Skip to content

Latest commit

 

History

History
100 lines (68 loc) · 8.72 KB

cyclists_with_cameras.md

File metadata and controls

100 lines (68 loc) · 8.72 KB
Raw

Cyclists With Cameras

The TLC in NYC accepts reports from the general public of misconduct by drivers of Taxis and For Hire Vehicles (FHV). Based on reports it can levy fine drivers, and is willing to do so for traffic violations including blocking bicycle lanes. A growing movement to use this as a tool for increasing enforcement and improving cyclist and pedestrian safety has become known as #CyclistsWithCameras

Legal Basis

The T&LC has authority to enforce NY State Vehicle Traffic Laws (VTL) and NYC DOT Traffic Regulations in relation to Taxi Drivers and For-Hire Drivers. The rules describing this are TLC Commission Rule §80-13(a)(1) and §80-13(a)(1) (see below). There are also more specific TLC regulations, with specific fines, that regulate actions.

NY Vehicle Traffic Law (VTL)

http://ypdcrime.com/vt/title7.htm

NYC DOT Traffic Regulations

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/trafrule.pdf

  • 4-05(b)(1) - (no u-turns in business district) The operator of any vehicle shall not make a U-turn upon any street in a business district
  • 4-07(b)(2) - (blocking intersection and crosswalks) No operator shall enter an intersection and its crosswalks unless there is sufficient unobstructed space beyond the intersection and its crosswalks in the lane in which he/she is traveling to accommodate the vehicle, notwithstanding any traffic control signal indication to proceed.
  • 4-08(e)(3) - (no parking on sidewalks) General no stopping zones - sidewalks
  • 4-08(e)(9) - (no stopping in bike lane) No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle Within a designated bicycle lane.
  • 4-11(c)(6) - (no pickup or discharge of passengers in bike lane) picking up or discharging passengers shall not be made: Within a bicycle lane.
  • 4-12(p)(2) - (no driving in bike lane) Driving on or across bicycle lanes prohibited - No person shall drive a vehicle on or across a designated bicycle lane, except when it is reasonable and necessary: (to enter or leave a driveway; to enter or leave a legal curbside parking space; to cross an intersection; to make a turn within an intersection; to comply with the direction of any law enforcement officer or other person authorized to enforce this rule; to avoid an obstacle which leaves fewer than ten feet available for the free movement of vehicular traffic.) Notwithstanding any other rule, no person shall drive a vehicle on or across a designated bicycle lane in such manner as to interfere with the safety and passage of persons operating bicycles thereon.
  • 4-12(i) - (no honking in non-danger situations) Horn for danger only - No person shall sound the horn of a vehicle except when necessary to warn a person or animal of danger.
  • 4-12(m) - (no driving in bus & right turn only lane) When signs are erected giving notice of bus lane restrictions, no person shall drive a vehicle other than a bus within a designated bus lane during the restricted hours except: (1) permitted right turn, (2) approach or leave the curbside space, (3) expeditiously receiving or discharging passengers, (4) to avoid an obstacle, (5) to comply with direction from law enforcement. With respect to the exceptions in paragraphs one through four of this subdivision, a vehicle may not be operated in the bus lane during restricted hours for more than two hundred feet

Other indexes of applicable laws:

TLC Commission Rules

http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/rule_book_current_chapter_80.pdf (effective after 10/26/2016)

  • 80-13(a) - Drivers of Taxicabs, For-Hire Vehicles and Street Hail Liveries must comply with all applicable traffic laws, rules, and regulations. 80-13(a)(1) Laws, rules or regulations governing stationary vehicles. 80-13(a)(2) Laws, rules or regulations governing moving vehicles.
  • 80-12(e)
  • 80-13(a)(3)(ix) - Yield sign violation
  • 80-13(a)(3)(iii) - Following too closely (tailgating)
  • 80-13(a)(3)(vii) - Traffic signal violation
  • 80-13(a)(3)(viii) - Stop signal violation
  • 80-13(a)(3)(xi) - Improper passing
  • 80-13(a)(3)((xii)) - Unsafe lange chnage
  • 80-13(a)(3)(xiii) - Driving left of center
  • 80-13(a)(3)(xiv) - Driving in wrong direction

The TLC Report Process

https://bit.ly/FHV-Complaint or https://bit.ly/Taxi-Complaint

Select "Is Reckless or Unsafe" to begin the complaint form.

"Step 1: What" There is a description field to list the complaint. Be specific. Include context on the situation, how you were affected, or your relation to the situation, and the specific complaint (it's helpful to reference the law your are complaining about), for example:

Taxi driver stopped in bike lane, dangerously forcing bikers (including myself) into traffic lane,in violation of NYC Traffic Rules 4-08(e)(9) (no stopping in bike lane) & Commission Rule 80-13(a)(1). Pictures included.

Step 4: Before submit you have the opportunity to review the details of your complaint. Scroll down. You can attach up to 3 files. The total size of all attachments must be under 5M, so resize as appropriate.

You will receive a confirmation page w/ your 311 report number. You will also receive an email confirmation. Make a note of this number. You will use it to reference this complaint when communicating with the TLC.

The TLC will assign an investigator who will contact you (typically via phone) to review the complaint. If the investigator agrees with your complaint, the TLC will issue a summons and will notify you if the driver pleads guilty or if a hearing is scheduled.

If a hearing is scheduled you will need to testify via phone, but do not worry the TLC will walk you through that process (and it boils down to swearing in and reading your complaint).

Keeping Notes - Tips & Tricks

It's easy to get things mixed up when you file complaints. Here are some Tips to help:

  • Write down your complaint, the location (cross streets), time of incident, and the license plate number down before submitting online. Copy & paste this info into the appropriate fields when submitting your complaint. This makes sure you have a copy of your complaint after you submit it (The 311 system won't give you a copy of what you submit).
  • Write what you were doing (biking, walking, etc) to help job your memory about your relation to the incident.
  • Save relevant photos and videos in one spot with your notes.
  • When you have conversations with the TLC make a note of them.
  • If you are not sure about a license plate number (i.e. if your photo is blurry) use the FHV license plate lookup. If you find a match, google search the VIN number and make sure that it's the right make and model vehicle.
  • Good cameras to help gather evidence backing your complaints are the Contour ROAM or Garmin Virb Elite. You can set these to take photos every 1second as photo evidence is much easier to work with than video (and takes up much less space).

Techniques for organizing notes:

  • Email: When you get the email confirmation from 311, forward it to yourself with your complaint text, the location, the time, and the license plate number, and any relevant photos. Any future activity relevant to a complaint can be noted by replying to that email thread. You can then search your email for relevant complaint numbers when you need to pull up information.
  • Folders: If you have a large number of photos or videos, it may be easier to create a folder for each complaint. cwc is a collection of utilities I use to manage complaint information which follows this pattern. It boils down to creating a folder named with the date and time, and license plate number.

Other Useful Resources