The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-15
TOSTOP
TAXI OVERCHARGES
Legal Rates Must Be Posted
in Every Machine
PRACTICE PREVALENT
According to Chief Eagan-Four Pas
sengers Can Travel One Mile for
Fifty Cents--Judge Lane
Takes Matter Up

AohNsN A'."'sNs P,
A war on taxicab overcharges is being
inaugurated by the city police depart
ment. Judge Lane has taken the matter
up and Acting Chief of Police Eagan has
placed men especially on the work.
1t is said that very few of the taxicab
companies of the city have posted In
their vehicles the ordinance regulating
their rates. as is required by law. The
police intend to see that these rates are
posted in every vehicle in the city and.
what is more, that those rates are en-
forced
Under the present law. four passengers
can travel half mile for 80 cents or
four passengers could go an entire mile
for 30 cents. This rate is the same for
from one to four passengers. 1t Is al
legged that. as many people are ignorant
of such regulations, it is a common prac-
tice for taXicab driver to charge this
price for each passenger he hauls, and
at times much more Two or three cases
have come to Judge Lanes attention in
which 81 has been the fare charged for
bHt DdSSElbti lbl hbuNi l. W - h''NiNNf
or about one mile.
Satisfactory handling OF the situation
by the police department is difficult. All
It can do is compel the drivers to keep
the city ordinance regulating their rates
posted In their cars In a conspicuous
place rho drivers make their money,
however with the passenger they haul
who is ignoraant of the proper rates and
pays an overcharge of % or 80 cents with
Ard Is., ND ,,tif
later he has been hoodwinked he do not
feel Ike getting after the company for so
small a sum. which in the long run he
probably could not prove he paid to the
driver.
The only solution OF this part of the
problem. the police believe, is to attempt
to inform the public through the press
of thet legal taxi rates. II Is stated
that the taxi business In Birmingham has
grown enormously in the past year or
two.
There is no doubt but what the prac-
tice of overcharges by taxicab drivers is
very prevalent said Chief Eagan last
night And these oVercharges are usual
ly paid because nine out of 10 men don't
know they are ovcrcharged. For instance.
| suppose that three-fourths If not more
of the people who occasionally use a
taxicab do not know right now that -four
passengers can be hauled mile for a
single charge of 80 cents
I'VE can't do anything but compel the
drivers TO keep their rates posted on their
cars and that's what we are going to
do or lock them up. If anybody Will
come to rs and make a complaint of over
charge against any driver. however, we
will arrest them as coon as we can. It's
a bad practice and 1t should be stopped
at once"
The city ordinance, adopted April 20,
1910 by the city council regulating taxi
cab rates is as follows. ii being noticed
that that charge begins when the taxi
arrives at the place ordered.
BE It ordained by the city council of
Birmingham, as follows:
Section l. That the rate permitted to
be charged by any person firm or cor
poration operating taxicabs or automo-
biles for carriage of passengers for hire
in the city OF Birmingham shall he as
follows:
/. Distance-For from to passen-
gers for the first half mile or
fraction thereof. observation-disclosures 30
For each one-fourth mile there
atter OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 10
2 Waiting-For each 10 minutes or
fraction thereof of waiting by
taxicab or automobile for from
/ to passengers .......a.......... 10
g. Dxtra Charges-For calling
dismissing a taxicab or automo-
bile miles from center of city.
from ] to passengers .......... 100
For each additional mile or frac-
ton therof, to 4 passengers. -. 20
Special cars from hotels to depots
and from depots to hotels, from
TO passengers, each............ .25
The above rates shall prevail both day
and night, and shall apply to /. ., 3 or
passengers. Not more than passengers
shall be allowed
T. Touring Cars-Four- passenger,
touring cars, per hour ......... SO 90
Six-passenger touring cars, per
hour .......................... 300
Section 2. That the distances and the
charges in connection Herewith shall
commence at the place where the taxicab
is ordered for service. The time shall also
be computed from the time the taxicab
reaches the place where ordered, and tho
time lost in cranking, making repairs. or
otherwise, not caused by the person or
persons ordering the taxicab, shall not be
charged to the patron
Section g. That any person. firm or COR
poration who operates taxcabs or auto
mobiles for the carriage OF passengers for
hire in the city of Birmingham shall have
posted conspicuously therein copies of the
rates herein provided. And shall ais,
have placed conspicuously In each taxi
cab or automobile where the same may
be easily seen by the passenger or pas
sengers taximeter.
Section 4. That any person. firm OF cor
poration operating taxicabs or automobiles
in the city of Birmingham who shail
charge. exact or demand for such serv-
ices higher rates than set wkorth IN
this ordinance shall. upon conviction, be
punished as provided by and in section
sos of the city code. and any person who
refuses to pay for the use of licensed
taxlcab or automobile the rate fixed by
this ordinance for services rendered shall
upon conviction, be punished as provided
by and In section 500 Of the city code.