Overcharging carries set penalties. The OATH judge cannot go lower.
| What it costs | |
|---|---|
| First violation | Up to $500 |
| Second within 24 months | Up to $1,000, and possibly 30 days off |
| Third within 36 months | Up to $1,000, and they take your licence |
The $10 rule
This sits outside that ladder, and it is the one that ends careers.
Charge, or even try to charge, $10 or more above the meter or above the fare the base quoted, and the tribunal takes your licence on the first offence. You can also be ordered to pay the passenger back.
After that, you cannot hold any TLC licence for one year.
Why you have to fight these
Most overcharge summonses start with a passenger complaint and a receipt.
The difference between a meter error, a dispute about the route, and an actual overcharge is exactly what a hearing is for.
With penalties this fixed and a revocation trigger this low, pleading guilty to make it go away is the most expensive shortcut in the rulebook.