Black Man: Cabbie Afraid I'd Skip Fare Locked Me In - Says He Was Driven To Jail

[The Straight Story]

Black Man: Cabbie Afraid I'd Skip Fare Locked Me In
Man Says He Was Driven To Jail

POSTED: 7:46 pm EST February 8, 2007

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. -- Over the years, a lot of black men have complained about having trouble hailing a cab.

But this story has just about all the others beat -- by a mile.

A black restaurant manager in Marin County, Calif., said a white cabbie went so far as to lock him in his cab and drive him to jail -- because he feared he'd skip out on paying his fare.

Lawyers for Michael Orange filed a racial bias claim against the Marin Yellow Cab company this week.

Orange said after he hailed the cab outside a bus station, he asked to be taken home. Instead the cabbie locked the doors, and sped off to the Marin County Jail.

The driver explained to Orange that he fit the profile of a man who beat him on fares twice. He gave his rider a choice: pay in advance, or answer to the sheriff for the fare-skipping allegations.

Orange insisted the driver call his dispatcher, who confirmed Orange was a repeat customer who could be trusted to be taken home, instead of to jail.

http://www.local6.com/spotlight/10966751/detail.html

That right there is just plain F'ked up.

[ThomCat]

1. I hope he wins that lawsuit.

I've often stood and watched here in Manhattan as cabs pass black people and immediately stop for someone white on the next block.

I've had them stop for me after passing someone black 40' in front of me. They get pissed when I wave the other person over and give them the cab.

I'm a white guy on crutches. I almost never have any trouble getting a cab. (except for weekday afternoons, 4-7pm, when nobody on earth can easily get a cab in midtown.)

[Horse with no Name]

2. Jesus H. Christ

This is total crap.

[Solly Mack]

3. ...

....

[Duer 157099]

4. I'm more amazed that there are cabs in Marin county!

And hailing one? Wow, that sounds so New Yorkish.

(and I'm glad he's suing)

[WI_DEM]

5. I hope he wins this case.

[Robbien]

6. This cab ride in Iraq has that one beat

Time to head home

Time to head home. It has been a reletively quiet day with the curfew on from eleven am to three pm. Now starts the heartache of convincing a taxi driver that it's worth risking his life to take me home.

I live in an area that has been a battleground for more than four months, the tug of war between the Mujahideen and the Mehdi Army has frightened off all but the hardiest transients. When I do find a willing driver, after a number of refusals and headshakes, he either grumbles all the way there, which hardens my heart somewhat as to his safety, or he turns out to be quite the gentleman. It's then that I start getting butterflies. For as soon as I get home and give him the fare, I turn away from the car and quickly enter my door , leaving him to his fate.

I pray for the safety of all the taxi drivers who take me home, and truely hope they reach their homes safely. But the risk remains and the possibility that my trip home may have cost someone their life keeps me awake at night.

[The Straight Story]

7. That's pretty messed up

here we are in the 21st century and shit like what you and I both posted seem all too common.