Taxis and Their Use Around Chicago
Chicagoans understand that sometimes it may be needed to use a taxi to get from one place to the other, especially if they do not have access to vehicles of their own. Taxis are a great way to get around the city of Chicago, and at a pretty low cost at times. Although there are other applications that are on the rise that provides taxi services, such as Uber, they are still continuously used and serve a great purpose in Chicago. However, there are some downsides that have been revealed over time about them. One of these downsides could potentially be dangerous, and that is fake taxis.
What is a Fake Taxi?
As the name suggests, a fake taxi is a cab that could potentially be life-threatening, or they could just scam you. “It means that they could cheat you out of your money, or take routes you don’t want to take” mentions Universal Taxi Dispatch. As money is a really important thing, especially in Chicago, you definitely do not want to spend more than you need to. However, despite the fact that there are many fake taxis out there, you can certainly find ways to help avoid them at all costs.
How To Avoid Fake Taxis
There are many ways in which everyone can avoid fakes. Sometimes, it can get really hard to tell. First off, if the sign on the top of the car just says “taxi,” that’s already a major red flag. “The hood light has a taxi cab number, that number’s gonna match the taxi cab license plate, and that same number is gonna be on both doors” as mentioned by Yahoo News. This can certainly be especially difficult, especially after a good game at the United Center, or anything of the sort. These are still things that are especially important since they could potentially end in bloodshed.
Licensed Taxi Investigators
Many of these investigators come around, especially at the end of a game or huge event. These investigators are key in being able to find fake ones and are especially useful at night. Many people that leave a big event are tired and do not want to have to worry about anything other than getting home or to a hotel.
Therefore, these investigators are truly key in helping people get home safely. “I’m going to park here and I am going to walk,” said one inspector as they looked for unlicensed or fake taxis trying to cash in on the demand after events.
Fake Taxis and Their Scams
It is very unfortunate that there are people that are out to scam others. It seems that each day there is something new Chicagoans have to look out for, despite them most likely not wanting to. This is why many Chicagoans and even many people around the world are relying on Uber or Lyft, as these are more reliable than just regular ones. Unfortunately, some people do not like taking Uber or Lyft and prefer to ride in a cab. Watching out for simple things such as the license number and such could be crucial in finding a fake.
Never get into a taxi unless you have made sure that it’s not fake, and that it is a licensed one. Unfortunately, though, there still are licensed drivers who want to make you pay more than you need to. That is something that will never cease to exist, as money has always been an issue in Chicago.
Written by David Loran Jr
Sources:
ABC7 News: City warns of fake taxis, taxi scams as more cabs return to the road
Universal Taxi Dispatch: HOW TO STOP UNLICENSED/ILLEGAL CABBIES
Yahoo! News: How to spot fake taxis and taxi scams in Chicago
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Hector de Pereda’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Karsten Loewenstein’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
