Queen City Taxis Tap A Gross Charge
Is ‘hack’ still an acceptable moniker for taxicab drivers, or am I hopelessly behind the PC curve? In any event, you know you have a tough job when it involves cleaning up the bodily fluids of your customers. At least in Charlotte, taxicab drivers will soon be able to reap a little extra compensation for the effort.
A subcommittee of the city’s Passenger Vehicle for Hire (PVH) board recently recommended a few rate changes, based on a survey of taxicab drivers earlier this year, that include adding a $50 charge for “the cleanup of any passenger’s bodily fluid inside the taxi cab,” according to a recent city manager’s memo to councilmembers.
Per the memo: Currently, the ordinance does not allow for any charges by a taxi cab driver related to the discharge of bodily fluids. Taxi cab drivers complained these events prevented them from earning an income while they remove the bodily fluids and sanitize the vehicle.
Other recommended rate changes related from the memo:
* Charge $25.00 from the uptown area (inside I-277) to the airport. Currently, taxi cabs charge a flat fee of $25.00 from the airport to the uptown area but charge a per-mile charge from the uptown area to the airport. Taxi cab drivers complained that it led to confusion with passengers.
* Allow taxi cabs to charge for “time-on” when the vehicle is traveling 15mph or less. “Time-on” references the ability of the taxi cab driver to charge for the time used by the passenger to travel to a destination, instead of charging for the distance. Currently, taxi cab drivers are permitted to charge for “time-on” between 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. which is the hours associated with rush hour within the City.
Taxi cab drivers complained that “time-on” should be charged whenever traffic is very slow or at a standstill because they are prevented from earning other fares that may be available. Examples of traffic being very slow or at a standstill include Panthers games, ACC Championship, CIAA Tournament, vehicular accidents, or vehicular congestion.
The PVH board accepted its committee’s recommendations, but delayed implementation of any rate changes until no later than March 2013, to allow the PVH Manager’s Office to prepare new taxicab rate sheets and coordinate the new “time on” standards with taxicab companies.
Personally, if I’m driving a cab, I’d want the new rates, particularly the one charging a fee for cleaning up bodily fluids, to hit before New Year’s Eve.
Just sayin’
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