VTL § 1220(b) “Unlawful Solicitation of Ground Transportation Services at an Airport.”

Airports do not want strangers soliciting existing passengers and offering them rides. As such, New York State law has prohibited such solicitation under VTL § 1220-B. Anyone charged with unlawful solicitation is facing fines of $750-$1500 + surcharge for a first-time offense. More importantly, a conviction of 1220B results in a 60-day license suspension per §510-2b(viii)

Statute

The text of Vehicle & Traffic Law §1220-b provides:

§ 1220-b. Unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services at an airport.

1. No person shall unlawfully solicit ground transportation services at an airport. A person unlawfully solicits ground transportation services at an airport, when, at an airport, such person, without being authorized to do so by the airport operator, or without having made a prior agreement to provide ground transportation services to a specific patron, engages or offers to engage in any business, trade or commercial transaction involving the rendering to another person of any ground transportation services from such airport.

2. As used in this section, the term "ground transportation service" shall mean a service offering transportation by any vehicle, including taxi cab, limousine, van or bus.

3. As used in this section, the term "airport" shall mean all of the real property forming part of any facility used for the landing and taking off of airplanes engaged in the transportation of passengers, including without limitation, all roadways, parking areas, pedestrian walkways and terminal buildings forming part of such facility.

4. Any person who engages in the unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services at an airport shall be guilty of a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of not less than seven hundred fifty dollars nor more than one thousand five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than fifteen days or by both such fine and imprisonment; for a conviction of a second violation, both of which were committed within a period of eighteen months, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars nor more than two thousand dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than forty-five days, or by both such fine and imprisonment; for a conviction of a third or subsequent violation, all of which were committed within a period of eighteen months, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than two thousand dollars nor more than three thousand dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than ninety days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Pleading Not Guilty to a 1220-b Ticket

It is generally advised to plead Not Guilty to 1220b tickets. Pleading guilty or being found guilty will result in suspension and high fines. Pleading not guilty will allow the ticket recipient to endeavor to get the charges modified or dismissed. It does not matter if the allegations are accurate or can be substantiated. An experienced attorney should be able to have success fighting such charges. If you retain a lawyer, they can also make any necessary court appearances in your place. This means you should be able to avoid getting suspended without having to leave your home. For more detailed information, you can contact the Benjamin Goldman Law Office.

Benjamin Goldman Law Office PC

The Benjamin Goldman Law Office is a New York State traffic ticket law firm. We are based in Nassau County but help motorists throughout the state. We have received hundreds of five-star reviews over the years, most of which speak to our stellar results and customer service.

If you received a 1220-b ticket at any airport in New York State you can contact the Benjamin Goldman Law Office. Attorneys from our firm assist motorists in the New York City area, on Long Island, in the Hudson Valley, Upstate New York, Catskill Mountains, Southern Tier, Thousand Islands, Central New York, Capital District, Mohawk Valley, Finger Lakes, Western New York, and North Country.

The Benjamin Goldman Law Office provides all motorists with free consultations. Our team will be glad to review your case in detail and advise on the available options. We can be reached by phone call, text message, website submission, or email.

Fight the VTL § 1220(b) Ticket