Dynasty cab #66 - an email from Susan
I'm sharing the following email from Susan (who continues to refuse to become a co-poster on this board) about her ride to work this morning.So I'm standing on the sidewalk, about to hail a cab when this yellow cab goes flying across two lanes of traffic for me - I decided if he was that determined for a fare, I'd put my hand up to say sure, I want a cab. Well his excitement at having a fare dropped the moment I gave my address, which was not directly downtown, but towards Capital Hill. So the guy starts moaning and groaning about this isn't his cab (isn't that illegal?) and he's got to get it back to the guy who owns it, and he doesn't have any gas, and he just thought he'd do me a favor (this is a favor? Listening to the guy bitch and moan for blocks?) and it'll take forever to get there and he doesn't have time. So what's he want from me? An apology for getting in the cab? Just a few blocks later he swerves into a busy lane, but not to see how many people would honk at him for it, but to pick up a woman who is trying to get a cab. She brushes him off and gets in one of the two empty cabs that he cut in front of. So then I get a lecture on the woman not getting in the cab (what happened to not enough gas or time? Now we've suddenly got both enough to stop for another fare? But it doesn't stop there. He stops for two other people along the way, neither of them want the cab or are going the right way.
posted by DC Cab Rider @ 5:33 PM
5 Comments:
If a driver complains about your destination, remind him that he has three choices:
(1) fail to take you to your destination; result--$250 fine.
(2) take you to your destination and continue to bitch about it; result--no tip.
(3) take you to your destination sans bitching--tip.
This of course works only if you're not bluffing about filing a complaint. Sounds like Susan refuses to keep cab drivers honest by filing complaints when they violate the DCMR, so she won't have the benefit of being taken seriously by drivers.
This will all end when meters start in use. As will the multiple pick-ups.
Like I said before, the arguments now will come as a result of drivers wanting to take one route because it is faster and passengers wanting to take another because it is shorter. If there's no amendment to the DCMR to change the "most reasonable route" language in s. 822.15, things will get interesting. Obviously, as a passenger, I am biased and would like to see the language changed to give the choice to the passenger, but I would like to hear opinions from drivers on the issue.
I do report them. For all the good it ever does.
Susan,
If you report them to the DC Taxicab Commission, they have ten days to respond to the complaint in person and then either pay a fine or request a hearing. Usually they will hear about the complaint approximately two weeks after you submit it to the DC Taxicab Commission. All told, the DC Taxicab Commission should contact you approximately one month after you make the complaint to let you know the status of your complaint. If you do not receive word back, give them a call to see what's up.
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