Many of us have taken a cab ride at one time or another. Perhaps, it was to or from the airport. Or, maybe after we had a bit too much to drink and needed a safe ride home. Whatever the reason, it’s safe to say that we expect (or at least hope) the person behind the wheel has some integrity. Is that too much to ask? Apparently so, according to the New York Department of Investigation, which recently released the results of an “integrity test” given to New York City cab drivers.
The investigation’s premise was simple: Randomly choose cabs that were picking up passengers at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Investigators pretending to be visitors, who didn’t speak English, hailed various yellow cabs and handed notes to the drivers asking to be taken to either the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in Manhattan or the Brooklyn Marriott. The results: More than a dozen taxi drivers overcharged the investigators posing as foreign tourists. The report says, of the 24 cabbies who took the “integrity test,” 13 violated Taxi and Limousine Commission regulations. In fact, “two of the cab drivers charged $82.50 and $65.50 above the metered fare for the trip to Brooklyn, respectively taking in $130 and $100.” They were arrested and charged with petty larceny and their cabs were impounded.
So, how can you protect yourself from being taken for a “ride” by dubious taxi cab drivers?
· Get an estimated rate from the driver before starting your trip.
· Make a note of the cab number and company and request a receipt (the cab company’s name and car number should be included on your receipt).
· Always allow enough time to reach your destination. Prior to your day of travel, call the cab company to inquire about an estimated time of travel from the origin to the destination.
· Always pay the charges off the meter only.
· When vacating the cab, look around and make sure you have not left any personal belongings articles behind.
· Always report any problems immediately to the cab company.
· Inquire with the driver about an hourly rate if you anticipate several destinations.
Finally, here’s some information to keep handy the next time you are taking a taxi in the Big Apple: The flat fare from JFK to Manhattan is $45 plus tolls, and the trip to Brooklyn or any of the other boroughs is metered. There is no flat fare for passengers going to the airport.