Fair Game

Can taxi-fare evasion be deemed fair game, not to be taken seriously by the police or authorities ? This is the question I’ve been asking myself after Saturday night’s rip-off. Sadly, my answer is ‘yes’.

Whilst taxi-fare evasion in NSW was recently downgraded to a mere misdemeanour, probably because criminal intent is so hard to prove - ‘err, I thought I had the bucks but, I didn’t so I ran’ - for a small business like taxi driving it’s straight-out robbery.

For Saturday night’s exercise set me back at least one hundred dollars, counting the actual fare of forty dollars plus time lost from a busy Saturday period when I could have been averaging forty five dollars per hour. And due to the relative small amounts involved compared to the cost of prosecution, police are reluctant to charge 'runners'.

This quickly became apparent at the scene of the girls' apprehension by police. Early in the piece an officer asked me, ‘What do you want to do ?’. ‘I want them charged with fare evasion’, I replied, indignant. ‘Well, the girls say you offered them a free fare’, he said. ‘So if it goes to court it’s their word against yours....and most likely you’ll lose’.

This was a laughable claim as I’d already shown him the meter displaying $40.60, clear evidence I intended charging a fare. Additionally, as the girls were suspected of fare evasion and been apprehended on that basis, the police allowed them to be questioned together. During which, one girl blatantly whispered in the other’s ear, leading to the claim of a ‘free fare’. The only surprise being I was not accused of sexual advances, of seeking a ‘hairy cheque’...

Regarding the law, I'm unsure of my rights in pressing charges. After insisting charges be laid, I was told, ‘You’ll have to come back to the station and make a statement’. ‘No, I’ve got to get back to work’, I replied, ‘can’t it wait till later - I’ve got twenty-four hours, haven’t I..?’. ‘Nup, it’s got to be done within four hours’. I didn’t believe him, it sounded like a brush-off. ‘Okay, he suggested, ‘how about I ring you tomorrow night and we’ll work something out ?’. Whatever.

Unimpressed, I hung around waiting for the police to do something. For my trouble I received abuse from the girls, verbally and in sign language. ‘Stop that language’, an officer warned. ‘I’m allowed to swear’, one insisted. ‘No you’re not’, it’s an offence’, the office barked. This was doubtful and the girls knew it.

They also knew I didn’t have a hope of either recovering my money or pressing charges. The cops knew it and I knew it too, so eventually I left, somewhat despondent. I drove over the railway line to the other side of the station and stopped at a taxi rank. Within three minutes the girls were on the station waiting for a train.

Last night, when the officer hadn’t called by 9 pm, I called him. ‘Firstly’, I asked, ‘given taxi-fare evasion is not a criminal offence, why does the matter need to go to court ? Surely you can issue a fine based on your discretion ?’. ‘Umm...just a minute’, he said and put me on hold. After a minute he returned with, ‘Because I didn’t take the details, Officer ____ will have to deal with this - can he call you ?’. ‘Righto’, I agreed, ‘I’m up till dawn, he call me between now and then’.

During this exchange I also asked, ‘Are you satisfied the girls ID was authentic ?’. ‘Not really, no’ he said. ‘They produced blue RTA cards but the photos weren’t too convincing. Kids can get any sort of fake ID these days’. ‘Well, couldn’t you take them back to the station and establish their identity ?’. ‘No’, he replied, ‘we can only do that with minors and their cards stated they were eighteen’. I gave up and fell silent.

Sensing my disappointment he changed the subject, as if to make me feel better or something. ‘Anyway’, he volunteered, ‘they accused us of racial harassment, but you often get that from these kids. We're used to it'. This surprised me as I hadn't considered the girls' heritage, or even noted their dark skin. It was not an issue for me.

The issue for me was I’d been treated as fair game and ripped-off, so I wanted justice. Justice, what a quaint concept. It was never going to happen.

(image enlarges)

Comments

[Bob]

That sounds the same as the atitude of some UK cops I have dealt with, it's a case of hard luck mate too much paperwork. I think you have to see it through if you can, and insist they do something it hurts cash wise losing time but feels better if you get a result.

[Paul Pluta]

Hello Adrian,
I am a fellow taxi driver and I understand your situation. I am lucky to report only 1 or 2 of these fare evaders in my time as a part time taxi driver.
If you feel strongly about the issue I suggest the following.
1) Ring the police officers concerned and state you are wanting there names and badge numbers as you will be writing to the state police minister about this issue. Tell the officers it is nothing personal but you feel this issue is not being dealt with properly by the legal process. You can not get angry at the police minister if he does not know about the problem.
2) Actually write to the police minister..... just a simple letter stating the facts - just like your blog. Then I suggest writing to the following.... a) Police Minister, b) Premier, c) Deputy Premier, d) District Inspector, e)Director General of Police..... That should ensure your matter 1) informs the higher ups of a problem (and allows them to do something about it) and 2) ensures the correct thing is done in your matter.

Do not let anyone push you around. If you feel a crime is worth pursuing..... PURSUE IT!!!!

Kind regards,

Paul

PS - I love you blog.

[lg]

Justice! What justice? It's all become a bit of a joke, hasn't it? These kids know they'll get away with it. While you're out of pocket and will be further out of pocket if you pursue it, who's the winner here?

It costs to stand up for one's principles and it shouldn't be the case...but sadly and wrongly it is!

These 'girls' can stand there abuse you and toss a few fingers around and get away with it. I'm sure if you tried it, the police would've grabbed and nabbed you straight-away without a second glance!

It's all so frustratingly wrong!!

[d]

I had the opposite experience on Christmas Eve a few years ago. We did our grocery and fruit shopping, plus a few last minute presents (approx. $500 total), hailed a taxi and loaded everything in the boot.

We got out in front of our house, my daughter to pay the fare while I walked around to the boot to get our shopping - and the taxi took off with all our stuff still in the boot. It was dark so we couldnt get the number plate and neither of us had noticed the taxi company so the police couldnt help.

I recall that mans face very well and if I ever see him again, he will be a sorry man. He's probably sorry already, usually karma catches up when you do this kind of thing.

This is a pretty rare occurence I know. I sympathise with the frustration you feel about fare evaders and the temptation to smack them upside the head.

[James]

Adrian,
I find dealing with rank and file police a nightmare.
As a youth worker I have to often make police reports for damage to property mainly for insurance reasons... It seems that incompentence rather then corruption is the main problem facing NSW Police these days...
When you wish to report a crime the Police often treat you with the same amount of respect as an offender.. And even if you get them to offically recrod the report it is unlikely that you will ever here anything back about it.
Of cause there are some great cops out there, and they have to do a god awful job, but a lot of them have a lot to learn when it comes to treating the victim differently to an offender.
I was once at threatened with murder by an aggresive stranger who claimed (falsely) to be a cop. I reported this to the nearby police station as this nutjob was still around and the police told me bluntly that it was not an offence to threaten to kill someone!!! Can you believe it!
'Threat To Kill' is the name of this so very obvious offence. Its pretty pathetic

[steve at the pub]

Police seem often to be unwilling about preferring charges against an offender. Gets right on my goat though.

[Huggies]

I know what the Police are like because we had the same problems within the Petrol Industry and it ends up being the bussiness owner who bares the cost which ends up being passed onto the consumer.

I guess the only advice I could offer you is what my cabbie mate Roberto does and that is to take a deposit up front of say $50 before you let anyone into the cab. If they won't pay up he doesn't take on the fair.

[Kieran]

I want your job. Gimme it. Gimme gimme gimme.

[adrian]

Thanks for the sentiments folks. Currently I'm consulting with the Taxi Drivers Association, one of two industry bodies in NSW lobbying to have taxi-fare evasion reverted to an offence, equal to that applied to other public transport fare evaders.

I'm still waiting for the police officer to call back, so that angle doesn't look promising. I'll keep you posted on any developments in this case.

[lg]

I hope your endeavours are successful, Adrian.

Don't hold your breath waiting for the police officer to ring back, though. It could be a while!

[Walter]

I find this astonishing. With the runners and a complaintant ready to file charges the police do everything they can to discourge action? I had 2 people run on me in 6 years of cab driving back when. In both cases the person was long gone before police could do anything. But with the miscreants caught, they don't do anything. Perhaps the taxi association could get the press interested in the issue?

[steve at the pub]

Yes Walter, perhaps Richard Zachariah will write another balanced and informed piece about the taxi industry..........

[lg]

Is Richard Zachariah capable of being balance and informed?

[lg]

'balanced', that is!

[Bushy]

I have been providing security services to QLD cabbies for five years, on the busy Surfers Paradise taxi ranks. The answer is simple: Ask for a deposit prior to the journey, regardless of who they are or how they come across. Someone who is legitamately going to pay for the fare will not have a problem paying you before the commencement of the journey. The others can get out.