WASHINGTON -- District of Columbia Taxicab Commission Chairman Ron Linton has a warning for passengers, especially women: Beware of aggressive cab drivers who have been attacking their fares.
As WJLA-TV/ABC7 reports, seven cab drivers have been arrested in a series of incidents over the past few weeks. Six of the victims have been women, including one who was dragged out of the cab by her ankles. There aren't any details on what led to the incidents.
"No passenger should ever feel threatened or ill at ease or in any way concerned about their safety from the time they step in the cab until the time they leave the cab," Linton told the television station.
Panic buttons will be installed in cabs by the end of the year, he said.
Linton's blunt words about the alleged cab driver misbehavior come at a time D.C.'s top taxicab commissioner has been pushing big reforms, much to the anger of drivers who feel they'll be put out of business.
In January, Linton also moved to shut down the Anacostia Cab Association, "because it was unable to show that it had paid taxes, that it was a properly organized and registered company and that it had a proper place of business," according to The Washington Post.
Flickr photo by Elvert Barnes