Hi I would like to know is it true that it is illegial for suburban cabs to pick passenger up at Ohare and bring them downtown? If so why? Please let me know thank you.

Interesting question. I've never heard that before and neither has my husband. I've taken a suburban cab from O'Hare but I took it to the suburbs.

I'll be curious to see the answers you get to this.

I think it's pretty standard that a taxi licensed in city "A" can't operate wholly within city "B".

O'Hare and the Kennedy Expy are within the Chicago city limits, so suburban cabs could only operate between ORD and the city where they're licensed.

Similarly, a taxi licensed only in Mt. Prospect couldn't pick-up a fare at ORD and drive him/her to Elgin. Only cabs licensed in Chicago or Elgin could do that.

Your response certainly makes sense, Citylights. However, I don't think either of the cabs I've taken to/from O'Hare were Villa Park cabs. DuPage County, yes. But not Villa Park.

But perhaps I'm misunderstanding you and you're saying that they need to be licenced to operate in a particular city rather than actually being from that city?

Yes, a cab can be licensed in more than one city and that's often the case where there are several small suburbs near each other. Each isn't large enough to support it's own cab company, so there's a larger company which is licensed in several communities.

Thanks, Citylights! And Chicago2210. Always something new to learn on Fodor's!