Las Vegas Sun NewsTRANSPORTATION:
How should taxi long-hauling be enforced?
Finally, a simple, logical solution to fix what ails Las Vegas’ taxis.
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16 May 2011
3 a.m.
Richard N. Velotta
VEGAS INC coverage
Too little too late.
By the time the Nevada Taxicab Authority finally restarted the conversation about illegal long-hauling of customers, it was too late for the board to recommend changes in the law to the current Legislature.
The best the board could hope for was submitting bill drafts for the 2013 session, members concluded.
Long-hauling, the practice of taking customers on longer rides to generate higher fares, gives the cab industry its biggest black eye.
During its recent strategy session, board members talked about how to more severely penalize drivers who are caught long-hauling.
Watchdog groups have generated documentation over time showing that some cabdrivers take passengers unfamiliar with the city’s geography for costly rides. Many allegations involve rides to the Las Vegas Strip from McCarran International Airport via the airport tunnel, a route that adds a few miles to the trip.
The statutes say the Taxicab Authority administrators can impose fines and suspensions for drivers caught long-hauling. The law spells out what can happen to a driver with up to five offenses, starting with a $100 fine and a warning for the first incident up to a $500 fine and license revocation for the fifth. Other penalties fall in between with progressively higher fines and days of suspension.
When the taxi industry commented on what could be done, one company official called for a $500 fine for the first offense. But another company exec said a $500 fine would amount to a “death sentence” for a driver.
Other circumstances play into the debate about how to deal with long-hauling.
The statute says a driver can’t take a customer on a longer route “unless specifically requested so to do by the passenger.” That phrase opens the door to a number of other possibilities. Can a driver who knows the traffic conditions recommend to the customer that he drive a longer route so that they arrive at the destination faster? Most concur that drivers should be allowed to make the recommendation, but should still comply with what the customer wants.
How should long-hauling be enforced? With about 3,000 cabs and 9,000 drivers to regulate, many suggest that the Taxicab Authority’s minuscule police force of 25 working 24/7 should focus on more important matters. Besides, if an officer stops a cab with a driver suspected of long-hauling, would the passenger take the time to fill out the paperwork necessary for such a complaint? Most people getting out of cabs in Las Vegas just want to get to their destinations and don’t want to spend time giving statements to police.
Should cameras be mounted in the airport tunnel to record the numbers of cabs so that they can be checked against trip sheets? Even with that technology, it would be an administrative challenge to contact passengers after their trips about whether they were cheated.
Another circumstance to consider: Some drivers have alleged that they’re compelled to long-haul because their company bosses demand revenue production. They argue that cab company owners have some responsibility because of the revenue quotas they require.
When the board’s discussion ended, the group decided to let its new administrator, former stimulus director to Gov. Brian Sandoval and Assistant Clark County Recorder Charles Harvey, develop a proposal for future board consideration.
Here’s an idea: Rewrite the rules so cab companies—not drivers—are penalized for long-hauling incidents. Make it a big fine—maybe $10,000 reduced to $5,000 if the driver is fired in the process.
Don’t you think companies would get a lot more serious about preventing long-hauling if it was going to hit them in the bank account?
There’s no doubt companies would have to modify their union agreements, but I’d think both sides would like to see a guilty employee fired for the first offense if that driver cost the company several thousand dollars in fines.
Maybe then, the unsavory practice of cheating our guests would end and the bad drivers who sully the reputation of the good ones will be sent packing.
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The best solution would be to charge a flat rate to strip destinations from the airport..It works in New York City and it cuts out the long hauling because the driver gets the regulated price to the strip destinations no matter what route he takes..
There are many things wrong with the cab industry in Las Vegas, starting with it is a virtual state sponsered monopoly. The issues surrounding this make the issue of long hauling seem minor. The attitude of the owners of the cab companies can only be described as "Avarice of biblical proportions" and they behave accordingly.
Flat rate pricing from the airport is the only thing that will alleviate this. It can even be zone pricing with the stratosphere being the most costly and the MGM the cheapest with areas in between. That way regardless of the route people are charged an equal rate for getting to their destination. It would be nice if something logical like this could be put in place, but I'm guessing cab companies would never let a simple model like that ever happen as gaming the system with long hauls and taking people into gridlock is the only way drivers can meet their "quotas".
I drove a cab here for 2 years and never long-hauled anybody. There was one driver who long-hauled all day. The company loved him because his daily book was $150.00 over other drivers. They knew what he was doing, but did nothing because it was money in their pocket.
Once I picked up a couple from Sweden going to the airport. When we got there, I asked for the fare which was $18.00. They were amazed and told me that when they arrived, a trip in to the same hotel had cost $49.00! I still can't figure out how the driver did it - he must have taken them to the Bellagio via Henderson!
The simple solution would be to post signs at the fork in the road that leads to Swenson St or the Henderson tunnel with distances to the strip both directions.... only cabs leave by this route. and if you wanted to be high tech you could post travel times like they do on the highway. But the simplest solution would never be considered in this state at this time, things just aren't done here like that.
Flat rate pricing is the way to go, signs on the door that say MGM 8.00, Bellagio 12.00, Stratosphere 16.00 etc...
I see it all the time, when traveling through the tunnel or at the intersection of Las Vegas blvd and 215. Lines of taxies, and you know exactly what they are doing. All you need to do is make it so taxies are only allowed to use Tropicana, period.
Taxi drivers get paid crap. so they'll do anything to make an extra buck. Taxi companies are old school and dont care how they make money as long as they make it.
Still believe the monorail going from MGM -> UNLV -> airport is best fix (and has been approved long ago) - but the mafia run taxi companies wont let that happen.
Most of the cabs should be converted to electric with removable batteries. The Monorail should have gone from the airport right down the middle of the strip. We need more competition in cab companies.
I never know what to expect from the cab drivers. A few months ago I was told by one driver (when I was dropped off at my hotel) that there is a twenty dollar airport pickup fee on top of the cab fair. Another time I took a cab from the airport to the strip and was charged 45.00. The trip back to the airport cost 16.00. A flat fee would be the way to go.
Another way the drivers stick it to you is to take I-15 and not use the tunnel. Going to the Riviera, my driver took Swenson Street to Tropicana, turned left and went to I-15. Turned right and went to Sahara Ave. Turned right and went to Paradise Road. Turned right at Paradise. Turned right on Convention Center Drive and right on Las Vegas Blvd and then stopped at the Riviera. That was 45.00 dollars. Going back we took Paradise to the airport and it cost 16.00
Flat-rate fares to the Strip: great idea. Post the amount in each cab so riders are aware of the cost to each major hotel. That would lessen, if not, eliminate, cheating. As for mred's idea of the mono-rail going to the airport - it's goofy! Who, besides McCarran employees, would benefit? Can't you just see eager passengers dragging their luggage half-a-mile or more to get on the mono-rail only to have to walk half-a-mile or more to hotel check-in? And, what if their hotel is on the west side of LVBS? Gonna build a whole new track for the mono-rail to run on? Besides, it will be cheaper & more convenient for passengers to grab a shuttle, limo or even a cab under certain circumstances.
In the gambling capital of the world - have the driver PAY the customer $500 - what a deal! I'd love to have them long-haul me. To prove - say have a recorder [voice or camera, iPod, MP3, etc.] on and you'll get a $15 trip costing you $25 from LAS to average Strip hotel.
@lvfacts101, I went to London Heathrow and used the underground to get to the city. It worked VERY WELL. Who carries more than a carry-on when they travel these days anyways? Get a better piece of luggage that is smaller and more mobile.
If you are Paris Hilton and need 10 bags when you travel, you can afford a cab!!!
My wife and I on separate trips have both been long hauled. Now I just take the bus for $3 when I don't have a ride to/from the airport. I often wonder why there is no shuttle bus service allowed to/from private residences. Our home base in St. Pete Beach FL you can get a shuttle anytime to the airport from anywhere. This is not allowed in Las Vegas, you must start/stop at a hotel. I am guessing the NTA regulate more than most think, of course and always in their favor..
If a tourist is coming into town and they are staying at a hotel then their best option is to take the (usually) free airport shuttle bus. If this isn't well known to tourists then the hotels should promote this option better. Also, if the shuttle buses are not convenient then the hotels should improve this service. Cabs clog the streets, drive recklessly, and are overall a suboptimal way to transport people.