DECISION/ORDER
KATHRYN E. FREED, Judge.
It is ordered that this motion is decided in accordance with accompanying decision/order.
In this article 78 proceeding, petitioner, Robert Carniol (Carniol) moves, via order to show cause, for: 1) a declaration that the use of Global Positioning System (GPS)
The City respondents cross-move, pursuant to CPLR § 3211(a)(2) and (7), to dismiss the amended petition.
Factual background :
The amended petition states that in 2007, the TLC mandated that all New York City medallion cabs be equipped with a Taxi Technology System (TTS) which includes, inter alia, a GPS, text messaging capabilities and a monitor displaying certain rate and fare information for the passenger (amended petition, ¶ 9). TLC Rule 3-06(b) (35 RCNY 3-06 [b]) states that the TTS must be capable of transmitting to the TLC "at predetermined intervals established by the Chairperson":
(Amended petition, ¶ 14).
Before the rules regarding TTS took effect, a group of drivers and the New York Taxi Workers Alliance filed a federal lawsuit challenging the rules (Alexandre v. New York City Taxi & Limousine Commn. (2007 WL 2826952 [SDNY Sept. 28, 2007]). The Alexandre plaintiffs advanced federal privacy claims which the Federal Court rejected, finding that GPS tracking, as it was configured under TTS, was not a "search or seizure within the ambit of the Fourth Amendment" (id. at *9 [internal quotation marks and citation omitted]) (amended petition, ¶ 21). According to the TLC, the purported benefits of TTS include: 1) the collection of a body of information for the TLC's regulatory analysis, including analysis of pick-up points, drop-off points, trip time and distance and passenger counts; 2) assistance in locating a passenger's lost property; 3) eliminating the requirement that drivers complete handwritten trip sheets; and 4) permitting a passenger to pay by credit card (amended petition, ¶ 22). The TLC never stated that it would use the information it gathered to track drivers for investigatory purposes (amended petition, ¶¶ 23, 26).
Thereafter, in 2008 or 2009, the TLC received complaints from passengers regarding alleged overcharges by a certain taxi driver. The complaints alleged that the taxi driver had charged the higher out of town rate (Rate 4) for trips that were entirely within New York City (Rate 1). Following the investigation of the TTS generated records for this particular taxi driver, the TLC expanded its review of the computer records generated by the TTS system to include substantially all of the city's 42,000 cab drivers (amended petition, ¶¶ 29-43).
In May 2010, the TLC issued a press release stating that, based on its review of the records, more than 21,000 taxi drivers had overcharged passengers, using Rate 4 rather than Rate 1, for more than $1 million. Among the drivers who allegedly engaged in the overcharging was petitioner Carniol who had, according to the TLC, overcharged passengers 91 times (amended petition, ¶ 61).
By letter dated May 13, 2010, the TLC directed Carniol to appear for a settlement conference "in reference to allegations that, . . . you deliberately and intentionally overcharged passengers on 91 separate occasions by illegally using Rate 4 code. Our records indicate that you overcharged passengers approximately $358.80 during this time period" (amended petition, exhibit 13). The letter stated that the purpose of the conference was to see whether the matter could be resolved without "proceeding with a discretionary revocation hearing before The Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH)" (id.). Carniol rejected the TLC's settlement offers and insisted on a trial.
By letter dated February 11, 2011, the TLC notified Carniol that it had commenced a proceeding against him which "seeks to revoke your TLC license. In addition or in lieu thereof, your TLC license may be suspended or substantial fines may be imposed against you" (amended petition, exhibit 16). The petition charges Carniol with 90 counts of violating Rule 2-34 (a) of the Taxicab Drivers Rules (35 RCNY 2-34 [a]), "[i]n that between April 12, 2009 and February 27, 2010, . . . (Carniol) deliberately and intentionally overcharged passengers . . . by illegally using the Rate 4 code." Five of the alleged violations were specifically listed in the petition. The petition also states that "TLC seeks the revocation of (Carniol's) license and the maximum fine for these rule violations pursuant to 35 RCNY 8-03 (b) (ii) and 2-87" (id.).
Following the trial, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued a report and recommendation finding that the TLC proved the charge against Carniol and, pursuant to 35 RCNY 8-03 (b) (ii) and 2-87, recommended revocation of respondent's license and the imposition of an $850 fine. In that report and recommendation, the ALJ specifically found that: 1) Carniol received adequate notice of the charges; 2) the TLC lawfully obtained evidence against the respondent in that the TLC properly search the automated records that it lawfully possessed; 3) Carniol had no reasonable expectation of privacy in the trip information gathered by TLC; and 4) that the printout listing 90 Rate 4 violations was admissible (amended petition, exhibit 18).
On August 15, 2011, the Chairperson accepted the ALJ's report and recommendation and revoked Carniol's taxi driver's license and imposed an $850 fine against him (amended petition, exhibit 19).
Positions of the parties :
Carniol argues that the revocation of his taxi driver's license should be invalidated in that OATH had no jurisdiction to this action because section 2303 (a) of the City Charter mandates that violations of the administrative code and rules pertaining to the TLC shall be adjudicated by the TLC's own tribunal; that the exception to section 2303 (a) which states that OATH shall conduct hearings when the commission seeks discretionary, rather than mandatory, license revocation (Section 19-506 of the NYC Code) is inapplicable; TLC's tracking of Carniol was a warrantless search in violation of his rights under article I, § 12 of the State Constitution and the Fourth Amendment of the Federal Constitution; the TLC cannot invoke the administrative search exception to the warrant requirement and; the TLC's TTS has not been shown to be sufficiently reliable for its data to be admissible in court. Carniol also takes the position that because his license revocation was mandatory, not discretionary, he had no right to appeal the Chairperson's final order.
In opposition to the relief demanded in the amended petition, and in support of their cross motion to dismiss, the City respondents contend this court lacks jurisdiction to entertain this petition because Carniol failed to exhaust his administrative remedies. It is the City respondents' position that Carniol's taxi license revocation was discretionary and that he had the right to appeal the Chairperson's final order to the full Commission, which he failed to do, and now his time to do so has expired.
In addition, the City respondents argue that the use of the GPS data does not violate Carniol's privacy rights under the State or Federal Constitutions; that the revocation was based on admissible evidence; that the hearing was properly before OATH; and that the collection of the TTS data was duly authorized.
Conclusions of law :
Under TLC Rule 2-87 (a) (1) (35 RCNY 2-87 [a] [1]), the TLC "shall" fine, and it may exercise its discretion to revoke a taxicab driver's license, if the driver is found guilty of violating TLC Rule 2-34 (a) (35 RCNY 2-34 [a]) once or twice within 24 months. However, a taxicab driver's license shall be revoked, as a mandatory revocation, if the driver is found guilty of violating TLC Rule 2-34 (a) (35 RCNY 2-34 [a]) three times within a 36-month period.
TLC Rule 2-87 (35 RCNY 2-87) states in pertinent part:
TLC Rule 8-03 (b) (ii) (35 RCNY 8-03 [b] [ii]) states, in pertinent part, that "the Commission may, in its discretion, impose a penalty of license revocation . . . and/or fine: . . . not to exceed $1000 for each violation" of the rules.
TLC Rule 68-18 (35 RCNY 68-18), entitled "Appeal of Chairperson's Final Decision" states, in part:
Pursuant to TLC Rule § 68-19 (b) (2) (35 RCNY 68-19 [b] [2]), if the commission seeks a discretionary revocation, the proceeding must be commenced before OATH.
"It is hornbook law that one who objects to the act of an administrative agency must exhaust available administrative remedies before being permitted to litigate in a court of law" (Watergate II Apts. v. Buffalo Sewer Auth., 46 N.Y.2d 52, 57 [1978]; Matter of Uddin v. New York City Taxi & Limousine Commn, 106 A.D.3d 557, 557 [1
In this case, the City respondents correctly argue that Carniol's revocation was identified as a discretionary revocation from the initiation of the charges against him. The May 13, 2010 letter directing Carniol to appear for a settlement conference expressly states that in the absence of settlement, the Commission would proceed with a "discretionary revocation matter" (amended petition, exhibit 13). Additionally, the OATH petition listing the charges specifically stated that the TLC was seeking revocation and a fine pursuant to TLC Rules 8-03 (b) (ii) and 2-87 and those rules were cited in the ALJ's report and recommendation as the basis for the revocation and fine (amended petition, exhibits 16 and 18). Both of those rules permit discretionary revocation under the circumstances here.
Moreover, it is undisputed that the TLC had not charged Carniol with any previous violations of any of the rules cited in TLC Rule 2-87 — this was his first offense. Accordingly, pursuant to the clear language of that rule and the discretion afforded the Commission under TLC Rule 8-03 (b) (ii), the Chairperson exercised his discretionary power to revoke Carniol's taxi driver's license.
Therefore, pursuant to TLC Rule § 68-18, Carniol should have appealed the Chairperson's August 15, 2011 final decision to the full Commission within 30 days of the date of the Chairperson's final decision. This he did not do and Carniol's failure to exhaust his administrative remedies precludes judicial review of his nonconstitutional claims (Watergate II Apts at 57-58; Matter of Contest Promotions-NY LLC at 437.
As to the constitutional claim, this court will exercise its discretion to consider whether Carniol's state and/or federal privacy rights were violated by the respondents.
Federal Fourth Amendment Claim :
"Government regulations that mandate searches of seizures are subject to the Fourth amendment's strictures"
It has long been recognized that the TLC is vested with a broad grant of authority to promulgate and implement a regulatory program for the taxicab industry (Matter of New York City Comm. for Taxi Safety v. New York City Taxi & Limousine Commn., 256 A.D.2d 136, 137 [1
However, even if petitioner could show that he has a legitimate expectation of privacy in trip data gathered by the GPS device, which he cannot, his fourth amendment claim of privacy would be outweighed by the legitimate governmental interests articulated by the TLC (Alexandre 2007 WL 2826952 at *10; United States v Miller, 430 F.3d 93, 97 [2d Cir 2005] ["The touchstone of the Fourth Amendment is reasonableness"]). "Even in the context of a search authorized by statute or regulation, the reasonableness of the a search and seizure is judged by balancing its intrusion on the individual's Fourth Amendment interests against its promotion of legitimate governmental interests" (Buliga 2007 WL 4547738 at *3, citing Skinner v. Railway Labor Executives' Assn., 489 U.S.602, 619 [1989] [internal quotation marks omitted]). The balancing test to be applied where, as here, the petitioner complains of a warrantless search in violation of his privacy rights is: "(1) the nature of the privacy interest involved; (2) the character and degree of the governmental intrusion; and (3) the nature and immediacy of the government's needs . . ." (United States v. Amerson, 483 F.3d 73, 83-84 [2d Cir 2007]).
In this case, Carniol's privacy interest in the trip data generated by the GPS device is minimal and the government's intrusion is also minimal. "[I]t does not involve a physical intrusion into Caniol's body or home" (Bulgia 2007 4547738 at *3) and it does not collect data regarding Carniol's whereabouts when he is off-duty. On the other hand, the government interest in improving taxi customer service and TLC's ability to regulate it by using modern methods to promote passenger and driver safety, is substantial.
Petitioner's reliance on the recent Supreme Court decision in United States v. Jones (___ US ___, 132 S.Ct. 945 [2012]), for the proposition that the collection of the GPS data without a warrant constitutes an illegal search, is without merit. The sole issue decided in Jones was whether the surreptitious attachment of a GPS tracking device to a vehicle and its subsequent use to monitor the vehicle on a public road and record information about an individual's personal life constitutes a search and seizure. In that case, the Court merely determined that such GPS monitoring was a search but it did not address whether the search was reasonable.
Indeed, the circumstances here are readily distinguishable. In the case before the court, the GPS monitoring occurred with the knowledge of the taxi driver and it was narrowly tailored to achieve a regulatory goal. The GPS system was installed with the taxi owner's consent for the purpose of gathering information when a taxi driver is on duty about the location of trips and rates charged. The TTS and GPS do not record information about the driver's personal life. And, as the court determined in Buliga, the search here would be deemed reasonable even if Carniol did have a privacy interest in the GPS data because his interest was minimal, the intrusion was minimal and outweighed by the legitimate governmental interests to regulate and improve the taxi industry and the safety and convenience of the driver and the passengers.
The State Constitutional Claim:
Petitioner has not demonstrated that he has a legitimate expectation of privacy in the collection or transmission of the GPS trip data under article I, § 12 of the State Constitution. The location information collected by the TLC is related solely to the defendant's employment as a taxicab driver and it is mandated by TLC rules. The information that was collected in this case pertained only to petitioner's whereabouts while on duty.
Petitioner's reliance on People v. Weaver (12 N.Y.3d 433, 441 [2009]) and Matter of Cunningham v. New York State Dept. of Labor (___ NY3d ___, 2013 NY Slip Op. 04838 [June 27, 2013]) for the proposition that the search violated Carniol's privacy rights under the State Constitution is unavailing. The instant matter does not involve the surreptitious placement of a GPS device on a vehicle and it does it involve tracking that vehicle while the driver took trips of a private nature (see People v. Weaver, 12 N.Y.3d 433, 441 [2009] [24-hour tracking for 65 days]) or secret tracking of a personal vehicle during non-working hours (Cunningham v. New York State Department of Labor, ___ N.Y.3d ___, 2013 NY Slip Op. 04838 [24-hour a day tracking for a month]). Moreover, the search does not involve the physical intrusion into the petitioner's body or home (Buliga 2007 WL 4547738 at *3).
Here, the TTS equipment placed in each New York City taxicab electronically tracks location, trip and fare information only while the drive is on duty. The purpose of the GPS is to gather information pertaining to the taxicab business. It is not designed or used to collect personal information about the driver. The data the TLC collected are business records which the agency had the right to inspect without a warrant (Matter of Glenwood TV v. Ratner, 103 A.D.2d 322 [2d Dept. 1984], affd 65 N.Y.2d 642 [1985] ["modern businessman has little or no expectation of privacy in his business records, especially those documents prepared in compliance with regulatory requirements" [internal quotation marks and citation omitted]).
Thus, under the State Constitution, Carniol had no legitimate expectation of privacy in the records generated by the TTS system (People v. Abdelmalak, index no. 4197/10 [Sup Ct NY County 2010]; People v. Bah, index no. 4187/10 [Sup Ct NY County 2010]) (these unreported cases are attached to City respondents' memorandum of law, appendix) but, even assuming arguendo that he did have a privacy right, that right was outweighed by legitimate governmental interests.
In Matter of Caruso v. Ward (72 N.Y.2d 432, 437 [1988]), the court employed a reasonableness standard, similar to the standard articulated by the federal court in Buliga. In Caruso, the court noted that "random searches conducted by the State without reasonable suspicion are closely scrutinized are generally only permitted when the privacy interests implicated are minimal, the government's interest is substantial and safeguards are provided to insure that the individual's reasonable expectation of privacy is not subjected to unregulated discretion" (Caruso at 438 [emphasis in the original] citing Matter of Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers v. Board of Educ. of Patchogue-Medford Union Free Sch. Dist., 70 N.Y.2d 57, 70 [1987]).
Pursuant to the three-part test cited in Caruso, a warrantless search was justified in this case because: 1) Carniol had a diminished privacy interest in the GPS data (see Matter of Murtaugh v. New York State Dept. of Envtl. Conservation, 42 A.D.3d 986, 989 [4
Here, petitioner has failed to demonstrate that he had a legitimate expectation of privacy in the information obtained as a result of the use of the GPS technology and/or that the information was collected in derogation of his privacy rights under the State or Federal Constitutions.
Therefore, in accordance with the foregoing, it is hereby
ORDERED that petitioner Robert Carniol's motion for: 1) a declaration that the use of GPS technology to track taxi drivers is a search under New York law; 2) a declaration that a search using this GPS system violates the New York Constitution; 3) an order barring the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission from using the fruits of GPS searches to prosecute individual taxi drivers; 4) an order that the respondents, TLC, David Yassky and the City of New York restore Carniol's taxi driver's license; 5) damages, including punitive damages; and 6) certification of this action as a class action, is denied in its entirety; and it is further
ORDERED that respondents, The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, David Yassky and The City of New York's, cross motion to dismiss the petition is granted and the proceeding is dismissed; and it is further
ORDERED that this constitutes the decision and order of the Court.
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