§ 1696. Driver and vehicle requirements. 1. (a) At all times, an individual acting as a TNC driver shall be permitted by the TNC as follows:(i) The individual shall submit an application to the TNC, which shall include information regarding his or her address, age, driver's license, motor vehicle registration, automobile liability insurance, and other information required by the TNC;
(ii) The TNC shall conduct, or have a third party conduct, a criminal background check for each applicant in accordance with section sixteen hundred ninety-nine of this article and that shall review whether the applicant:
(A) is listed on the New York state sex offender registry pursuant to article six-C of the correction law; and
(B) is a match in the United States Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public Website;
(iii) The TNC shall obtain and review, or have a third party obtain and review, a driving history research report for such individual.
(b) The TNC shall not permit an applicant where such applicant:
(i) fails to meet all qualifications pursuant to section sixteen hundred ninety-nine of this article;
(ii) is a match in the United States Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public Website;
(iii) is listed on the sex offender registry pursuant to article six-C of the correction law;
(iv) does not possess a valid New York driver's license;
(v) does not possess proof of registration for the motor vehicles used to provide TNC prearranged trips;
(vi) does not possess proof of automobile liability insurance for the motor vehicles used to provide TNC prearranged trips as a TNC vehicle; or
(vii) is not at least nineteen years of age.
(c) Upon review of all information received and retained by the TNC and upon verifying that the individual is not disqualified pursuant to this section from receiving a TNC driver permit, a TNC may issue a TNC driver permit to the applicant. The TNC shall review all information received relating to such applicant and hold such information for six years along with a certification that such applicant qualifies to receive a TNC driver permit.
(d) (i) A TNC that issues a TNC driver's permit pursuant to this section shall participate in the New York License Event Notification Service (LENS) established by the department to obtain timely notice when any of the following violations are added to a TNC driver's driving record:
(A) unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in violation of sections 270.25, 270.30 or 270.35 of the penal law;
(B) reckless driving in violation of section one thousand two hundred twelve of this chapter;
(C) operating while license or privilege is suspended or revoked in violation of section five hundred eleven of this chapter, excluding subdivision seven of such section;
(D) operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs in violation of section one thousand one hundred ninety-two of this chapter; and
(E) leaving the scene of an incident without reporting in violation of subdivision two of section six hundred of this chapter.
(ii) The department may promulgate regulations authorizing additional LENS notifications as the commissioner deems necessary to protect public health and safety.
(iii) Upon such notice, a TNC may suspend or revoke any TNC driver's permit and revoke access to the TNC digital network, only after considering the number or severity of any such violations, including such factors as required by this article for obtaining a TNC permit, when necessary to protect public health and safety. If, however, such a notice provides that an applicant has been convicted of a disqualifying crime pursuant to section sixteen hundred ninety-nine of this article such TNC driver's access to the TNC digital network and such TNC driver's permit shall both immediately be suspended or revoked. Upon such revocation or suspension pursuant to this section, the TNC shall provide the driver with a copy of the LENS record used to make such determination.
(e) No person shall operate a TNC vehicle or operate as a TNC driver unless such person holds a valid TNC driver permit issued pursuant to this section. A violation of this paragraph shall be a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of not less than seventy-five nor more than three hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than fifteen days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(f) The names and identifying information of TNC drivers provided pursuant to paragraph (d) of this subdivision shall be considered information, which if disclosed, would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy under the provisions of article six of the public officers law. 2. A TNC shall implement a zero-tolerance policy regarding a TNC driver's activities while accessing the TNC's digital network. Such policy shall address the issue of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs while a TNC driver is providing TNC prearranged trips or is logged onto the TNC's digital network but is not providing TNC prearranged trips, and the TNC shall provide notice of this policy on its digital network, as well as procedures to report a complaint about a TNC driver with whom a TNC prearranged trip was commenced and whom the passenger reasonably suspects was operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the course of the TNC prearranged trip. 3. (a) A TNC shall adopt a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of destination, race, color, national origin, religious belief, practice or affiliation, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, or genetic predisposition with respect to passengers and potential passengers and notify TNC drivers of such policy.
(b) TNC drivers shall comply with all applicable laws regarding non-discrimination against passengers or potential passengers on the basis of destination, race, color, national origin, religious belief, practice or affiliation, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, or genetic predisposition with respect to passengers and potential passengers and notify TNC drivers of such policy.
(c) TNC drivers shall comply with all applicable laws relating to accommodation of service animals.
(d) A TNC shall implement and maintain a policy and an oversight process of providing accessibility to passengers or potential passengers with a disability and accommodation of service animals as such term is defined in section one hundred twenty-three-b of the agriculture and markets law and shall to the extent practicable adopt findings established by the New York state TNC accessibility task force adopted pursuant to section twenty-one of the chapter of the laws of two thousand seventeen that added this section. A TNC shall not impose additional charges for providing services to persons with physical disabilities because of those disabilities.
(e) The New York state division of human rights shall be authorized to accept, review and investigate any potential or actual violations of this subdivision in a form and manner consistent with authority under article fifteen of the executive law and shall notify the department, upon a finding of a violation, for purposes of permit suspension. 4. A TNC shall require that any or all motor vehicles that a TNC driver will use as a TNC vehicle to provide TNC prearranged trips meets applicable New York state vehicle safety and emissions requirements, as set forth in section three hundred one of this chapter, or the vehicle safety and emissions requirements of the state in which the vehicle is registered. 5. The department shall promulgate regulations to ensure that each TNC vehicle is easily identified as such and that the TNC for which the TNC driver is providing the TNC service or TNC prearranged trip is distinguishable. Such marking shall be in such form as is approved by the commissioner, and shall be attached, affixed or displayed in such manner as he or she may prescribe by regulation.
