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Washington DC (Map, News) - A coalition of D.C. taxi drivers has launched an online petition urging Mayor Adrian Fenty to ditch time and distance meters in favor of an advanced zone system.
Drivers have already taken the mayor to court over the switch; now they're trying the court of public opinion. The petition, which had 9 signatures as of 4 p.m. Friday, claims time and distance meters produce "totally unpredictable fares" and are "more susceptible to over-charging riders and will likely unfairly victimize riders in the poorest outskirt neighborhoods..."
Zone meters using global positioning system technology bring "certainty, clarity and predictability to the ride," Solomon Tesfaye with the Coalition of Taxicab Drivers, Associations and Companies, said in a statement. And passengers aren't charged to wait in traffic, as they will be under time and distance meters.
"To ensure predictable, honest and fair taxi service for all Washington, D.C. residents, workers and tourists, we ask that you mandate that all taxis install meters based on the existing ZONE system using GPS technology to ensure greatest accuracy," the petition states. "Riders would only be charged for the shortest distance between their pick up place and final destination, regardless of the distance driven or time sitting in traffic."
A Fenty spokeswoman did not respond to requests for comment. To view the petition, visit www.petitiononline.com/zoneyes/petition.html.
The switch to meters was slated for April 6 until a judge issued a temporary restraining order, pushing the launch date to May 1. Court arguments on the drivers' main complaint, that Fenty was not authorized to implement the meter switch without the okay of the D.C. Taxicab Commission, are scheduled to be heard Thursday in D.C. Superior Court, said Jeffrey O'Toole, lawyer for the drivers.
Under Fenty's system, riders will be charged a $3 base rate plus 25 cents for each one-sixth of a mile traveled or each minute stopped in traffic. Trips inside the district are capped at $19, not including the $1.50 additional passenger surcharge and other fees.
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Comments from Examiner Readers
9:43 AM MST on Thu., Mar. 27, 2008 re: "Petition urges zone meters in D.C. cabs"
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8:44 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 25, 2008
re: "Petition urges zone meters in D.C. cabs"
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2:13 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 25, 2008
re: "Petition urges zone meters in D.C. cabs"
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Examiner Reader said:
The issue was decided. Taxis all over the world use a straight meter. Set a fair fare. Stop revisiting this issue and GET ON WITH IT!
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Louisa Rowland said:
I support the Zone-meter systems 100%. Yellow Cab Company has this systems in some of their cabs and it works. It provides a receipt and tells you the number of zones that you have travelled. Everybody should be happy. I've been travelling by taxi to and from work every day for the past year and know very well the problems of travelling during rush hour. A trip home that takes 12 minutes can take 45 minutes to 1 hour during rush hour. It can be caused by an accident, motorcade, bomb scare, snow or rain or whatever. This is a matter of fact not speculation. The cost of the cab ride for me could reach $19. At 75 I cannot afford to pay $19 one way. Those that cry that the zone system is not fair that the cab drivers are overcharing them, don't want to learn the system. I've lived here over 40 years and learned the system. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. And when in doubt call the police.
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Billy Ray Edwards said:
Good point going in to court because the DC Taxicab Commission control the DC Taxi Drivers Assessment fund. This fund should be over 50 million dollars and it's not been audited since 1995. The DC Taxi Drivers Assessment Fund was created and ear marked to do a Complete Industry Impact Study if DC Changed from Zones to Meters. The fund is in the control of the DC Taxicab Commission and I Hope that is the reason why the DC Government is in Court on this issue. DC Hacker Billy Ray Edwards
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