“Dear PoPville,
The last two times I’ve taken a cab, the driver has had a built-in system as well as a Square. In the latest one, they had one of those great NYC-style video systems in the back, and the system appeared to be working normally, but when it came time to pay, the driver pulled out his cellphone and swiped my card on Square. I asked for a receipt and he gave me one of the old-style paper slips.
I assume this is a tactic to avoid reporting fares–claiming the square income as “cash” perhaps–and I’ve heard that taxis are not permitted to use square as their credit card system. But is there any good reason for me to insist on using the built-in-system? Have other people encountered this?”
Photo by PoPville flickr user gerdaindc
Every time we post about free taxi rides from SoberRides over holidays like Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, etc. many commenters write that it is impossible to get a ride. SoberRides follow ups:
“I wanted to let you know the program provided over 300 free cabs last night [Halloween], nearly twice the amount as last year. A ride was given every 70 seconds on average.”
So did anyone attempt to use the free taxi ride on Halloween? If so, did it work for you?
In August we learned that the Taxi Commission had adopted a Uniform Color – “red with a gray stripe along both sides”. I’ve started noticing them all over the District. Do you like the look?
“Dear PoPville,
Does anyone know the status of the deadline for cabs to have credit card readers? I thought it was October 1. Was that extended? I have seen a lot of cabs without them. How about the new signs on top of the car?”
From the DC Taxi Commission on Sept. 27th:
“Although no extension of the deadline was granted, DCTC did agree to review the specific hardship circumstances provided only through DC Drivers United for Equal Rights to determine if any relief would be warranted.
DCTC is projecting about 5,100 taxis will be equipped with MTS by October 1; which represents 80 percent of the active fleet.”
For those who’ve taken taxis recently – did yours have a credit car reader?
About the new signs up top from the DC Taxi Commission:
“All licensed DC taxicabs are required to have the new standardized dome light installed by November 1, 2013. Vehicles found not in compliance will be impounded. An owner whose vehicle is impounded for failure to have a dome light will be required to pay all fees and costs associated with impoundment. The new standardized dome light will display the Public Vehicle Identification Number (PVIN) which is a combination of one letter and three numbers. See below for the list of approved installation companies to order and schedule installation of the new standardized dome light and answers to several frequently asked questions regarding the PVIN as it relates to the new standardized dome light.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user AWard Tour
Did DC taxis raise their rate again?
“I was in a cab coming back from Reagan on Sunday and the base price was $3.25 and the extra fee was $2.75 (I know $2.50 is the airport fee, but that leaves $0.25 extra).
I looked over at the fare sticker and it looked brand new.. on the top is said Effective June 1, 2013. It said the base fare was actually $3.25 and there was a $0.25 fee for the 1st passenger and the $1 fee for additional passengers was brought back.
Was this a fake sticker? I can’t find any other info on the fare hikes.
http://dctaxi.dc.gov/node/310182 still has the old fares.”
You can see all forum topics and add your own here.
Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99
“Dear PoPville,
As a person though who grew up on the Hill and often depended on cabs to get me home from NW safely, and dealt with cabs refusing to come to Petworth after I moved in 07, this really got my goat! Amazing now getting to Petworth is easier than the Hill.
I am so mad at DC’s taxi system. I sent this complaint to the DC Taxi Commission tonight. After the following event occurred, I told my own driver that this is exactly why Uber is thriving in this city. Terrible!
This evening, my friend hailed two cabs seeking transportation to Eastern Market from Belmont and Columbia Road NW. The first didn’t accept her after we informed the driver she was going to the Hill. We decided to not inform the second driver since we knew it was illegal for the cab to refuse, so better for her to enter the cab. She got in and I thought departed for her destination. After getting into my own cab going to Petworth, I discovered her on the next corner. She reported the driver had refused to take her to the Hill, and asked her to leave the cab. This is illegal. She deserves a safe ride home in a taxi if she able to pay the fare.
The DC Taxi Commission reinforces the incredibly poor, antiquated taxi service in the city. This type of behavior in addition to the resistance of drivers to incorporate credit card payment options makes our city a laughingstock.”
Response to the OP from the DC Taxicab Commission:
“The DCTC is aggressively enforcing what we consider to be one of the most egregious violations of our regulations: Failure to Haul which carries a $500 fine. We appreciate your bringing this to our attention. If the individual who experienced this violation will email or call David Person ([email protected].; 202 645-6008) and provide him with the information necessary to identify the driver we will initiate an action against the driver. Ordering a passenger from a vehicle is a violation called “abusive conduct” and would be an additional $500 fine. We also endeavor to see that users of taxies in The District know their passenger rights. Passengers have the right to enter a taxi that stops for them, enter it, close the door and then inform the driver where they want to go. The driver then is obligated to serve that passenger. Any passenger who a driver physically attempts to eject should immediately summon the Metropolitan Police Department. Thank you for your assistance.
Ron M. Linton
Chairman
DC Taxicab Commission”
Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99
NBC Washington reports on this odd ruling:
“In a direct blow to app-based cab services like Uber, the D.C. Taxi Commission Monday approved new regulations that disallow some fuel-efficient vehicles, like Toyota Prius, from operating as sedans.”
From the DC Taxicab Commission:
“The DC Taxicab Commission (DCTC) approved today the adoption of final regulations defining sedan vehicles and the rulemaking concerning the uniform color scheme for taxicabs. The specific regulations regarding sedans are contained in Chapters 12 and 14. The uniform color scheme is covered in Chapters 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9.
The characteristics to define sedan vehicles include: an L Tag; prohibition from accepting street hails; no meter; and specific size and color limits. The uniform color adopted is a red with a gray stripe along both sides to include company name, logo and contact information. The transition to the uniform color will initially occur for equipment replacements due to age, mileage or DMV inspection rejection.”
You can read their full report here.
Photo by PoPville flickr user AWard Tour
“Dear PoP,
The $1.00 fuel surcharge expired on the 17th, but every cab I have taken since then has tried to charge me the surcharge. It would be a service to your readers to let them know.”
I put a call into the DC Taxi Commission and was told that the $1 fuel surcharge has been extended until March 5, 2012. It was previously extended from July 25, 2011 – Nov. 17, 2011. New stickers indicating the March 5, 2012 extension will be placed in taxi cabs.
Incidentally there is a meeting about a rate increase on Tuesday, November 29, 2011, at 10 am in the Old Council Chambers at 441 4th Street, NW.
“Dear PoPville,
I rode in a Unity Cab last night via a forced shared taxi setup at Union Station. It seemed like a good idea when the dispatcher started grouping riders by location, especially as the line of people waiting for a taxi grew: group shared taxi = lower costs all around, right? Unfortunately, my taxi driver broke the law when he did not reset his meter after each dropoff. Worse, when I questioned him about the fare, he lied to me, insisting that Union Station fares are an ‘exception’ to the law. Even though I asked, I still paid almost the full fare but instantly regretted this (at 1 am, who really wants to get in an argument with a taxi driver, even if they are in the right?).
Looking online, this seems to be a pretty entrenched operation at Union Station not limited to Unity Taxi – other taxis do it too, and have been for a while. What’s annoying is that they probably get away with it most of the time, especially late at night and with out of towners.
As soon as I got home, I confirmed what I already suspected: If you’re forced to share a taxi, or even if you share one with a friend, the cabbie is required by law to reset the meter each time a passenger gets out. No exceptions or exemptions. And, you can decline to share a taxi with other passengers.
I wrote to Mary Cheh (on the transportation committee) who forwarded my note to Ron Linton, the Taxi Commissioner. No matter what happens at the city council level though, I want to do what I can to raise awareness of this lousy practice. I admit that I cringe almost every time I get in a DC taxi, expecting the driver will come up with some extra fee for something totally arbitrary – it’s extremely rare that I ever encounter an honest cabbie in this city.
In the meantime, I’m curious if anyone else has experienced this, or another form of taxi scam in DC?”
