Spectator editorial: Cash cab
Taxi companies to require passengers to prepay at night
Spectator staff
Issue date: 3/30/09 Section: Editorial/Opinion
After a night at the bars, many people want to just grab a cab and go home. A cab driver wants the riders to pay - this time before the ride is provided.
According to a March 26 article in The Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire police and taxi companies have agreed on a "pre-pay system" that requires late-night passengers to pay before getting in the cab. The policy, which will start on April 2, will apply between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The measure was enacted because some late-night riders had taken cabs to their homes, but when the cab stopped, they ran away without paying.
Not paying cab drivers is irresponsible. It is also hurting a local business that is crucial to the community and so many students rely on after a night out.
This is a great idea and a good move by both parties. Even though it is surprising it didn't happen sooner, after this is implemented it will also give enough time for people to get used to the idea before the next winter - when people use cabs the most late at night.
It will also give more responsibility to riders, as they will know they have to pay first, so they will make sure to have the money to go back home and not spend it, hoping they could skip the fare.
Since Eau Claire cabs don't run on meters, but by zones, cab drivers should already know how much the cost for the ride will be, so it shouldn't be a problem to come up with the fares.
The article stated the plan would give cab drivers the security of knowing that people will pay. It would also cut down on the phone calls cab drivers make to police when a person doesn't pay, helping police officers deal with other problems.
This is a win-win situation. Not only will the police receive fewer calls, cab drivers will get paid and passengers will know up front how much the ride will cost.
According to a March 26 article in The Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire police and taxi companies have agreed on a "pre-pay system" that requires late-night passengers to pay before getting in the cab. The policy, which will start on April 2, will apply between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The measure was enacted because some late-night riders had taken cabs to their homes, but when the cab stopped, they ran away without paying.
Not paying cab drivers is irresponsible. It is also hurting a local business that is crucial to the community and so many students rely on after a night out.
This is a great idea and a good move by both parties. Even though it is surprising it didn't happen sooner, after this is implemented it will also give enough time for people to get used to the idea before the next winter - when people use cabs the most late at night.
It will also give more responsibility to riders, as they will know they have to pay first, so they will make sure to have the money to go back home and not spend it, hoping they could skip the fare.
Since Eau Claire cabs don't run on meters, but by zones, cab drivers should already know how much the cost for the ride will be, so it shouldn't be a problem to come up with the fares.
The article stated the plan would give cab drivers the security of knowing that people will pay. It would also cut down on the phone calls cab drivers make to police when a person doesn't pay, helping police officers deal with other problems.
This is a win-win situation. Not only will the police receive fewer calls, cab drivers will get paid and passengers will know up front how much the ride will cost.
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