To curb long-hauling, new signs at airport to list fares, trip times

A sign warns taxis of a Taxicab Authority Police long haul checkpoint near the entrance to the airport tunnel exiting McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas on Friday, June 8, 2012.

Long Haul Checkpoint

Taxicab Authority Police Senior Investigator I. Williams stop taxi driver Tesfaye Beshah at a long haul checkpoint near the entrance to the airport tunnel exiting McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas on Friday, June 8, 2012. Beshah got a ticket for long hauling. Launch slideshow »

The Nevada Taxicab Authority and McCarran International Airport on Friday will unveil their latest attempt to thwart taxi long-hauling — signs that list the approximate mileage, time and fare from the airport to downtown and Strip resorts.

"The posting of approximate rate information represents a significant step forward in our effort to provide for the safety, comfort and convenience of the taxi-riding public," Charles Harvey said in a statement announcing the posting of the signs.

Initially, signs will be displayed on doors 1 and 4 of Terminal 1 and outside the taxi staging stands at Terminal 3.

The signs will post trip times and fares using three different routes: Paradise Road, Las Vegas Boulevard and Interstate 15.

The taxi industry has been frequently criticized for not better policing long-hauling, the illegal practice of taking a cab passenger on a longer route than necessary resulting in a higher fare. Alternate routes to dodge traffic jams can be taken if the cab driver first receives permission from the passenger.

Fares originating from McCarran include an initial "drop" charge of $3.30 and a $2 airport surcharge. After that, the meter calculates a combination fare of $2.60 per mile and wait time at 50 cents per minute when the speed of the vehicle drops below 12 mph. Passengers paying by credit card are also subject to a $3 fee.

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