As a Brookland resident, one comes to realize that cabbing home from District night spots brings its own set of difficulties. Despite living just blocks from major D.C. landmarks and minutes from downtown, neighborhood residents learn that when hailing a cab, they’re going to have to get in the car before telling the driver the destination, they’re going to have to give him detailed directions on how to get there, and they’re going to have to reassure the driver several times that it’s not much further. Brooklanders (myself included) are sometimes boggled by the cabbie response — this is Northeast, after all, not the wilds of Outer Suburbia — but I have come to accept it as part of living on the other side of North Capitol Street.

It seems, however, that some Brooklanders are suffering a worse fate. Stories are circulating on a Brookland discussion group today concerning cabbies that have kicked out their fares after learning their destinations. New York cabbies are known to take such action with residents of Gotham’s homophonic borough, but in Washington, where no bridges, tunnels, or tolls separate NW hotspots from NE, an ejection seems excessive.

It’s also not allowed. According to the regulations of the D.C. Taxicab Commission:

No taxicab operator shall refuse to transport a person while holding his or her taxicab for hire, unless:

– Previously engaged;
– Unable or forbidden by the provisions of this title to do so;
– The operator has reason to believe the person is engaged in a violation of law; or
– The operator has cause to fear injury to his or her person, property or taxicab…

Except in shared riding, the operator shall not ask the destination of the passenger until the passenger is in the taxicab. A dispatcher shall not ask the destination of a passenger. If the dispatcher learns the destination of a passenger, that dispatcher shall not then convey the destination when dispatching an operator to pick up the passenger unless requested to do so by the passenger or the passenger has an emergency.

Know your rights, folks, and know how to complain. Riders can email cab complaints to dctc@dc.gov, but emails must include the name of the operator, vehicle license tag and date and time of the incident.

Picture taken by DCMatt.