What Do You Do When a Taxi Tries to Divert You?

Last week, I was in Las Vegas for the Summer Market show at the World Market Center. A group of us guys got together after dinner to go to a strip club. We caught a taxi, told the driver to take us to Sapphire. We were feeling no pain, if you get my drift, and the driver took us to the Hustler Club, which was twice as far and not where we wanted to go. The cabbie kept saying Hustler was much better (for reasons I don't need to go into) and refused to turn off the meter and take us back to Sapphire. We felt like we had no choice, so we went to Hustler. The other guys shrugged it off, but it's still bugging me. What should I/we have done?

Damn. We hate hearing that.

"Diversion" is the word for what happened to you. It refers to the many commercial establishments, especially in Las Vegas, that pay drivers to bring customers to their places of business. These could be gentlemen's clubs, as in your case, massage parlors, wedding chapels, and others. Diverting fares used to happen a lot more often, but then the Taxicab Authority made a few high-visibility moves to deter drivers from doing so. It still happens, of course, amply evidenced by your experience.

The simple fact is this: Taxicab drivers are absolutely prohibited from diverting you.

If you tell the driver that you want to go to a specific destination, he's not permitted to pressure you into going to another. If he does, you can be sure he's trying to direct you to a place that pays him more than the one you want to go to.

Of course, if you ask for a recommendation, most cabbies will suggest a restaurant, nightclub, or attraction. Perhaps the establishment is paying a commission, perhaps not. If you ask and your driver directs you somewhere, that's one thing. But if you know where you want to go and your driver "has a better idea," just say no. Being diverted by a cab driver is more than adequate cause for reporting him to the authorities.

Beyond flat-our refusing, what you could/should have done was call the Nevada Taxicab Authority. The TA officers are full-fledged state troopers and their mandate is to protect you, the passenger. Their number is 702-486-6532, they're open 24/7, and someone there would have responded to your call.

Having the following information at the ready will ensure your driver is reprimanded: date, time, place, and description of the incident; cab company and cab number; driver's name and permit number (in red on the posted permit) and a physical description. If you have the names and phone numbers of any witnesses -- your fellow riders -- those are helpful.

Oftentimes, just taking down all the above information, loudly demanding the name and number of the cab-company supervisor, and threatening to call the Taxicab Authority will make it clear to the cab driver that you know what you're doing and you mean business. He'll settle with you, so the company supervisor or TA doesn't get involved and give him a black mark on his record, or worse.

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Dave_Miller_DJTB Aug-26-2023

Free limo

Most (all?) Vegas strip clubs pat taxi drivers to deliver customers.
Most (all?) also have free limo service. It’s cheaper for them than paying the taxi driver.

O2bnVegas Aug-26-2023

different problem

Not the same kind of problem, just a long ago memory:  Taxi from airport, we told the driver "Harrah's."  He pulled up to Paris.  Harrah's, Paris, easy mistake.  We all laughed, he closed out his meter, took us on to Harrah's.

Never had a problem with a taxi except in Dallas TX, a funny story but too long to tell, and ya had to be there.  LOL.

Candy

gaattc2001 Aug-26-2023

The irony of it is...

that even if you were the one that wanted to go to a certain "establishment" of that kind, and you told the driver to go there, and s/he took you there as you instructed, the club will still pay the driver a kickback and then recover it by charging you extra for arriving in a cab. Somehow I never understood how their decision to pay kickbacks became my financial responsibility.
It's yet another example of the general deterioration of the Las Vegas visitor experience; and one of several reasons I gave up on all those type of places over twenty years ago--in Las Vegas, at least.
Saved a lot of money, too....

IPA Noah Aug-26-2023

Next time

Inform the driver that unless he turns off the meter immediately and takes you to where you actually asked to go you won't be paying him when the ride ends. You don't have to pay the fare when they divert/long haul/ or even not take the route you request. They'll threaten to call the cops, let them call the cops (hint they won't). A cab driver faces a big fine and loss of their license for long hauling. The scam here probably was the driver was getting a kickback from Hustler and not Saphire. IDK maybe the driver really thought he was legitimately doing them a favor.

Carl LaFong Aug-26-2023

Before rideshares...

2 memorable experiences with cabs in Vegas: 

Hopped into a cab @ Flamingo and told him "Palace Station". When he turned left (not the usual first turn) I chalked it up to maybe traffic or construction was the reason. He quickly turned into Imperial Palace. I told him "I said PALACE STATION". He did not get a tip.

Second story: Picked up at Palms for a ride back to the Strip. The guy who pulled up was in a minivan without a middle seat. In its place were tools and tool boxes. He said his van breaks down a lot.

Llew Aug-26-2023

Honest mistake

Several years ago, we were in town for spouse’s conference. The head of spouse’s organization wanted to take us to dinner at the Palm restaurant. Four of us jumped in a cab at Bally’s, where we were staying.  Our host told the cabbie to take us to the Palm. You can probably guess what happened. 
Before we realized what was happening, we were heading west on Flamingo.  I was the only one who had spent any time in Las Vegas before. I asked the driver, “Wait, are taking us to the Palms?”  Yep. Took a few minutes to get everything straightened out but we got to the right place in time for our reservation.

CLIFFORD Aug-26-2023

OMG -SEEMS YOUR BIG

MISTAKE WAS GOING TO A GIRLIE JOINT WHILE DRUNK..CABBIE JUST TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING. PROBABLY THOUGHT HE WAS DOING YA ALL A FAVOR. I don't know if HE was because I am very good boy and don't go to places like that.

Question of the Day - 26 August 2023

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