NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Members of Metro Council have warned Nashville riders not to get into rides they didn’t request after receiving numerous reports about fake taxis.
“It’s a safety risk,” Metro Councilmember over District 19, Jacob Kupin, said. “You’re now getting in the vehicle — not taxi licensed, not regulated by Uber and Lyft. This is a complete and total stranger that you’ve just gotten in the car with.”
Often, Kupin said fake taxis will pull up along someone walking and offer them a ride. However, he’s heard these rides cost unsuspecting passengers much more than they expected.
“Someone was talking about how they got into an illegal cab on Broadway and to get from Broadway to the Gulch cost them $60,” Kupin said.
Kupin explained that although Council has tried to address the issue, their options are somewhat limited until stricter laws are in place to crack down on drivers without taxi licenses. However, Kupin said state leaders are looking into the issue and he hopes to see new legislation soon.
In the meantime, Kupin said the city is working to keep track of these drivers and encouraged riders to report any fake taxis to hubNashville.
“If you’re in a taxi, the meter should be there. It should be on. It should be running,” Kupin explained. “There should be a driver’s permit — a TLC driver’s permit — that’s displayed, a rate card, a passenger bill of rights.”
Monique McClain has driven for Uber for six years and has also heard multiple stories of unsolicited rides going poorly. She specifically cautioned against accepting rides from drivers asking to not use the app.
“If you see a taxi set up in a regular vehicle, I would say immediately get out of the vehicle,” McClain said. “Because for whatever reason why are you driving both of them? It doesn’t make a lot of sense. And for insurance purposes, you want to make sure you’re fully covered and tracked for safety.”
McClain recommended that riders set up a PIN for each ride to make sure they’re with the right driver. Fake taxis are also an issue the Tennessee Drivers’ Union is working to tackle.
“We’re all concerned about this because it makes the integrity of rideshares look bad when we are actually out here trying to make a living and do things the right way,” McClain said.
Representatives with the Tennessee Drivers’ Union told News 2 progress has been made in addressing fake taxis, however, they still feel more work needs to be done.
They shared the following statement, in part:
“New reporting systems were implemented this summer; individuals have the ability to go online and make any reports regarding fake taxis. However, we as drivers are demanding a more active enforcement approach towards banning fake taxis, especially downtown. City officials and the Mayor’s Office (Councilmember Erin Evans and Director Darren Jernigan from the Mayor’s Office) committed to asking the MNPD Police Chief and the Nashville Department of Transportation to look into enforcement practices to take fake taxis off the streets of Nashville. While we have seen a decrease, this problem has not been addressed and we would like to see it taken more seriously for the safety of the passengers and the integrity of our rideshare businesses. We hope to see a more active enforcement approach across the state as well.”
