Int. No. 2432
By Council Members Brannan, Lander and Salamanca
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the licensing and use of autonomous vehicles as taxis
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 19-557 to read as follows:
§ 19-557 Autonomous taxis; rules. a. All vehicles licensed by the commission must be operated by a human driver at all times, and no autonomous vehicle shall be licensed by the commission to provide transportation for hire, unless and until the commission establishes a license for the use of an autonomous vehicle pursuant to subdivision b of this section. The commission shall not license any autonomous vehicle to provide transportation for hire unless that vehicle is a taxi.
b. Before licensing an autonomous vehicle as a taxi, the commission shall establish a license for use of an autonomous vehicle as a taxi and shall promulgate rules regarding such license and the operation of autonomous taxis. In promulgating such rules, the commission shall at a minimum set requirements for the following:
1. The process for issuing a license to use an autonomous vehicle as a taxi;
2. The issuance of such licenses to owners of taxicab medallions;
3. The number of such licenses to be issued and any restrictions on the number of licenses that may be issued to any one person or entity;
4. The safety standards for use of an autonomous vehicle as a taxi;
5. The insurance required to use an autonomous vehicle as a taxi;
6. The reporting to the commission of trip and revenue data, including the pickup and drop-off location, mileage, and fare for each trip;
7. The vehicle standards for such autonomous vehicles, including whether the vehicle is a wheelchair accessible vehicle or a low- or zero-emission vehicle; and
8. Such other rules as the commission considers to be necessary for the safe and orderly use of an autonomous vehicle as a taxi.
c. The commission shall deny an application for a license for use of an autonomous vehicle as a taxi if such vehicle or applicant does not comply with the rules of the commission and, after due notice and an opportunity to be heard, may suspend or revoke a license for failure to comply with such rules.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.
NAB
LS #16081
10/18/21 12:45 PM