Best Portland Maine Cab Tips

In today’s taxi industry it is becoming more and more common for folks to get ripped off by unscrupulous taxi drivers.  Here are some tips to get you to your destination for a “fair” price for you and the driver.  Portland Maine Cab drivers are bound by the City of Portland for their actions in a taxi cab. 
With that in mind, passangers should be observant to make sure they are getting the best service from their Portland Maine Cab driver.  Pay attention; even if you do not know the City like the Portland Maine Cab driver, you should be able to tell if you are driving around in circles.  Make sure you are not being charged waiting time while you are driving.  at .40 a minute, if your ride home takes 15 minutes, your fair would be $6 more than it should be.  Look at the meter in the picture:

Portland Maine Cab Meter

Under the $8.50 there are two lights.  If the light to the right is not on (it says time off), that means you are getting charged time and mileage…which is against the law.  All meters are different, and may look different then the picture above…make sure you see a “Time Off” light lit somewhere on the meter!

Last but not least, try and have exact change.  A new “Trick” that is becoming more and more common is the no change trick.  When the driver picks you up, ask him if he has change for a $10, $20, $50, etc.  If you ask up front, you will know to stop and make change on the way.  If not, you may get to your destination and find that your $13.00 ride is now $20.00.  Even, if you refuse to give him the driver $20 dollars, and tell the driver to go back to the store….the meter is “still a clicking”!

At Abbey Road Taxi, we take the City of Portlands rules and regulations very seriously.  There are many honest drivers out there that will give you a safe, fair Portland Maine Cab ride, and there are also many drivers that will take you for “A Ride”.  Make sure you choose the right one.

Here is the City of Portland Taxi Bill of Rights (in full):

1. Taxicab and Livery Business and Driver’s licenses issued by the City of Portland must be displayed in the vehicle at all times.l.There have been repeated violations by the driver or drivers employed by the licensee which resulted in four (4) or more suspensions of the same driver, or eight (8) or more suspensions of employees of the same person holding more than one (1) business license hereunder, establishing a pattern of conduct by the holder of the taxicab or livery business license(s); outside the Metered Zone is requested by the passenger, both passenger and driver shall agree upon the fare before the trip commences. Otherwise, the passenger is under no obligation to pay.

2. Each Taxi and Livery vehicle must be licensed. Taxicab and Livery vehicles and drivers require separate licenses. A Taxicab Drivers License is required to drive a Taxi and a Livery Drivers License is required to drive a Livery.

3. It is the responsibility of the Taxicab or Livery business to insure that all drivers hold a valid City of Portland Taxicab or Livery drivers license. A copy of the driver’s license should be kept on file.

4. Taxicabs and Liveries must be clean and in good repair at all times.

5. If the vehicle registration expires during the license year, May 1^{st through April 30th, you are required to file the new registration with the Taxi License Administrator.}

6. If the vehicle insurance expires during the license year, May 1st through April 30th, you are required to file a new certificate with the Taxi License Administrator.

7. Grounds for suspension or revocation of your City of Portland issued taxi or livery business license include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. Knowingly took a longer route to his or her destination than was necessary unless so requested by the passenger;

b. Knowingly conveyed any passenger to a place other than that which the passenger specified;

c. Solicited or caused another person to solicit taxicab passenger business in any manner whatsoever;

d. In the case of a livery, picked up or attempted to pick up a passenger on the street or in a public place, without an agreement arranged in advance for such pick-up; the burden shall be on the livery business or driver licensee to show the existence of such a pre-arranged agreement;

e. Transported any person other than the passenger first engaging the taxicab or livery without the express consent of such passenger;

f. Drove a taxicab or livery when not clean and neat in appearance;

g. Permitted any person other than the driver and passenger(s) to remain in the taxicab or livery at any time, except a trainee, who is a licensed taxicab or livery driver;

h. Refused to transport any orderly person upon request unless, in the case of a single taxicab or livery business the taxicab or livery vehicle is engaged, or in the case of a taxicab or livery business operating

more than one (1) taxicab or livery vehicle, all vehicles operated by such business and then in service are engaged (if no taxicab or livery vehicle is available at the time when a request for taxicab or livery service is telephoned to a dispatch service, the dispatch service shall arrange with the caller for transportation by the next available taxicab or livery using such dispatch service unless the caller expressly declined to make such arrangement);

i. In the case of a taxicab, charged more than the maximum fare specified in section 30-21;

j. Failed to notify the administrator of any change of any material fact set forth in the application for such license;

k. Removed from a taxicab or livery, or obscured, or caused to be removed from a taxicab or livery, or caused to be obscured, the notice and decal required by sections 30-22 and 30-23 or any other notice hereunder required to be posted in the vehicle;

8. When a trip

The Metered Zone includes Portland, So. Portland, Westbrook, Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough.

9. Any sightseeing tour must have a published route and fare.

m. The taxicab or livery business licensee or any person employed by such licensee has operated a taxicab or livery without a current and valid taxicab or livery driver’s license for such vehicle; or

n. Any taxicabs or liveries covered by the taxicab or livery business license have been the subject of one (1) or more violation notices for failure to comply with the standards set forth in Section 30-18.

10. There shall be no charge for transporting bags or parcels.

11. Waiting time can be charged at $.40 per minute under the following conditions:

a. Waiting time can only be charged at express direction of the passenger after a trip has begun, or

b. Before a trip has begun, starting five (5) minutes after the time the passenger has requested a taxicab.

Order a Portland Maine Cab.