How to Get a Hack License in New York City

August 26, 2010

How to Get a Hack License in New York City

How To Get A Hack License In New York City

A New York City Taxi Drivers License is called a “Hack License”. The “Hack” license allows the holder / driver to operate a Yellow Medallion Taxicab in New York City. Only Yellow Taxicabs are allowed to pick up passengers hailing from the street. The Hack license, issued through The New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission, is the only license for operating a Yellow Taxicab.

There are other licenses issued by the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission for car service and limousines but they can not be used to operate the Yellow Taxicab. The Hack license however can be used to operate a limousine or car service vehicle. This fact makes the Hack License the most valuable of NYC T&LC issued operator licenses, as well as the most prestigious.

There are approximately 44,000 drivers carrying a Hack License in New York City today.

HOW TO GET A HACK LICENSE IN NYC

The Process and Requirements

• All applicants for a New York City Taxi Hack License must be no less than nineteen (19) Years of age

• Applicants are required to have, a Class A, B, C, or E N.Y. State Drivers License, or a license from New Jersey, Connecticut or Pennsylvania of a similar class.

• Most licenses in New York State are Class D.

• To change a license from a class D to a class E one must go to the Department of Motor Vehicles and pay an upgrade fee.

• There will be no test.

• The fee will be approximately fifty dollars.

An applicant may not have outstanding parking, or traffic summonses. Money owed to the New York City for parking or traffic violations must be paid, or a documented settlement agreement with the appropriate agency must be presented to the NYC T&LC licensing division at the time of application.

Applicants for a New York City Taxi Hack License must be citizens, or legal residents of the United States.

All applicants for a “Hack License” are required to attend a New York State certified, six-hour Defensive Driving Course.

• This defensive driving class must be attended within six months of the date of application to the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission for the Hack License.

• The number one provider of defensive driving courses for New York City Taxi Drivers is the Master Cabbie Taxi Academy. Mastercabbie.com. Classes are available six days per week. The price ( On 10/29/07) is . or . with online registration.

Applicants are required to complete Form B of the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission Taxi Drivers Application. This must be completed by a certified Medical Doctor.

• The application must be submitted in person to the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission at either 32-02 Queens Blvd. Long Island City N.Y. 11101 Monday through Friday 9AM to 4PM.

• A secondary location for submission is in Staten Island. Open Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays at 1893 Richmond Terrace Staten Island NY 10302.

• No walk-ins are permitted at the Staten Island Location.

• For an appointment call: 212-227-6324.

• At the time of application the applicant will be required to pay a sixty dollar application fee by money order made payable to the NYC TLC.

• At the time of application the applicant is also required to pay a seventy-five dollar fingerprinting fee by money order made payable to N.Y.S.D.C.J.S.

Applicants for a Hack License are required to be tested for illegal drugs. A Hack License will not be issued to any person not completing the test.

• The only pre-licensing approved drug testing center is at 31-00 47th Ave. Long Island City NY 11101.

• It is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

• Payment must be by money order made payable to Lab Corp. Inc.

• Failing the drug test will result in a licensing standards hearing conducted by the NYC T&LC. The application for the Hack License may be denied a license may not be issued in this case.

NYC requires mandatory pre-license training for all New York City taxi drivers. The training is conducted by approved training institutions. The minimum training requirement is a twenty-four hour program. A three day course, consisting of three eight hour components. Geography/Map Reading, Rules and Regulations / Defensive Driving and Customer Service are some of the topics of study.

There is a separate course consisting of Eighty Hours of classroom study requiring nine eight hour days of classroom training, and one day of testing. The Eighty-hour Program is the program on which the New York City Taxi driver test is based.

Other programs, for how to get a hack license which have no time constraints are also available. The most prominent program is conducted by Master Cabbie Taxi Academy. The programs are unlimited in length, so long as the student maintains a regular schedule at the school.

Other unlimited programs include all for the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission application process. Persons utilizing credit cards make use of this option to have Master Cabbie Taxi Academy make the fee’s available when the student is ready for each phase of the Hack licensing process. This removes the need to purchase money orders for which only cash can be used.

The taxi driver test for how to get a hack license in New York City consists of two parts. It is administered by the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission each week at the Master Cabbie Taxi Academy.

• The Hack License applicant must successfully complete an English Proficiency as part of the exam. It is a low level ESL exam for basic, English proficiency, consisting of four parts. There are thirty questions, fifteen of which are fill-ins, and fifteen of which are multiple choice. An applicant must score twenty-one correctly to pass the exam. Applicants failing the exam are allowed to sit for a second exam on another date. Applicants failing the exam for a second time must submit a new application to the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission if they wish to continue the process of obtaining a New York City Hack License.

• The final step in the process of How To Get A Hack License in NYC is, The New York City Taxi Operators exam. The Taxi Operators exam consists of two parts. One part is open book and the other is closed book. Part One consists of ten questions. The applicant is allowed to use a Five (5) Borough New York City Atlas and a Street address locator during this portion of the exam. For this portion of the exam forty-five minutes is allowed.

• Part Two of the New York City Taxi Operators exam allows the applicant seventy-five minutes and consists of forty questions. Approximately twelve questions will pertain to rules and regulations and defensive driving questions. The remaining twenty-eight questions will pertain to geography, landmarks, highways, air, bus and train terminals, etc. Applicants must answer thirty-five questions correctly, scoring seventy percent, or better, to pass the exam. Applicants failing the exam are allowed to sit for a second exam on another date. Applicants failing the exam for a second time must submit a new application to the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission if they wish to continue the process.

Taxi drivers in New York City earn as much as one thousand dollars per week and more.

If you wish to apply for a New York City Hack License you should contact Master Cabbie Taxi Academy. At: 718-472-1699 or 1-800-955-TAXI.

© Terry Gelber October 2007

Terry Gelber has a NYC Hack License.

http:www.mastercabbie.com

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Discovering New York City On-Foot

August 21, 2010

Discovering New York City On-Foot

Depending on where you happen to be standing, walking, eating or sleeping, New York is either the most overwhelming and chaotic city in America or the warmest, most romantic town on earth.

For all the bright-lights-big-city grandeur (Midtown’s twinkling canyons, Wall Street’s warp-speed intensity), one can always find a charmingly quiet neighborhood where the world feels no wider than a sidewalk stoop—and all these lie within mere blocks of one another.

You can experience the size and scale of New York City on a helicopter tour, get a glimpse of all the famous landmarks on a bus tour – but, to truly get to the heart of the “big apple”; to understand its people and get up close to the New York tourist attractions you really need to take a New York City sightseeing tours.

New York is one of the world’s great walking cities and it is best to explore this city on foot. Venture into the green spaces of central park, go around the Brooklyn Bridge or just poke around the neighborhood cafes, shops, art galleries or museums. Heading out to walk the neighborhoods of New York is a fun, involved, and adventurous way to see the sights and life of the city. Guided walking tours of New York offer a relaxed place and low-budget entertainment.

New York City walking tours can be an excellent choice for budget traveler. It also allows travelers to explore the street life of NYC.

There is a great range of walking tours of New York City available; whether you want to discover the historic districts, wander the streets of the ethnic neighborhoods or lose yourself in the magnificent Central Park. From a historic pub crawl to dishing the dirt on Wall Street to a scholar led tour walking tour of New York’s archeological sites (yes, archeological sites), New York walking tours are as diverse as the city itself. They also cover major New York tours and attractions, New York museums that can otherwise be visited by bus.

Some of the popular walking tours are:

The Wall Street Financial Crisis Tour

What exactly happened between 2007 and 2009 to bring the world economy to its knees?  No, we’re not exactly sure either; or at least we weren’t until we took this wonderful New York walking tour.  Led by a Wall Street insider this tour is a lesson in global banking and a sightseeing tour combined!

New York Walking Tour – Archeology

New York City may not be one of the destinations that you associate with archeology; however this New York Walking tour sets out to change that perception, giving you a fascinating introduction into urban archeology, where the ancient city meets the modern.  Your guide, a trained archeologist will show you the foundations of the city and you will also visit the New York City archeology lab which is not open to the general public.

Greenwich Village Walking Tour – In the Footsteps of Edgar Allen Poe

Greenwich Village is one of New York’s most fascinating districts and definitely an area to be explored on foot. On this New York walking tour you’ll find out how, for well over a century, ‘The Village’ has nurtured struggling artists, writers and musicians from Edgar Allan Poe to the Beat poets to Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel.

History of Central Park Walking Tour

For many New Yorkers, Central Park is the heart of their city.  The 480 acre park is used for recreation, romance, culture, memorials and much more.  This New York walking tour is led by an academic expert with vast knowledge on New York City’s history who will talk you through the history of Central Park, from the urban landscaping project which created the park to the innovative conservation movements that maintain it.

Jewish Cuisine and Culture Walking Tour

One of a more off-the-beaten-track New York Walking Tours, this tour takes you to the Lower East Side to visit an area which has been shaped by Jewish Immigrants from Russia and Eastern Europe.  As well as providing a window to the history and culture of the area, your tour guide – an expert on Jewish Cuisine, will take you to many of the area’s most renowned deli’s where you can sample bialys, pickles and many more Jewish delicacies.

New York Pub Crawl – East Village

Travel back in time on this New York walking tour which takes you to some of New York’s oldest pubs.  Have a drink in a pub once frequented by JFK and the pub where Abraham Lincoln drank after making his Cooper Union address.

These are just examples. There are a lot more popular walking tours available at New York City walking tours.

Just remember that you wear comfortable shoes and if you’re walking during the summer, be sure to bring plenty of water. Last but not the least, don’t forget to bring your camera.

Travel Guru

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New York Habitat’s Top 5 New York City Churches

August 14, 2010

New York Habitat’s Top 5 New York City Churches

Are you planning a trip to New York City? Find a great vacation rental with New York Habitat. While your visiting New York there are plenty of things to do and sights to see. Many people come to New York City to see the world famous churches. Here are the top 5 must-see churches in New York City. Try to visit them while staying in a New York Habitat furnished apartment rental.

Visit the New York Habitat Blog to read more about each of these churches and find out why you should see them all on your next visit to New York City.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown Manhattan is perhaps the most well-known church in all of New York, or North America for that matter. The Neo Gothic cathedral rivals the likes of Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral in its gothic grandeur and standing within the city’s architectural lexicon. St. Patrick’s is the head of the New York Catholic church, acting as the seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, and the structure plays a vital role as both a symbol of Catholic New York (particularly Irish Catholic) and as an active place of worship. Today’s church has become a bona-fide tourist attraction for both its location across from Rockefeller Center and its remarkable architecture.

St. Paul’s Chapel

One of the most indelible images of downtown Manhattan in the days following the attacks of September 11th was that of the dust covered St. Paul’s Chapel standing defiantly in what was once the shadow of the World Trade Center.  The quaint chapel, located literally steps from the footprint of the towers survived the attack remarkably unscathed. Images of the chapel quickly gained recognition around the world as a symbol of fortitude and strength during the city’s greatest tragedy. The church’s role in 9/11 tells only a small fraction of the chapel’s history, one dating all the way back to 1766.

Riverside Church

The Riverside Church stands like a beacon at the northern end of Manhattan island. In a city filled with skyscraping buildings the Gothic masterpiece still manages to stand tall. In fact, the Riverside Church is the tallest church in the entire United States and is currently the 26th tallest in the world. More than just a large structure, the Riverside Church has acted as a longtime sanctuary and celebratory hall for generations of Harlemites. Indeed, the church is known as much for its activism and community involvement as it is for its towering steeple.

Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine

As mass immigration flooded New York towards the turn of the 20th century,the Cathedral of St. John the Divine was started in 1892 with the idea that it would become a house of prayer for all nations. The consequent construction of the church was halted by two World Wars, numerous design alterations and more recently a large fire that closed the building for several years. Still, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine remains one of New York’s finest religious structures, despite the small fact that the building officially remains unfinished more than a century from when it was started.

Trinity Church Wall Street

Located at the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway in the Financial District,Trinity Church has been at the heart of a changing New York for centuries. The old pillar of the rapidly changing neighborhood represents a Downtown New York that no longer exists, one in which this district was not only the financial hub of the city, but also the communal and spiritual center of New York.  

Take a look at our links to the New York Habitat Blog to read more about each of these Churches, and to learn about other events and attractions that you can see during your stay in New York City. With New York Habitat you can book a vacation rental from 2 nights to 1 month, giving you just the right amount of time you need to see all of the attractions you are interested in. New York Habitat also offers accommodations in London, Paris and the South of France. Please visit our website for more information and to see our current vacation rentals.

 

New York Habitat is a Real Estate agent specializing in furnished apartments and vacation rentals in New York, Paris, London, and the South of France (Provence, French Riviera & Alps)

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New York Habitat’s Top 5 Literary Hotspots in New York City

August 13, 2010

by ptufts

New York Habitat’s Top 5 Literary Hotspots in New York City

New York City is the place to be if you want to experience literature in a truly unique way. Besides the world famous libraries that the city has to offer, there is literary history in everyday pubs, bookstores and parks. New York has many literary haunts that are inspiring places for both published authors and the everyday person who enjoys writing or reading a good book. If you want to share a bar stool that a famous poet once sat on or simply sit outside amongst others scribbling away in their journals then this list should get you started during your stay in New York. Stay in a New York Habitat vacation rental while you visit these top 5 literary Hotspots.

The Strand Bookstore

The Strand Bookstore is a New York Institution. Opened in 1927 and still operated by the same family, the store has withstood the Great Depression, The Second World War and, perhaps most impressively, the watershed changes from text to digital literacy practices and the onslaught of the corporate bookseller. Despite a massive Barnes and Noble bookstore just a few blocks away, The Strand is the preferred bookshop for any New Yorker in the know. (link to blog article)

The New York Public Library

Amid all of the slightly-choreographed chaos of the city is the New York Public Library, a serene oasis in the center of the concrete jungle. From the exterior, the grand branch of the New York Public Library system on the corner of 5th avenue and 42nd street appears as hectic and crowded as any other corner of the city, with guided groups gathering on the structure’s front steps and adventuresome youngsters clamoring for space with pigeons on the backs of the foreboding marble lion statues that stand guard at the entrance. However, once one wanders into the interior of the building a world of literary and architectural brilliance opens up like the pages of a novel. (Link to blog article)

Bryant Park

Bryant Park is truly many things; lunch spot for thousands of workers on any given weekday, host of one of the world’s greatest fashion shows and an office for the students and professionals sitting at the green tables typing away at their laptops. But perhaps more than anything,Bryant Park is one of New York’s great literary haunts, with a history both glorious and checkered and a world-class library as its next-door neighbor. (link to blog article)

Village Pubs

New York has a great literary tradition that often mingles with one of the city’s other proud pastimes, drinking.Many New York writers, past and present, have found inspiration in the city’s drinking establishments and at the bottom of their sudsy pints and swirling martini glasses. Indeed, dozens of pubs in New York City claim to have hosted a literary great or two in their bar stools and the majority of them have valid claims. Greenwich Village in the southern section of Manhattan island, is the one place that has mixed a tradition of writing and drinking more than any other. Bibliophiles, historians

To read more about these unique New York hotspots, please visit our blog where you can see full articles about each of these literary haunts as well as other great attractions that new york has to offer.

Are you planning a trip to New York City? Make your accommodations with New York Habitat. Visit the New York Habitat website for more information or to fill out an apartment request form.

New York Habitat is a Real Estate agent specializing in furnished apartments and vacation rentals in New York, Paris, London, and the South of France (Provence, French Riviera & Alps)

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