ongoing vehicle inspections, and it enforces those standards through a dedicated Uniformed Services Bureau. The agency has also had its own controversies, including a role in years of medallion price inflation that a state investigation later scrutinized.
Wikipedia - New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, TLC - Licensing and Standards
Without a numeric target
How many patrol summonses issued for illegal street hails for drivers and vehicle owners are there?
679 summonses — decreasing overall, though rebounding as enforcement shifted focus
How many patrol summonses issued for illegal street hails for drivers and vehicle owners are there?
679 summonses — decreasing overall, though rebounding as enforcement shifted focus
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above. The dashed marker projects a full-year estimate at the current year-to-date pace.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 2,056 summonses |
| FY23 | 1,172 summonses |
| FY24 | 749 summonses |
| FY25 | 1,058 summonses |
| FY26 (YTD) | 679 summonses |
| FY26 (projected) | ~905 summonses |
TLC attributes the Fiscal 2024 drop in street-hail summonses to enforcement staffing limitations, as the agency hadn't hired a new class of enforcement officers since before the pandemic. Summonses rebounded in Fiscal 2025 after TLC's Enforcement Division shifted focus toward unlicensed for-hire activity and interagency operations targeting illegal activity.
Researched July 16, 2026 — TLC, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, TLC, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
Mayor John Lindsay created the Taxi and Limousine Commission in 1971 through Local Law 12, taking taxi and for-hire vehicle regulation away from the NYPD's Hack Bureau, which had overseen the industry since 1925 but struggled with rising complaints about unsafe vehicles and driver misconduct as the industry grew. Today TLC licenses and inspects drivers and vehicles, requiring fingerprinting, drug testing, driver education, and ongoing vehicle inspections, and it enforces those standards through a dedicated Uniformed Services Bureau. The agency has also had its own controversies, including a role in years of medallion price inflation that a state investigation later scrutinized.
Wikipedia - New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, TLC - Licensing and Standards
How many patrol summonses issued for unlicensed activity for drivers and vehicle owners are there?
3,421 summonses
How many patrol summonses issued for unlicensed activity for drivers and vehicle owners are there?
3,421 summonses
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above. The dashed marker projects a full-year estimate at the current year-to-date pace.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 3,698 summonses |
| FY23 | 4,268 summonses |
| FY24 | 2,866 summonses |
| FY25 | 3,833 summonses |
| FY26 (YTD) | 3,421 summonses |
| FY26 (projected) | ~4,561 summonses |
3,421 summonses in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Mayor John Lindsay created the Taxi and Limousine Commission in 1971 through Local Law 12, taking taxi and for-hire vehicle regulation away from the NYPD's Hack Bureau, which had overseen the industry since 1925 but struggled with rising complaints about unsafe vehicles and driver misconduct as the industry grew. Today TLC licenses and inspects drivers and vehicles, requiring fingerprinting, drug testing, driver education, and ongoing vehicle inspections, and it enforces those standards through a dedicated Uniformed Services Bureau. The agency has also had its own controversies, including a role in years of medallion price inflation that a state investigation later scrutinized.
Wikipedia - New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, TLC - Licensing and Standards
How many owners approved for the Medallion Relief Program are there?
2,046 owners
How many owners approved for the Medallion Relief Program are there?
2,046 owners
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | Not available |
| FY23 | 1,838 owners |
| FY24 | 2,038 owners |
| FY25 | 2,046 owners |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
2,046 owners in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 2 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Mayor John Lindsay created the Taxi and Limousine Commission in 1971 through Local Law 12, taking taxi and for-hire vehicle regulation away from the NYPD's Hack Bureau, which had overseen the industry since 1925 but struggled with rising complaints about unsafe vehicles and driver misconduct as the industry grew. Today TLC licenses and inspects drivers and vehicles, requiring fingerprinting, drug testing, driver education, and ongoing vehicle inspections, and it enforces those standards through a dedicated Uniformed Services Bureau. The agency has also had its own controversies, including a role in years of medallion price inflation that a state investigation later scrutinized.
Wikipedia - New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, TLC - Licensing and Standards