By JC
For some, thinking of taxi drivers will conjure up images of crooked swindlers and professional con artists. People think of characters like Louie De Palma and Danny DeVito's Character from the TV show “Taxi” and, imagine that any person in this profession must be just like them; an opportunistic, greedy, and completely self-serving thief who has no issues with stealing the money off weary travelers. A few trips through a big city like New York can easily make this stereotype seem like fact. The problem is the stereotype fails when you ask a single question; if all taxi drivers are crooks, why do people still use their services?
The Scams
People who live in cities rarely have issues with local cabbies that tourists and business people do, simply because the locals know the layout of their home. In New York for example, the use of cab drivers is practically a tradition; it’s hard to swindle someone who knows what the quickest route is and, knows when their driver has suddenly opted for a longer trip.
What visitors rarely realize is that they often stand out as a tourist. This makes them attractive customers to the few drivers who are looking for an easy target. It gives “cabbies” the option to take longer routes that eat the meter, or to “assume” that they were supposed to keep the change as a tip and drive off before the mistake can be corrected.
Do Some Research
With scams like these, it's no wonder that some people regard taxi drivers with such suspicion. Many drivers, however, are friendly, honest, and forthright. Often, the problem is that tourists and business professionals who use taxi services unknowingly communicate that they're easy marks. Some research can go a long way in making sure you get honest cabbies and thwart the couple of sneaks you might come across.
In any area where you’ll be spending a lot of time, do research on the taxi licenses that drivers should have. Know what they should look like and know where the important information should be displayed upon them. If the Taxi doesn't have a license don't use their service, most of the more dangerous and threatening cons are pulled off by unlicensed cabs! Once you determine your cab driver has the right papers and permits write down the name and license numbers, the simple act of recording this information will show any dishonest drivers you may be dealing with that you're paying careful attention to what is going on; many tricks require oblivious or unaware customers.
If you have a smart-phone, use a GPS application to track the route they're taking. When the driver diverts from the most efficient route promptly ask why. You don't need to be suspicious right away as there can be completely legitimate reasons (such as closed roads) to change routes. While you can use a paper map for the same thing, a cell phone is less obtrusive and maps kind of defeat the object of not drawing attention to yourself.
These few steps will help you thwart the handful of dishonest drivers you may come across on your travels. Just pay attention to any red flags that come up during
