What Would LVA Do in a Long-Hauling Situation?

Last Sunday afternoon, I landed in Las Vegas, and because the cab line was short decided to take a taxi to Harrah’s. As the driver exited the airport, he made a right onto Paradise instead of a left onto Swenson and I immediately realized he was going to long-haul me. When I called him out on it, he said traffic was bad the other way — BS. At this point, he was already on the freeway, committed to the route, and I wasn’t happy. After arriving, I paid the $32 fare with a credit card (no tip), took his cab and driver number, then called and reported the incident to the Taxi Authority. Some workers I talked to later said I should have refused to pay the full fare. I realize that part of the fault lies with me, as I didn’t specify a direct route when I requested Harrah’s, but this got me to wondering: What would LVA have done in a similar situation?

Sorry to hear you were victimized, especially since you seem savvy about the situation.

We get the long-haul question from time to time and answer it more than most other FAQs, since it’s egregious, not uncommon, and easy to defend against with a little knowledge, which is what we like to impart.

In our experience, the vast majority of cabbies are professional, helpful, courteous, and honest. So it’s natural to assume that, for example, when you tell a driver you’re going to Harrah’s, he’ll take you on the shortest and cheapest route. But as your experience proves, a quick turn one way and not the other is all it takes to be proven wrong.

That said, since you asked what we’d do, as soon as we hopped in the cab, we’d’ve instructed the driver to take Tropicana to Koval, Koval to Albert, and Albert to Linq Lane, then deposit us at the back door of Harrah’s, just beyond the High Roller. (We always travel light and don’t mind schlepping the bag a few extra yards to avoid the Strip from Tropicana or any time at all spent on Flamingo Road.)

We figure that would headed off 999 our of 1,000 long-haul possibilities at the pass.

However, if the driver insisted on taking the tunnel (citing heavy traffic), we’d’ve immediately made it clear that we were taking down the driver’s permit-identification number (in red on the permit), intending to call the Taxi Authority at the number posted (702-486-6532). TA officers are full-fledged state troopers and their mandate is to protect you, the passenger. They control every phase of the industry, from the meter to the receipt. They’re open 24/7 hours and respond to complaints about drivers.

We’d've also asked the driver for the name and number of his cab-company supervisor.

Obviously, he’s now on notice that he’s in danger of being reported to the authorities and his bosses. Oftentimes, just taking down all the above information and threatening to call the Taxicab Authority or a company supervisor will convince the cab driver to settle with you, often for a lot less than the dollar amount showing on the meter, so the TA or the company doesn't have to get involved and give him a black mark on his record, or worse — it’s unlikely that you’re the first passenger a hack like this has tried to overcharge. And the more of his passengers who know what they’re doing, the more an unethical or dishonest driver might reconsider his modus operandi.

If the driver won’t settle for less than the long-haul fare on the meter, and we paid the full amount as you did, we’d definitely call the TA as you did. It would be worth it to us to have such a driver confronted by the law, if only to give him second thoughts about long-hauling the next passenger.

If you can't or don't want to complain in front of your driver, you can go to the TA website and fill out/submit an affidavit. Information you'll need will include your name, date, time, place, and description of the incident, cab company, and cab number. It's very helpful to the investigating officer if you also note the driver's name and TA permit number and provide a physical description. If you have the names and phone numbers of any witnesses, those are also welcome.

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Comments

Dave Nov-29-2018

Uber

I’ve gotten long hauled on Uber twice. 

But you can request a rate review afterwards. Their software gives a price quote based on the ideal route, but bills, and tracks the exact route.

After requesting the review, I’ve always gotten it rated back to the original quote.

ocliffgirl62 Nov-29-2018

Long Haul Comment

I got into a cab at Palazzo and asked to go to Caesar's.  The driver turned right out of Palazzo instead of left to go just up the street.  He went around back of Palazzo, long-hauling me.  When I finally got to Caesar's, I was furious.  The people there gave me the number to call and report the guy.  Couple of weeks later I received a money order for the full fare from the cabdriver.

Maggie Nov-29-2018

Pass

I no longer take cabs in Las Vegas.  It was to the point that I always had a bad experience.  I learned a new derogatory name for people of Arabic descent from a cabbie that was insistent on spouting his political views, I was in a flash flood where the car was actually lifted up and carried by the water when a driver insisted on taking a road with already standing water (he may have lost hearing due to the decibel of my screaming at him), and the final straw was a cabbie trying to long haul us and then yelling at us when we called him on it.  I know in many cities cab drivers are upset that they’re losing business to places like Uber but I have no sympathy.  They brought it on themselves in many places.  We now mostly rent a car or take Uber.

vegasvp Nov-29-2018

Long Haul

I got long-hauled to the Golden Nugget a couple of years ago.  This jackass took me clear down to the Silverton and got on I-15 at Blue Diamond Road.  

When we arrived, I told him he could take zero for the trip, or I'd pay him half what was on the meter and report him.  He opted for zero.

Kevin Lewis Nov-29-2018

bus bus

People get long-hauled because a) most passengers don't know Vegas well enough to tell when they're being long-hauled and b) many are too intimidated and/or in a hurry to put up a fight if they do realize it.
Me, I never take a cab. Even with all the bullshit airport surcharges, renting a car is cheap (and I'm never going to a Strip hotel, so parking it isn't an issue). Another option is to take Bell Transit to where you're going--or even the plain ol' bus bus.

shadow520 Nov-29-2018

Rental car

I'm with Kevin. I always rent a car in Vegas. I can get deals and coupon codes online that makes car rental a cheaper option than taking cabs. Then I am free to come and go wherever and whenever I want with little or no waiting. I also avoid the strip or go where parking is free. Over the years I have used a cab a couple times, but never from the airport and didn't have any issues. I prefer the freedom having the car provides.

Dave in Seattle. Nov-29-2018

Never a long haul.

Take Bell Trans from the air port. Uber it back.
Not a RT on Bell Trans-I missed my return to Mc Carran once.

Michael Nov-29-2018

Uber

These days, Uber charges you the same price regardless of what route the driver takes, unless it's a much longer route than they anticipated.

Gene Bennett Nov-29-2018

Honest cabbies

I have a list of cabbies I know (at least online) and one of them is usually on duty when I arrive. Since we have an appointment ride, no cab line for me and no pit for them. I don't get long-hauled, I have a nice catch-up conversation on the ride, and they get a good tip.
On one honest driver's advice, I have the TA in my phone contacts. The one time I did get long-hauled (no one was available that day/time), I made the call while in the cab with the driver listening, and when we arrived at the hotel I told the driver he could either accept what the ride should have cost, or we would wait for the TA agent to arrive. He took the money - no tip.

Andrew74 Nov-29-2018

long hauling

Got long hauled from Terribles to the airport. It's basically a straight shot to the airport & he took all these turns down roads. He claimed there was road work. I knew what was happening but didn't speak up. I no longer take taxis & rent cars while in Vegas. Also, make sure you have singles on hand. I had a $12 fare without singles & the driver tried to say he didn't have change for a $20 bill. Just another scam the taxi drivers will try to pull.

Roy Furukawa Nov-29-2018

Ride share wins this battle

This is why Uber and Lyft takes so much business away from the taxi industry, you’re given a quote upfront of the cost and the car isn’t grossly dirty.

Thomas Hebel Nov-29-2018

Lyft

I rent a car but when my wife has the car i take LYFT all of the time.  Sample fare - Downtown to Westgate $9.75
The charge from LYFT always matches the quoted amount whether the driver takes I15 or LV blvd.

Boogieman888 Nov-29-2018

TA

I contacted TA after being long hauled and they sent me paperwork to fill out. Quite a time later I was contacted by TA via telephone. They asked several questions then asked if I wanted them to take action against the cabbie. Then I never heard anything more. Hopefully he got his due.

Michael Kwiatkowski Nov-29-2018

Drivers Feel You Out

More than once at the airport the taxi driver has asked me "Do you want to take the highway and avoid the strip traffic?".  Then I am required to confront them and say I know Vegas and to take Paradise.  Although I am willing to pay for a ride, I do not like to have to confront someone to avoid being taken advantage of.  Now I have started taking the city bus, even though it is a bit more work.  Ugh.

Annie Nov-30-2018

Avoid Long Hauling.Walk to the Strip!

I salute the honest drivers of which I'm sure there are many, but if, as the answer claims, "the vast majority  of cabbies are ... honest," I don't believe this issue would come up as often as it does.

Cab drivers probably have about the same ethics and morality as casinos, car mechanics, or Wall Street traders. Which is to say that the ethics of a substantial number of our people leaves a lot to be desired.

Before my first trip to Vegas, I read in a guide book how close the Strip was to the airport. On arriving at McCarran for the first time, I found the walking paths that led to Paradise Road and walked down Paradise to Tropicana and to the Strip. I discovered the great Western sky at night. It was a glorious walk, and I continued to enjoy walking from the airport on most of my many subsequent trips. (I haven't been to Vegas in ten years, so I don't know if the walk from the terminal to Paradise Road along several odd little paths is still possible.)

Toad Dec-13-2018

Not Turning it into The Taxi Authority

Not turning in getting long hauled or I have no change crap is what allows the next customer to get screwed.


I would always turn it in. I would not care if they lose their jobs.

Question of the Day - 29 November 2018

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