A base station must be licensed by Westchester County and must follow strict guidelines for the operation of its vehicles and drivers. It's the base owner's responsibility to ensure that:

  • All rules and regulations are followed
  • Business records are maintained in a satisfactory manner 
  • All customers receive safe and courteous service
  • Rates are registered yearly with WCTLC
  • Customer complaint procedures are readily available

A base station is a central facility which manages, organizes and/or dispatches for-hire vehicles. A base station owner is any individual, partnership, corporation or other entity owning or operating a base station, including any individuals in a partnership or any entities owning ten percent or more of any such corporation or legal entity.

List of Base Stations
View the list of base stations regulated by the Westchester County Taxi & Limousine Commission.

In accordance with Chapter 270, For-Hire Vehicle Law, Sections (113) (114) and WCTLC Rules and Regulations, Sections (500.22) (500.24), Base station owners must comply with the following operational and record keeping procedures:

1.  A base station owner is responsible for handling passenger complaints and securing and recording the following information:

  • Date and time of call
  • Name of person taking the complaint
  • Name of person making the complaint
  • General nature of complaint
  • What action, if any, was taken to resolve the complaint
  • Name of person resolving the complaint.

Complaints referred to the base station from the commission must be handled as follows:

  • Base station owners must respond within 10 working days to the commission, in writing, regarding the satisfactory handling of any complaint. 
  • The base station owner will make reference to the case number assigned to the complaint by the commission.

2. Base station owners must provide WCTLC with documentation that the following records are safeguarded and maintained at the base station for a period of at least 12 months (including the records for all dba's):

Records of each call for a dispatch must be recorded as follows:

  • Date and time that each call for a dispatch was received
  • Location and destination of each passenger to be picked up
  • WCTLC permit numbers of the drivers and vehicles dispatched

Records for affiliated vehicles must be maintained as follows:

  • List of all current affiliated/owned vehicles
  • Vehicle's owners name, mailing address, home phone number and license plate number
  • Copy of WCPD Form 413 - Affiliation Letter
  • Name of vehicle's insurance carrier and policy number
  • Date of inspection of each vehicle and outcome of each inspection (performed at least bi-weekly) by driver and/or owner

Records for affiliated drivers must be maintained as follows:

  • List of all current affiliated drivers
  • Driver's name, mailing address and home phone number
  • WCTLC permit number 

3.  Base station owners must provide drivers with documentation that workers' compensation benefits have ceased as follows:

  • Upon filing with the Workers' Compensation Board to end the disbursement of benefits for a driver upon recovery and readiness to work, a base station owner must provide the driver with the documentation that benefits have ceased.
  • The driver must bring this documentation to the WCTLC in order for the commission to return the driver's permit. 

4. Base station owners must file a schedule of rates of fare on an annual basis with the commission, or whenever there is a material change in rate of fare charged by the base station.

5.  Base station owners must supply the commission with current lists and WCTLC permit numbers of drivers and vehicles affiliated with and working for the base station.

  • Base station owners are required to supply a current list of drivers and vehicles affiliated with the base station during the application process
  • Base station owners must notify the commission when a driver or for-hire vehicle is no longer affiliated with and working for the base station. 

6.  The base station owner is responsible for ensuring that the WCTLC base station permit is prominently displayed in the base station.

7. The base station owner is responsible for ensuring that an operable land line telephone is  maintained at the base station. 

8. The base station owner is responsible for providing a mechanism at the base station for transmitting trip request information to affiliated drivers.

A base station must be in compliance with all local jurisdictional requirements. A base station must have at least one vehicle (owned or affiliated) and one driver.

Applicants must do the following:

  • All principals owning 10 percent or more stock must be fingerprinted by the Westchester County Department of Public Safety at the time of application.
  • Provide a list of all vehicles owned by the base station or affiliated with the base station, to be used for for-hire services, including make, model, year, plate number and vehicle identification number (VIN) for each vehicle.
  • Provide the schedule of rates of fare charged by the base.
  • Provide a list of all drivers who will be operating the for-hire vehicles along with their WCTLC driver's permit number.
  • Provide three notarized character reference forms for the principal owner.
  • Provide a surety bond in the amount of $5,000 to benefit Westchester County. This bond shall be for a minimum of a one year period and the effective dates shall run concurrently with the base station permit dates. Surety bonds may be obtained through a reputable insurance agency.
  • A photocopy of the official filing receipt issued by NYS Department of State after the corporation filed its certificate of incorporation with NYS Department of State.  (Corporations Only)
  • Submit the application in person at WCTLC offices, Department of Public Safety, 112 East Post Road, White Plains, New York 10601.
  • WCTLC must be notified of any addition or deletions of drivers and vehicles during the duration of the Base Station Permit.

Permit fee: $600 (Pay by certified check, company check or money order made payable to WCTLC.

Fingerprinting fee: $80 (pay by money order made payable to Westchester County.

The responsibilities of the base station owner are as follows:

  • Must be a WCTLC-licensed base station owner
  • Must be in compliance with all aspects of the Westchester County For-Hire Vehicle Law and Rules and  Regulations of the WCTLC
  • Must supply the WCTLC with an annual schedule of rates and written notice each time rates change
  • Must ensure that all drivers are licensed by the WCTLC and have a valid chauffeur's license (Class E or better)
  • Must ensure that all vehicles with a seating capacity of 15 or more passengers is driven by a driver who has a commercial driver license
  • Must check vehicles daily for good working condition, ensure that cars are inspected annually by a state DMV, and are affixed with all necessary state registration and inspection stickers, including a WCTLC permit decal
  • Must ensure that all plate numbers and VIN's match numbers that appear on related registrations and WCTLC licenses and permits
  • Must have adequate insurance coverage for base station drivers, affiliated drivers and all vehicles as defined in the Westchester County For-Hire Vehicle Law
  • Must state in all advertising its WCTLC base station permit numbers   
  • Must keep a current list of all affiliated drivers and vehicles and supply the WCTLC with a copy of the list
  • Is responsible for storing and maintaining all business records
  • Cannot dispatch a vehicle from any location other than that specified in the base station license.
  • A base station must have at least one vehicle (owned or affiliated) and one affiliated driver.
  • Ensure that all vehicles be equipped with ‘Please Fasten Seatbelt’ signs.
  • Ensure that all drivers maintain a hard-copy or read-only electronic trip log to include date, time, pick-up/drop-off location, and passenger’s name. The Trip Log should also include Off Duty notation when applicable.