Cab situation on NYE (response from gov't now posted)

[ph4ever]

and where do they find those Middle Eastern radio stations? Without fail if you get in any Boston cab they always have on some weirdo Islamic station

you need Bobby

[The Lost Manatee]

City, County, State and Federal governments can and do set what is necessary to get a license in a regulated business and can and do dictate what services will be offered and how much can be charged. Look at all the regulations covering the practice of law, medicine, engineering, public utilities, public broadcasting, etc. The government can and does dictate to those industries based on the notion that they serve the public and the government is the entity that decides what is in the best interest of the public.

While the government doesn't tell a doctor that she or he has to treat a common cold, it does tell the doctor what drugs/treatments he or she may use and what ones are prohibited.

If businesses were only restricted by the EOA things would be much different then they are. No Clean Air Act, no Clean Water Act, no Living Wage laws, no government regulated monopolies, etc.

The sad truth is that businesses are buried under piles of regulations from all levels of government and cabbies are no exception.

Of course there are regulations, but what I've been saying is that the government cannot step in and and require a private business to offer a specific service. Telling a cabbie that he is required to take a passenger to any particular place is the same as telling an airline that they must have flights to all major cities. It can't be done.

I wish that were true but the government continually tells private companies that they have to do something specific in order to get a license or a permit or a contract. For example, if you live in a rural area the government may require the phone company to provide you service or even at a discounted price when compared to the actual costs. Another example, a builder wants to build a new condo complex in a neighborhood that was previously industrial and the city may require that so many units be low cost housing. Other examples would include cable companies being required to provide the city or county or both with a number of channels that the city or county can use for whatever purpose, all at no direct cost to the city or county. This is in exchange for the city/county granting the cable company the right to do business in that city or county.

I just checked with a co-worker who used to drive cabs in Los Angeles and Las Vegas and Salt Lake City and he says that in all 3 places cabbies are required to take any passenger who is waiting at a cab stand, any where that the passenger wants to go. The only exception is if the cabbie fears for his life, then he doesn't have to go where the passenger tells him.

[iuparrothead]

Hmmm... very interesting!

[carey24]

I first emailed the Mayor of Baltimore and he directed me to the state government. This is the response I received:

"Baltimore City taxicabs and taxicab drivers are regulated by this
Commission. We require and conduct regular inspections of taxi vehicles,
we monitor insurance coverage, and we investigate each potential permit
holder and driver for criminal history and MVA driving record violations on
an ongoing basis.

Your second issue, refusal of service by two taxicabs, is a
violation of Commission regulations. A Baltimore City taxi driver is
obligated to transport any orderly passenger. Your destination outside
of Baltimore City was not a valid reason to refuse service. If you can
provide the cab number (posted on the inside and outside of each taxicab)
or tag number of each of these taxicabs, I will be happy to further
investigate both incidents. Penalties for the drivers may include a formal
reprimand, suspension, or revocation of the license."

[Quiet and Shy]

I first emailed the Mayor of Baltimore and he directed me to the state government. This is the response I received:

"Baltimore City taxicabs and taxicab drivers are regulated by this
Commission. We require and conduct regular inspections of taxi vehicles,
we monitor insurance coverage, and we investigate each potential permit
holder and driver for criminal history and MVA driving record violations on
an ongoing basis.

Your second issue, refusal of service by two taxicabs, is a
violation of Commission regulations. A Baltimore City taxi driver is
obligated to transport any orderly passenger. Your destination outside
of Baltimore City was not a valid reason to refuse service. If you can
provide the cab number (posted on the inside and outside of each taxicab)
or tag number of each of these taxicabs, I will be happy to further
investigate both incidents. Penalties for the drivers may include a formal
reprimand, suspension, or revocation of the license."

That sounds fair and appropriate; they're there to provide a service which you then pay for. The fares should generally take into account the travel distances -- albeit some can be more of a hassle for them than others. To refuse a fare ten minutes out of the city is rediculous. And, it sounds like being dressed in heels, etc. you probably weren't brandishing knives. Sorry to hear about your experience; that's a tough way to end an enjoyable evening and unfortunately, it certainly does nothing to encourage others to aviod drinking and driving.

I had a Paris taxi driver get lost. He dumped me on a street corner because he couldn't find his way. I paid him part of the fare (to get me to the general area of the city) but not all of it (he shared some choice French words with me). I was by a Metro (subway) station and knew where I wanted to go (had been to the hotel and neighborhood previously) but had too much luggage (computer bag, 2+ week trip) to do all the steps. The second taxi driver I found got a bit lost as well and I had to tell him where to turn. And that was after flying back from the northeast of the country where the hotel forgot to leave me an early breakfast, that taxi was late, the original airport was fogged in, so we were driven to another airport an hour away and flew out of there. The joys of travel!

[iuparrothead]

I first emailed the Mayor of Baltimore and he directed me to the state government. This is the response I received:

"Baltimore City taxicabs and taxicab drivers are regulated by this
Commission. We require and conduct regular inspections of taxi vehicles,
we monitor insurance coverage, and we investigate each potential permit
holder and driver for criminal history and MVA driving record violations on
an ongoing basis.

Your second issue, refusal of service by two taxicabs, is a
violation of Commission regulations. A Baltimore City taxi driver is
obligated to transport any orderly passenger. Your destination outside
of Baltimore City was not a valid reason to refuse service. If you can
provide the cab number (posted on the inside and outside of each taxicab)
or tag number of each of these taxicabs, I will be happy to further
investigate both incidents. Penalties for the drivers may include a formal
reprimand, suspension, or revocation of the license."

That is fascinating. I stand corrected. Thanks for the update!

[LIPH]

It's the same in NYC, they can't refuse a passenger. But if you live outside the 5 boroughs you get screwed on the fare. You pay what's on the meter as long as you're within the 5 boroughs, once you cross the border (for instance from Queens County to Nassau County where I live) you pay double the meter for the distance outside the city limits.

[RAGTOP]

In Boston just to leave the airport the fare starts at $8.25. ($6.50 for the tolls and tunnel expense and the $1.75 for the meter). Boston cabs are ripoffs.

[LIPH]

I took a cab home from LaGuardia Airport once, it was over $50. Now I go to Penn Station instead for less than $30 then take the train home. I already have a monthly ticket for the LIRR so it doesn't cost any extra. If I fly into JFK, I take the AirTrain from the airport to the Jamaica LIRR station for $5.

[RinglingRingling]

I took a cab home from LaGuardia Airport once, it was over $50. Now I go to Penn Station instead for less than $30 then take the train home. I already have a monthly ticket for the LIRR so it doesn't cost any extra. If I fly into JFK, I take the AirTrain from the airport to the Jamaica LIRR station for $5.

for any trip out of town shorter than 8 days, it is cheaper for me to take my own car, and park in the longterm lot and drive home than it is to take a cab to the airport. Cabs in CMH are close to licensed thievery, and I would just as soon be stuck in traffic in my own car than someone else's when I am paying every 1/9 of a mile or x# of seconds.

[RAGTOP]

I took a cab from JFK last week and paid $45 to midtown. Considering where JFK is I think that is pretty reasonable. $50 from LaGuardia is a ripoff.

[RAGTOP]

I don't even know what it takes to get a cab driver's license. I think all you need is a face. This seems to be their big qualification. "That's the law now, no blank heads are allowed to drive cabs". It also helps to have a name with like, 8 consonants in a row.

What is that "o" with the line through it ? What letter is that ? I don't remember that letter in school. You need a chart of the elements if you wanna report the guy. "Yes officer, his name was Ammal, and then the symbol for boron... I believe. I had the periodic chart with me at the time, I'm quite certain it was not manganese".

-Seinfeld

[job41475]

I took a cab home from LaGuardia Airport once, it was over $50. Now I go to Penn Station instead for less than $30 then take the train home. I already have a monthly ticket for the LIRR so it doesn't cost any extra. If I fly into JFK, I take the AirTrain from the airport to the Jamaica LIRR station for $5.

Yeah that's how I do it too. I rarely use JFK but I would do that too....Cab fare is ridiculous once it comes out this way.

[iuparrothead]

I don't even know what it takes to get a cab driver's license. I think all you need is a face. This seems to be their big qualification. "That's the law now, no blank heads are allowed to drive cabs". It also helps to have a name with like, 8 consonants in a row.

What is that "o" with the line through it ? What letter is that ? I don't remember that letter in school. You need a chart of the elements if you wanna report the guy. "Yes officer, his name was Ammal, and then the symbol for boron... I believe. I had the periodic chart with me at the time, I'm quite certain it was not manganese".

-Seinfeld

roflmao!

[job41475]

I don't even know what it takes to get a cab driver's license. I think all you need is a face. This seems to be their big qualification. "That's the law now, no blank heads are allowed to drive cabs". It also helps to have a name with like, 8 consonants in a row.

What is that "o" with the line through it ? What letter is that ? I don't remember that letter in school. You need a chart of the elements if you wanna report the guy. "Yes officer, his name was Ammal, and then the symbol for boron... I believe. I had the periodic chart with me at the time, I'm quite certain it was not manganese".

-Seinfeld

Yeah that's a great routine....

[RAGTOP]

"I think all you need is a face"... I love that line