can a taxi driver do this?
 

My friends daughter got a cab to return to mid-town Toronto from the Pearson International Airport. The cab driver without asking her put another passenger in with her(she found out he was heading to downtown T.O. Anyway, when she arrived at her destination the cab driver got out of his seat to open the trunk and then demanded full cab fare for the ride (I think she said it was $37). She refused to give it to him as she had to share the ride. After much bickering he took $20 dollars and left.

My question is can the cab driver demand full payment of the cab ride? What happens when you share a ride to your destination with another passenger who pays what?

That happened to me in Greece once traveling from Piraeus to central Athens when the cab driver picked up this women who appeared to flag him down about 1/3 of the way in. When he let us off I said I didn't feel I should pay full price since he had another pasenger. He said 'no, it was a friend'. I didn't believe him but being a foreigner and the language problem I put discretion before valour and didn't give him a tip.


Then once in Nassua we were staying in Paradise Islasnd and had taken the trip downtown a few times and the rate had been about $12 with tip. This time the driver took another couple as well as us and I figured - Great, we'ld split the fare. But when he let us off he asked for $20. This time I raised a fuss, as did the other couple. The driver said the fare was $10 per couple. I said Bull and went to get a cop when he backed down and said 'OK $14 total' which we paid. (I still felt he got more than he should but it wasn't worth the buck or two differance).

But as a bit of advice the rules of fares is usually found somewhere on the back seat and I would say that unless it says that the fare increases with the number of passengers than no way should your daughter have been asked to pay full fare or even more than half. She was right to kick up a fuss.

But if you really want to know the absolute answer you should call the T.O. Chamber of Commerce or Tourist Bureau and ask them.

In many places, this is a common and legal practice. It allows the taxi driver to make more money and does not delay the customer.

Your daughter was not harmed by sharing a taxi, nor did she arrange for an extra passenger to reduce the costs. Therefore, why should she think she should pay less.

She was paying for a trip, not the exclusive and sole use of the entire cab.

Thanks Gary for your reply. We also had the same experience with sharing a cab from Atlantis to Cable Beach. Although we were given a choice by the cab driver if we wanted to share and we worked out the fare before we got in the Limo. One time we shared another time we did not.

This is standard practice in Albany, NY. On one occasion, I shared a cab with two other passengers from the airport. We were all going to different destinations. Each person paid full fair depending on "zone."

This happens in my small city of 50000, It doesn't bother me, as long as it is on the way

I would take that taxi's number, a name if displayed, and would file a written complaint. I beleive she owed only 1/2 fair. It's not a shuttle, and a taxi can not be shared without the first passenger's permission.

Whether this practice is permissible or not depends upon the rules of the local authority that regulates taxis. In a number of localities, as people have pointed out, it's customary and perfectly legal. I know that used to be the case in Washington, D.C. back in the 70's -- I don't know whether it still is.

Personally, I don't mind sharing a taxi if it doesn't take me out of the way (and if the other passenger doesn't smell!). I'd rather do that than add to air pollution by having two cabs make the same trip. But, then, I'm very accustomed to taking public transportation, and I realize that most people aren't.

Well, if your friend's daughter paid $20, which is rather the equivalent of half the $37 with tip, she obviously made out okay.

No matter where you visit, it's always best to establish the fare ahead of getting in the taxi, and re-negotiate if other passengers are added.

I'm just wondering about the basis of your quibble here. It happened not to you, but your friend's daugher. Had the driver not transported another passenger, she would have incurred the full fare plus tip. And, what's the big deal with "she had to share the ride"?

In our travels, we've determined that we truly enjoy "contributing to the local economy". Tourism is an economic boon in any destination. Whenever the "locals" are providing efficient and friendly service and just generally doing their best to earn a living, we never mind paying what's reasonable.

With the SARS situation (and everyone's perception of same) in Toronto these days, it's been really tough on the entire service and tourism industry.

In my opinion, the taxi driver was enterprising on his own behalf, but didn't apparently inconvenience your friend's daughter in any way.

If you really want an answer try contacting the airport authority who deals with the taxis providing service at the airport & see what there policy is.. Usually its left up to the driver & since your friend didn't say anything on the way in to T.O. she approved. Maybe next time she should ask before the driver leaves & get his/her rates up front. Better to be safe than sorry.All taxi's no matter where they are operating from should have a flat rate system in place if your friends daughter wanted to go alone in the car some places charge for all the seats in the car if they are alone & don't want to share. She should consider herself lucky that she got off easy with 20 bucks she could have been charged with fraud under the taxi by law for not paying her full fare.

Personally, I would not be happy sharing a cab with someone and then having to pay full fare! If I wanted mass transit I would have taken a bus! This sort of defeats the purpose of why you take a cab in the first place!

I fully agree with those who found this taxi driver wrong in demanding full fare from your daughter. Good for her in standing up to the guy. If there's a local ordinance permitting the practice of charging separate parties full fare for the same ride, which is doubtful,they don't require it. The first fare has every right to refuse sharing the ride since he/she is essentially "contracting" with the taxi company to be transported. The practice is quite widespread worldwide but I always refuse to share unless I'm sure the second hire is going to the exact same place as I am, and I make it clear that I'll pay half. If the second party is going anywhere else, I refuse to share because, not usually knowing the area, I don't trust the driver to take the most direct route. It would be too easy for him to take a wandering route and add to the fare. In most places, particularly airports, there are plenty of taxis to go around. The drivers are aggressive when they can get away with it.