Taking a New Year cab ride? Read this
The city of Boise doesn’t field too many complaints about taxis these days, Deputy City Clerk Jamie Heinzerling said Wednesday.
That improvement has come since the city passed a section of city code that regulates the taxicab industry, Heinzerling said. Before the law went into effect, she said, the phones at City Hall were busy with a list of reported problems: Cabs weren’t safe; some didn’t accept credit cards; some drivers were taking indirect routes to their destinations in order to increase the price of the trip.
Problems occasionally come up, but most are pretty mundane, Heinzerling said. A common one is when people leave a coat or a wallet in a cab and can’t remember the name of the cab company or the driver so they can get their items back.
Sometimes, drivers start trips by assessing an initial charge of $3.90, which should only be used for fares that originate at the airport, instead of the appropriate $2.40 charge. Heinzerling said that might happen because the drivers hit the wrong button on their meters.
Boise is one of at least three cities in the Treasure Valley that regulate taxicabs. In addition to licensing both businesses and individual drivers, the city sets maximum prices, inspects cars and tests meters to make sure they’re calibrated correctly.
Many of the rules are a response to problems that came up before the city’s new regulations. For example, Heinzerling said, the city tests drivers to make sure they understand and speak English. Drivers also have to demonstrate a working knowledge of how to get from place to place, so that they don’t take too long a route.
Sometimes, Heinzerling said, Boise compliance officers take undercover cab rides to see if they follow the rules.
Sven Berg: 208-377-6275, @IDS_SvenBerg
Avoiding problems
If you’re one of the thousands of people who’ll get into a cab Thursday night or Friday morning, it’s a good idea to follow these tips, from Boise Deputy City Clerk Jamie Heinzerling:
▪ Be aware of your surroundings.
▪ Look at the name of the taxi company before you get in. Try to remember.
▪ Keep a receipt. It’ll help you find lost items or resolve disputed charges.
▪ Make sure the driver is taking the best route to your destination.
▪ Don’t feel obligated to pay with cash. Boise law requires taxicabs to accept credit cards.
▪ If you have a problem or comment about your taxi service, call the City Clerk’s office at (208) 384-3710.
Treasure Valley taxicab regulations
Boise’s taxicab regulations are the strictest of the five major cities in the Treasure Valley. Here’s a look at how its requirements compare to those in Nampa, Caldwell, Meridian and Eagle:
Boise | Caldwell | Eagle | Meridian | Nampa | |
Business license required | yes | yes | does not regulate taxicabs | does not regulate taxicabs | yes |
Licenses drivers | yes | yes | does not regulate taxicabs | does not regulate taxicabs | yes |
Driver Background checks | yes | yes | does not regulate taxicabs | does not regulate taxicabs | yes |
Prices restricted | yes | no | does not regulate taxicabs | does not regulate taxicabs | no |
Must accept credit cards | yes | no | does not regulate taxicabs | does not regulate taxicabs | no |
For more details on Boise’s regulations, visit IdahoStatesman.com
Sources: Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, Caldwell city clerk offices
This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 7:14 PM with the headline "Taking a New Year cab ride? Read this."