Don't get taken for a ride

When you hail a taxi, you want to be taken for a ride, not taken for a ride. The city licenses taxi companies and drivers annually, but because it does not regulate fares when it comes to calling a cab "let the buyer beware."

Last week a woman writing to The Laconia Daily Sun claimed that "one price is quoted over the phone; and then upon getting into the taxi, the driver quotes a whole different rate, which is usually substantially higher than what was quoted over the phone." She went on to recount that when she and her friend took a taxi from the grocery store the driver threatened to "dump our groceries and us in the middle of the street" if they refused to pay the fare she demanded, which exceeded the fare they were quoted.

Taxi operators concede that padding fares is in not altogether uncommon, especially in relatively small cities where cabs are not equipped with meters. "Sure, you'll get some drivers who will try padding fares and pocketing the difference," said one Concord cabbie, who asked not be named. "But, you can also have dispatchers quoting the wrong fare. It's always a hassle."

Currently three cab companies are licensed to operate in Laconia — Maggie's Taxi, Mr. C's Taxi and Best Taxi. Maggie's Taxi has only one licensed driver registered with the city, Mr. C's Taxi has eight and Best Taxi six. Chris Richards, the owner of Best Taxi, did not return phone calls.

Maggie Noonan of Maggie's Taxi said that she bases her fares on a starting point and zones, beginning from downtown — the area bounded by Oak Street to the north, the intersection of Messer Street and Union Avenue to the east, the Community Action Program to the south and Fair Street to the west — where the fare is $4. Beyond downtown the fare increases in increments of $1 according to the distance traveled.

Noonan, who has been in the business for nearly decade, operates only one taxi, which she drives herself. "When you call Maggie's you get Maggie," she laughed, "and whatever the fare I give you is the fare you'll pay." She said that the three companies in the city shared the market, each serving their loyal clientele, who were familiar with the drivers and the fares. "I drive many of the same people to the same places every day," she said.

"When you are quoted a price, that's the price," said Cindy Carroll, who with her husband Tom operates Mr. C's Taxi. "That is how we run our business." She said the minimum fare is $5, which will pay for a trip anywhere in downtown Laconia, while a journey to Wal-Mart will cost another $2. In addition, Mr. C's Taxi charges $1 for each stop between the starting point and final destination. Carroll said that fares are based on the time of the trip. "The busy time has to pay for the down time," she remarked, explaining that when the taxis are standing still, the expenses keep running.

"It costs us about $5,000 a year or $60 an hour to keep a taxi on the road," Carroll explained. "Our drivers receive a base pay and we pay the expenses, workers' compensation and all insurances." Although Mr. C's counts eight licensed drivers, she said that because operating expenses are high, they have trimmed their operations. "When we started the business five years ago, gas was a dollar something a gallon," Carroll exclaimed. "We ran four cars and drove around the clock. Twenty-four hours is no longer feasible and we're down to two or three cars and three or four drivers," she said.

The Licensing Board grants taxi licenses after holding a public hearing "to determine that public convenience and necessity require" the service. The city code requires applicants to present the board with evidence of convenience and necessity from at least three sources, which must include the school system, a retail business and an industrial firm along with whatever other information the board may request. In addition, applicants must specify the locations of stands and how many vehicles it will operate, with a description of each vehicle. Applicants must demonstrate that they are "throughly familiar" with the topography and streets of the city.

All taxis must be insured. Prior to receiving a license, applicants must file a certificate of liability insurance, naming the city as an additional insured, with the Licensing Board providing coverage of $500,000 for injuries to one person, $1 million for any injuries stemming from one accident and $300,000 for any property damage.

All taxi drivers must be licensed. They must be at least 18 years old and have driven for a minimum of two years as well as read and speak English well enough to converse with passengers and understand traffic controls. Applicants must undergo a check of both their criminal and driving records and those with felony convictions not annulled or pardoned, particularly for sex and drug offenses, and convictions for serious motor vehicles offenses will be denied a license. Likewise, the Licensing Board may deny a license if it finds that applicants' criminal and driving records indicate that they are not fit to drive.