Taxi drivers have the following obligations toward
passengers:
- Taxi drivers may not smoke while passengers are in the
car.
- Taxi drivers must drive a passenger and his load to
whatever destination the passenger requests.
- Taxi drivers may not take additional passengers during a
regular ride unless the original passenger asks him to do
so.
- Taxi drivers must take the shortest route possible.
- Taxi drivers must operate the meter for every ride, whether
inside or outside of the city.
- Taxi drivers may not charge even the slightest amount
beyond what appears on the meter.
- Taxi drivers must display a fixed sign bearing their name
and taxi license number in Hebrew and English.
- Taxi drivers must honor the passenger's request to turn
down or turn off the radio.
Those who would like to file a complaint about inappropriate
behavior by a taxi driver, overcharging, failing to operate
the meter, refusing to transport passengers, etc. should
contact the Department of Public Complaints at the Ministry
of Transportation, POB 57659, Tel Aviv, 61574 or fax no. 03-
6230310.
Write clearly and note all details including your name,
address and phone number, the date of the incident, a
description of the incident, the taxi license number or the
green number on the rooftop of the cab. If possible include
the receipt from the ride in question as well.
Of course a qualified rov should be consulted before filing
the complaint.
Taxi Drivers Complain About Passengers
by Betzalel Kahn
Taxi drivers have their gripes, too.
Several weeks ago an observant Jerusalem cab driver called
this reporter with a justified complaint: A person orders a
taxi from a taxi stand and goes down to the street to wait.
Hurrying to reach his destination, the person who called the
dispatcher hails a passing cab. One minute later the
dispatched taxi arrives, but by then the fare is already far
away.
"This entails several halachic problems," claims the taxi
driver. "A person who does so must check carefully that there
are no concerns of gezel since the taxi driver who
arrives at the designated spot has now lost a fare, all
because of the passenger was in a big rush and lacked the
patience to wait another minute or two for the cab he ordered
to arrive."
