Drive!

March 16, 2005

Cowardly Statists Harass the Weak

Another rip-off tip-off is when one or more people enter the cab and just tell the operator to "drive." Some people do this just to be ass-holes. Others do it because they don't intend to pay the fare. The best thing to do is to quizz them on their destination. It's surprising how many of these "rip artists" fail to plan their enterprise by at least having in mind some phoney destination. It doesn't take much to determine whether they have any particular destination in mind. If it turns out they have no idea then you have successfully nipped the rip in the bud.

Even if they are just trying to be ass-holes it is worth determining the exact destination before you start driving. Often what happens with these "drive" type ass-holes is they will tell you you missed a turn, or wait until the last nanosecond to tell you to turn, illegally.... then claim they don't have to pay the fare because you took the the "long way around."

I once got a couple from a restaraunt on Main Street East. After they entered the cab and I asked for a destination the guy said, "just drive." I think he was trying to impress his lady friend. It must have been the mood I was in that night.... because that is exactly what I did.... i drove and I drove.... past the east end of the city.... right through Stoney Creek and beyond. I was half-way to Niagara Falls when the guy finally piped up....

"Where the hell are you going?".

"You said 'drive'. That's exactly what I'm doing."

"No, no, no, we wanted to go to so-and-so crescent in Stoney Creek!"

"You should have told me then," I said.

This was stupid of me since I had now opened up the door to a refusal to pay on "long way around" grounds. I was lucky this time. Even though the fare cost twice what it should have the guy paid. I think the lady-friend was impressed. No tip though.

Are you a cab driver? Do you carry a cellphone to get a little extra business directly from your passengers? If so, you may want to get some business cards printed with your cellphone number on them. Click on the banner below for a pretty good deal.

1. Translations.
2. Trust Me.
3. Drive!
4. Stoned Man!
5. I'm a Canadian!
6. Violence.

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last modified:Wednesday,March 19, 2008 at 04:40