Chicago Cab Drivers Petition For Fare Hikes, 'Convenience Fees,' Vomit Clean-Up Penalties (VIDEO)

More than 1,500 Chicago cab drivers have signed a petition calling for the first fare hikes since 2005, in addition to proposing new fees for passengers who pay with credit cards, travel in large groups or vomit in the car during a late-night ride.

Drivers are calling for fares to be raised by 22 percent, and for a host of additional charges, including $1 each for additional passengers, $1.50 for credit card transactions to absorb some processing costs and a $50 penalty for fraudulent payments, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. They are also requesting a $75 "cleanup fee" for in-car messes, especially vomit from inebriated passengers.

The petition was submitted to the city clerk a week after Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced a planned overhaul of dilapidated and fuel-inefficient vehicles being used as taxi cabs, and proposed limitations on the amount of hours drivers can spend on the road.

(Watch Emanuel's announcement below).

Drivers claim these new requirements must be accompanied by fare adjustments that will increase their revenue.

"The city is complaining we're working too many hours. We wouldn't be working all these hours if they had given us fare increases in the past," Thaddeus Budzynski, a veteran cabbie and leader of the petition initiative, told the Sun-Times. "After working 12 hours a day and paying operating expenses, we're averaging $4.38 an hour."

If the City Council verifies the petition, the City Council's Transportation Committee will hold public hearings on its proposal within the next 60 days, according to NBC Chicago.

Cab fares haven't been adjusted since the City Council imposed a freeze in 2005, except for the addition of a surcharge in 2009 to augment rising gas prices, WGN reports.

See Mayor Emanuel's announcement of planned taxi cab overhauls:

View more videos at: http://nbcchicago.com.

Comments

[AMlegion]

08:47 AM on 12/22/2011

Give them the rate hike and give the passengers a no pay option for rude, smelly, non english speaking drivers. How about a lil service with a smile while your not engaged in a bluetooth conversation in some foriegn tongue.

[Eric8869]

01:20 PM on 12/22/2011

agreed

[Jay Gould]

04:23 PM on 12/21/2011

A credit card processing fee of 5% is truly exorbitant and cab drivers are right to feel cheated and demand to be compensated for it. However, the focus of their outrage is misplaced and it is not their customers who should be charged $1.50 when using a card.

See, a typical rate for a card payment processed at a taxi would be around 1.7% + $0.20 for credit cards, give or take, and could possibly be lower for debit cards. That is what the payment processing company would charge the cab company. However, the cab company then charges its drivers 5% for the same transactions, pocketing the difference as profit. So it is clear who the real culprit is here and it is not the customer. http://blog.unibulmerchantservices.com/why-cab-drivers-hate-credit-cards-christmas-edition

[gemini68]

01:42 PM on 12/21/2011

Perhaps we Chicago-ans should pass a petition around making sure the cabbies follow the law and rules of the road. That they stop pretending that they can't take your credit card, wear deodorant, not talk on their cell phones, not smoke in the vehicle and not endanger our lives with their driving. Also they should have to pass a test to prove they know where major city landmarks and major streets are.

[Umbl1HACK]

02:28 PM on 03/12/2012

I guess you've never travelled in a Chicago cab that's clean,with a driver that dosn't smoke and smells good,or a with a driver that's good at his job. If this is the case why not try the CTA, or the numerous means of transportation that Chicago is known for??....or maybe try driving a cab just to make a difference,and see how you put up with snub noses like you!!!! ..and whilst you are it,you and your equally snub nose friends shouldn't forget to petition the City to make it mandatory for all City regulated bussinesses to accept your credit cards. ..By the way, if you keep noticing that foul smell in all the different cabs you;ve been in,it might not neccesary be comming from the driver...............

[Eric8869]

10:52 AM on 12/21/2011

I think before they get the fare hike the cab drivers should have to pass a test on locations of major hotels, event locations and landmarks of Chicago. (major intersections as well). Just like they do to the cab drivers in London. I can list for you the places that cab drivers didn't know how to get to: The THOMPSON Center (there is even a CTA stop there), The Oriental Theatre, The Auditorium Theatre, Nordstrom on Michigan Ave, The Palmer House etc - and no I am NOT kidding about that list.

[Lily P]

10:51 AM on 12/21/2011

Ew, people puke in cabs? On a lighter note, what do they charge for a childbirth?

[Eric8869]

10:49 AM on 12/21/2011

I realize cleaning up vomit is unfair to cab drivers. However if people are worried about a $75 fee so they drink and drive instead of cabbing it - people will die. Cab drivers (and others) need to think these things through.

[BushBites]

07:47 PM on 12/20/2011

If you don't want to clean up vomit, quit picking up Trixies coming out of the bars at 3 a.m.

[Eric8869]

10:56 AM on 12/21/2011

ROFL- yes if you see a bachelorette party coming - drive away!

[Mark52135]

04:52 PM on 12/20/2011

Here's my wishlist...

1. There should be more that 2" between the back seat and the front seat wall;
2. Cabs should be smoke free at all times, whether occupied by a customer or not, i.e., cab drivers should never be able to smoke in the cab.
3. Cabs should be required to be maintained to a minimum level of clean.
4. Drivers should not be able to talk on the phone when they have a customer in the car - handheld or bluetooth

The standard we should aim for is New York. The New York cab system is far superior to Chicago's.

[red-dress]

06:37 PM on 12/20/2011

New York City's cabs are much cleaner but the drivers don't even speak to you. They point to the credit card machine when you try to pay them and the 20% tip screen is very difficult to navigate away from. I always have to ask them to help with my bag. I don't think I've been taking the same cabs as you in NYC and I travel there on business quite frequently

[ChiefLaughsAtSheep]

09:09 AM on 12/21/2011

I don't think Chicago needs to fashion itself in any way off a New York model. If I wanted to live in New York, I'd live in New York.