For a Judgment, etc., v. NEW YORK CITY TAXI AND LIMOUSINE COMMISSION (1997)

Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Robert Lippmann, J.), entered on or about March 16, 1995, which granted the petition to annul respondent's determination dated July 14, 1994, revoking petitioners' licenses to own taxicab medallions and directing them to sell their medallions, unanimously reversed, without costs, and the petition dismissed.

After administrative hearings, respondent issued a determination ordering petitioners to divest themselves of their interest in taxicab medallions on the ground that fraudulent Worker's Compensation insurance certificates had been submitted by their agents to respondent in violation of Taxicab Owner Rules (35 RCNY) § 1-43.   The IAS court found that, while respondent's enabling statute (Administrative Code § 19-506[a] ) authorizes the agency to promulgate rules imposing strict liability, respondent could not hold petitioners strictly liable for the particular violations charged.   In reaching this conclusion, the court erroneously relied upon language explaining the purpose behind an unrelated rule that was mistakenly cited to the court by the parties;  that language speaks of an owner's strict liability for “operating conditions” of a taxicab, a category that does not encompass the activity at issue here.

 In fact, Rule 1-50[b] provides specifically that even where owners lease their taxicabs, “[r]egardless of the terms of the lease, the owner is responsible for complying with all laws, rules and regulations governing owners” (35 RCNY 1-50[b], emphasis added).   The “Statement of Basis and Purpose” accompanying this rule when it was adopted in final form refers to the need to address the growing problem of owners who disclaim responsibility for violations of TLC rules because of their leasing arrangements (The City Record, December 8, 1989, at 3347).   Similarly, Rule 1-58(a) provides that “[t]he designation of an agent shall not relieve the owner of any obligations under these rules,” and the “Statement of Basis and Purpose” of this rule speaks of making owners more “accountable” to the public and the Commission (The City Record, December 8, 1989, at 3348).   The intent of these rules, by their plain language and underscored by their Statements of Basis and Purpose, is clearly to hold owners strictly responsible for compliance with all TLC rules and regulations.   Accordingly, there was a rational basis for respondent's determination holding petitioners strictly liable (Pell v. Board of Education, 34 N.Y.2d 222, 231, 356 N.Y.S.2d 833, 313 N.E.2d 321), and there is no reason to disturb that finding.   Nor do we find that the penalties imposed were “so disproportionate to the offense ․ as to be shocking to one's sense of fairness” (Id. at 233, 356 N.Y.S.2d 833, 313 N.E.2d 321).   Accordingly, the petition to annul the determination should have been dismissed.

MEMORANDUM DECISION.