May 26, 2004
Beware the unlicensed hacks...
As a semi-frequent cab rider in the district, I've learned that cab drivers in D.C. have some insane stories. I've heard about stories about human-eating zombies in Zimbabwe, had conversations about the socio-economic status of African immigrants with a cab driver who sent his children home to Africa becaues they were turning into Americans, spoke to computer programmers turned Montgomery Co. cab drivers, and listened to Russian immigrants tell me how they were trained architects but prefered cab driving because they could put their kids up from school in the evening.
But, what I heard the other night was news even to me. Cab drivers in Washington -- as with almost all other cities -- are required to be licensed and insured. Apparently, the test to become a cab driver in D.C. is rather difficult -- and costly and time consuming -- so there are many more people willing to drive a cab in Washington than are able to pass the test...and there are many cab drivers in D.C. who don't want to deal with driving late at night in the city and dealing with drunk interns and college students.
The solution? Lease out cabs to unlicensed cab drivers.
More after the break
According to my cabbie source (whose identity I couldn't reveal even if I wanted to, as I don't remember his name), the cab companies have started renting cabs out to unliscened drivers who are willing to work the overnight shift. The drivers are required to post a "bond" equal to the $500 fine for driving without a license (and potentially another $500 for the fine for permitting the operation of a cab without the identification card). They then rent a cab from the company as a normal driver would and either don't display a Hack license or display the license of someone who looks somewhat similar to them. A network of these drivers has developed (most are recent immigrants) and they spent most of the evening on cell phones, relaying information about where fares can be picked up and where the police are, so that they may avoid detection.
From an economic standpoint, it makes complete sense. There's a dearth of individuals willing to drive at night, so cab companies are willing to take a risk to have their cabs earning money.
From a safety point of view, however, it is a serious concern. Part of the reason the hack licensing process takes so long is the background screening process. All hack license applicants are fingerprinted and have their criminal histories checked before being allowed to transport people. Unlicensed cabbies mean no criminal background checkes -- and no background checks means that you have no idea who next person whose cab you get into at 3 a.m. while drunk is, nor what they've done in the past. As someone who has taken many cabs home while drunk, I'd much rather know that my cab driver passed some form of background check, even if its not a great one. And there's no easy way to tell if the cab you're entering is driven by a licensed driver or not. Just add it to the list of other reasons to be careful when wandering around Adams Morgan while intoxicated.
Posted by amg at May 26, 2004 8:00 AM
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Tracked on May 26, 2004 2:47 PM
Comments
I thought the zombie guy was from Cote D'Ivoire or Liberia, not Zimbabwe.
Posted by: Randolph at May 26, 2004 9:52 AM
You're right, he was from Liberia. I was mixing up my stories.
Posted by: Aaron G. at May 26, 2004 11:00 AM
While I was going to university in Upstate New York, I was in a taxi that slid on the ice into another car. That wouldn't have been so bad -- nobody hurt -- but we were prevented from moving on because the police officer discovered my driver didn't even have a driving license. The cab company sent another taxi along to pick me up and take me to my dorm, and had the audacity to ask for a full fare when we got there.
Posted by: taleswapper at May 26, 2004 4:27 PM
My solution is simple (and inexpensive): I walk everywhere. DC's not such a big town, you can walk between almost any two points in a given quadrant in less than an hour, if you don't get (a) lost, (b) shot or, most a propos, (c) run over by a cab.
Posted by: Michael at May 27, 2004 4:58 PM