FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –
May 22, 2026
TLC Unveils New, Celebratory Medallion to Mark the United States’ 250th Anniversary
Yellow Taxis Will Feature Tin Design Inspired by Lady Liberty and the American Flag
(Credit: Medallion design by TLC Multimedia Coordinator Katie Miller)
NEW YORK, NY – A hint of red, white, blue (and green) is joining New York City’s iconic yellow.
The NYC Taxi and Limousine
Commission (TLC) today officially unveiled its next medallion,
featuring a design that celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the United
States' Declaration of Independence. The metal tins – which are
affixed to each active yellow taxi throughout the city – feature
colors and imagery that emulate the United States flag, with embossed
stars and stripes, and are also inspired by the Statue of Liberty.
“For generations, immigrants have looked to Lady Liberty as a symbol of arrival — of possibility,”
said Deputy Mayor of Economic Justice Julie Su.
“The men and women driving our yellow cabs are living that story
every day. It's only right that they carry a piece of it with
them.”
“This historic medallion is not only a celebration of our past, but also our present,” said
TLC Commissioner and Chair Midori Valdivia. “The vast
majority of the taxicabs it will be attached to will be driven by
people who came here to work hard in pursuit of America’s
timeless promise of freedom and opportunity. For millions of visitors,
they’re the first ambassadors for both our city and our
country.”
Before 1996, medallions had
no-frills designs that focused primarily on the license (or medallion)
number’s visibility. However, since then, new medallions have
been more intricately designed every two years, featuring more colors
and Big Apple landmarks.
Once a new design is approved by
the TLC Chair, Inspectors at TLC’s Woodside facility attach them
to the hood of every yellow taxi as they cycle through for annual
inspections or new hack-ups. Yellow taxis are the only vehicles
authorized to pick up street-hailing passengers anywhere in New York
City. By law, there are 13,587 yellow taxis in New York City, and each
must have a medallion attached to its hood.
The taxi medallion system
originated in 1937, when Mayor Fiorello La Guardia signed the Haas Act,
which introduced the medallion system to bring stability and structure
to the taxi industry. While some taxi regulation existed previously
with the Bureau of Licenses, the medallions ushered in a more formal
process. New York City's Board of Aldermen – later replaced by
the New York City Council – responded to calls for reform in 1937
by passing the Haas Act. At the time, 13,566 medallions were sold for
$10 each.
The Act's provisions included a
limitation on the number of "medallion" licenses (and therefore,
taxicabs) that existed at the time. Before the TLC’s creation in
1971, the Police Department's “Hack Bureau” regulated the
taxi industry, and by extension, medallions.
About NYC TLC
Created in 1971, NYC TLC is the
agency responsible for licensing and regulating New York City's
medallion (yellow) taxi cabs, for-hire vehicles (community-based
liveries, black cars, and luxury limousines), commuter vans, and
paratransit vehicles, along with the businesses that operate them. It
is recognized as the largest and most active taxi and for-hire vehicle
regulatory body in the United States.
Almost 180,000 TLC licensees
complete approximately 1,000,000 trips each day. To operate for hire,
drivers must first undergo a background check, have a safe driving
record, and complete 24 hours of driver training. TLC-licensed vehicles
are inspected for safety and emissions at TLC's Woodside Inspection
Facility.
To find out more about the TLC, or
to review its rules, regulations, and procedures, we encourage you to
visit our official website at www.nyc.gov/taxi or contact 311/311
Online.
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