Bit harsh for taxi drivers?

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Forums › Finance and wealth management › Bit harsh for taxi drivers?

bnapi

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#82278 26-Apr-2011 15:52

I think it's a bit harsh for taxi's drivers not being able to legally refuse a fare because of the short distance:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/transport/news/article.cfm?c_id=97&objectid=10721196

They are a business providing a service, not a charity. Who else thinks it's a bit harsh for taxis to have to take people short distances? Insurance companies can refuse to cover you for pre existing conditions. I'm surprised the police didn't get the passengers out of the taxi as it was not their vehicle and the penalty is a fine.

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MikeB4
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#462564 26-Apr-2011 15:59

When they go into the business they know the rules. If they don't like the rules sell the taxi and get out of the business.

A world that has gone totally insane.

freitasm

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#462565 26-Apr-2011 16:00

Why? That's what flag fall is for.

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freitasm

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#462568 26-Apr-2011 16:04

Also, could you please post more meaningful subjects?

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gehenna

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#462570 26-Apr-2011 16:12

freitasm: Why? That's what flag fall is for.

Bingo, it's not like you're driving 50 metres down the road and just getting charged for that. The flagfall ensures the driver gets a fair deal, as well as the passenger that, for whatever reason, needs to go a short distance in the cab.

valtam

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#462577 26-Apr-2011 16:21

Gotta love that "short trip look" the driver gives you when you get in the cab, its like the look the bank teller gives you when you come in with a jar of coins :p At the end of the day business is business, make hay, you know the rest.

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Ragnor

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#462582 26-Apr-2011 16:28

KiwiNZ: When they go into the business they know the rules. If they don't like the rules sell the taxi and get out of the business.

The rules are bad from a individual liberty point of view.

Where does it stop if you follow this path of nanny state regulation and bureaucracy... you end up with sparkies legally not allowed to refuse jobs, plumbers legally not allowed to refuse jobs.

Enjoy your communism by stealth.

I see no good reason why a Taxi driver shouldn't have the same freedom and liberty any other service provider has to choose to do a job or not.

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BlakJak

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#462591 26-Apr-2011 16:39

If I'm going to the trouble of paying for a Taxi to move 3-4 blocks there's a reason. I'm not medically fit, i'm tired, i'm late, etc etc. As Mauricio said, that's what flagfall is for. If i'm willing to pay for it why should the cabbie get to pick and choose? It IS a paid-for service.

(myself and some friends were rejected from a downtown taxi rank for a ride to the top of the city - about 4 city blocks uphill at night, women in heels, etc etc... rather unpleasant to have to walk it in the wet.)

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billgates

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#462597 26-Apr-2011 16:50

What is the flagfall? Is it not like $2 or $3? So a taxi driver gets $6 for the trip in total as per the NZHerald article, comes back to the back in the taxi queue, waits for so many more miniutes again before he/she gets their turn again and might only end up making another short trip making peantus again. I am with the taxi drivers on this one. If you want short trips and every passenger served then maybe the taxi association should make minimum bill to be $10 no matter what the distance covered is.

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valtam

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#462607 26-Apr-2011 17:00

billgates: If you want short trips and every passenger served then maybe the taxi association should make minimum bill to be $10 no matter what the distance covered is.

wtf...clearly you're ignorant of the disabled and elderly that frequently are in need of short trips to essential services. Good luck with your fascist state.

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LookingUp

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#462619 26-Apr-2011 17:13

Part of the issue here is that often a taxi driver will sit in a queue waiting for his/her turn for a fare. If that fare then turns out to be for the flag-fall value, they've effectively taken a couple of bucks and joined the end of the queue again. In that situation I can see the merit of a minimum fare, not the "starting point" that flag-fall is.

On the other hand, if the driver could refuse a fare you'd have a whole pile of people that actually need their service being left on the footpath, wich doesn't work either.

It's an interesting question of how far one takes user pays.

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#462625 26-Apr-2011 17:26

LookingUp:

On the other hand, if the driver could refuse a fare you'd have a whole pile of people that actually need their service being left on the footpath, wich doesn't work either.

It's an interesting question of how far one takes user pays.

There's nothing magical about it, most drivers will absolutely do a short trip if you make it worth their while by throwing in a reasonable tip.

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tardtasticx

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#462628 26-Apr-2011 17:27

Well if they dont like it they can leave. No shortage of taxi's. Lol

kingjj

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#462640 26-Apr-2011 17:39

bnapi: I'm surprised the police didn't get the passengers out of the taxi as it was not their vehicle and the penalty is a fine.

The Police wouldn't remove the people if they are lawful customers with intent to pay. A taxi driver refusing a fare is a civil issue not a criminal issue. The Police would only be there to keep the peace and/or broker an agreement.

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#462643 26-Apr-2011 17:44

kingjj:
bnapi: I'm surprised the police didn't get the passengers out of the taxi as it was not their vehicle and the penalty is a fine.

The Police wouldn't remove the people if they are lawful customers with intent to pay. A taxi driver refusing a fare is a civil issue not a criminal issue. The Police would only be there to keep the peace and/or broker an agreement.

IIRC Police do have the power to issue an infringement against a Taxi driver/operator for failing to take passengers. Also there are other NZTA enforcement officers (which police are part of) who can also issue infringements or start proceedings against, through the courts if required.

freitasm

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#462644 26-Apr-2011 17:45

LookingUp: Part of the issue here is that often a taxi driver will sit in a queue waiting for his/her turn for a fare. If that fare then turns out to be for the flag-fall value, they've effectively taken a couple of bucks and joined the end of the queue again. In that situation I can see the merit of a minimum fare, not the "starting point" that flag-fall is.

Statistics... You might get a short trip now, a longer later. Then the other drivers, who knows? It all averages out. But being disrespectful and hateful because you only want to make megabucks?

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