Agency hedges on monitoring cabbies who deliver for tips

Wednesday, March 1, 2000 | 12:14 p.m.

The state Taxicab Authority says it may give up trying to police drivers who take tips from Las Vegas businesses in return for delivering customers.

The authority's chairman says the agency doesn't have the resources to enforce the code, which bars drivers from taking fares to certain businesses in return for a fee from the business.

"It seems to be such a large problem that we don't have the resources to go out and enforce this," said James Jimmerson, chairman of the Taxicab Authority.

A 1971 regulation prohibits cabdrivers from accepting any kind of compensation from anyone other than their employer or passengers.

For years, some adult clubs, restaurants, shops, wedding chapels and other businesses have been doling out cash to cabbies who bring patrons to their establishments, according to Craig Harris, editor of the cabdriver magazine Trip Sheet.

Although businesses are allowed to offer cabdrivers incentives for bringing in customers, a recent state law prohibits them from encouraging drivers to engage in diversion. Diversion is the practice of luring passengers away from their original destination or pressuring them to go somewhere else. Cabdrivers are also prohibited from practicing diversion.

Jimmerson said passenger diversion is more of a concern to the Taxicab Authority than drivers accepting tips that they shouldn't. As long as drivers don't pressure passengers to go to locations other than their original requests, the authority isn't too concerned about drivers accepting tips.

"Diversion is just not in the public's best interest," Jimmerson said. "Throughout 2000, there will be random stings to prevent diversion."

The authority has the power to delete the tipping regulation but cannot do away with the state diversion statute.