Columnist Jeff German: Taxicab companies’ response abysmal

Saturday, Nov. 13, 2004 | 12:23 p.m.

Jeff German's column appears Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays in the Sun. Reach him at german@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4067.

WEEKEND EDITION

November 13 - 14, 2004

If you want more evidence of their greed, look at the weak response of the taxicab companies in the fund-raising campaign for the teenage son of slain cabbie Pairoj Chitprasart.

Of the $55,000 Chitprasart's fellow drivers have collected so far, only $1,500 has come from the 16 companies.

That's a mere $94 per company, a little more than a couple of tanks full of gas.

"This is very disappointing," says Yellow Checker Star Cab driver Craig Harris, who organized the fund-raising campaign. "The companies need to start treating their employees and their families better. They should realize we are human beings and that a little compassion wouldn't hurt."

Chitprasart, who drove a taxi to support a Thai language newspaper he published, died a terrible death Aug. 24, four days after he was doused with gasoline and set on fire in his cab during a robbery attempt.

His violent demise prompted the state Taxicab Authority Board to once and for all order cameras in cabs last month to help deter future acts of brutality against drivers. True to character the stingy companies, which didn't want to foot the bill for the cameras, fought that effort all the way.

And, in the end, the companies muscled the five-member board into approving a regulation that was so broad it allows companies to install video cameras with sound capable of spying on the drivers and their passengers.

The regulation, which goes far beyond the original purpose of protecting the drivers, has since drawn sharp criticism from civil libertarians and resort industry lobbyists for its intrusion on the public's constitutional right to privacy.

But last week cameras in cabs wasn't the issue on the minds of many within the taxicab industry. Taking care of Chitprasart's son, 14-year-old David Chitprasart, was the top priority.

Cabbies held a public benefit at Tommy Rocker's for the young man, who no longer has the benefit of the loving guidance of his father.

With the help of such entertainers as Clint Holmes, Lance Burton, George Wallace and Frank Scinta, all of whom performed free, the drivers raised $9,200 in small donations from the public.

Prior to the event Mirage headliner Danny Gans wrote the drivers a $10,000 check.

By all accounts the crowded fund-raiser, which lasted into the early morning hours, was a success. Those on hand said there was a lot of love in the air. During his performance, Scinta told the audience he considered the drivers family.

It was clear that the entertainment industry and the public appreciate the role cabbies play as ambassadors of goodwill on the Strip.

It was also clear that the companies don't.

The lion's share of the $1,500 donated by the companies to David's Fund ($1,000) came from Charlie Frias, who owns five companies, Vegas-Western, A-NLV, Ace, ABC-Union and Virgin Valley.

One day after the star-studded benefit at Tommy Rocker's, Yellow Checker Star, probably out of shame, gave the drivers a $500 check.

Yellow Checker Star, considered one of the industry's leaders, is basically three companies rolled into one. Together it has the largest number of cabs, 533, on the road in Southern Nevada. So if you're not impressed with its contribution, you're not alone.

The donation comes out to 94 cents per cab.

But at least it's a donation, which is more than you can say for the remaining cold-hearted companies -- Whittlesea Blue, Henderson, Western, Deluxe, A-Cab, Desert, Lucky and, believe it or not, Nellis, where Chitprasart worked.

Thanks for nothing.