Important Notice To Uber/Lyft Passengers

Important Notice to Passengers and DriversLyft’s “Ride Share” Service is UnauthorizedIn light of the recent announcement from the smartphoneapplication Lyft that they plan to offer free rides in Brooklyn and Queensstarting on July 11th at 7:00 PM, the New York City Taxi and LimousineCommission (TLC) reminds its licensees and the public that Lyft’s “rideshare” service is unauthorized in New York City. Lyft has not compliedwith TLC’s safety requirements and other licensing criteria to verify theintegrity and qualifications of the drivers or vehicles used in theirservice, and Lyft does not hold a license to dispatch cars to pick uppassengers. In keeping with the TLC’s priority of protecting public safetyand consumer rights, the agency will be conducting enforcementoperations to ensure compliance with the City’s rules and laws.The public is reminded that they should not get into a vehiclewithout a TLC license, because it has not undergone the rigorous safetyand emissions inspections conducted by the agency to ensure its safetyand fitness for transporting passengers, and its driver has not beensubject to the TLC’s required drug and background checks. TLClicensees are also monitored on an ongoing basis for both criminalviolations and convictions, as well as for traffic-related violations.Unsuspecting drivers who sign-up with Lyft are at risk of losing theirvehicles to TLC enforcement action, as well as being subject to fines ofup to $2,000 upon conviction for unlicensed activity.TLC-licensed drivers are reminded that the New York CityAdministrative Code and TLC Rules prohibit them from accepting a forhiretrip that isn’t dispatched by a licensed base that is held accountablefor the actions of its drivers and affiliated vehicles. TLC-licensed driverswho accept trip assignments from Lyft – which is not a licensed entity --are likewise at risk of losing their TLC driver licenses and vehicles to TLCenforcement action, as well as being subject to fines of up to $2,000upon conviction for unlicensed activity.