Columnist Jeff German: Cab owners keep drivers fuming

Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004 | 11:10 a.m.

It's no secret within the taxicab industry that cabbies have been raising money for the 14-year-old son of slain Nellis Cab driver Pairoj Chitprasart.

What's astonishing is that, while the drivers are doing their part, the wealthy companies have had a hard time reaching into their own pockets for this worthy cause.

Just days after Chitprasart died, drivers collected $3,100 among themselves during an Aug. 29 reception hosted by a cabbie-friendly topless club. They have raised a total of $25,000 so far from a variety of sources, including businesses that deal regularly with the industry. Their goal is to reach $100,000 by Thanksgiving.

A trust fund in the name of the teenager, David Chitprasart, has been set up at Nevada State Bank and a benefit for the public is being planned at Tommy Rocker's Nov. 9 with such Strip stars as Lance Burton and George Wallace.

The elder Chitprasart, who drove a cab to keep afloat his Thai language newspaper, died after he was doused with gasoline and set on fire in an Aug. 20 robbery attempt.

His violent death has been a rallying cry for drivers in recent weeks in their push to get cameras in cabs to prevent future horrifying crimes against them. The state Taxicab Authority Board scheduled a vote today on a proposed camera regulation.

The vote comes after months of delays generated by greedy companies reluctant to foot the bill for the cameras.

You would think the companies would be eager to contribute to the fund for Chitprasart's son -- if not out of compassion for a young man who lost his father, then to improve their own reputation in the community for selfishness.

Even that, however, has been too much to ask of them.

Only one owner, Charlie Frias, so far has contributed to the fund. And he only donated $1,000.

"It's very disappointing," says Yellow Checker Star driver Craig Harris, who is involved in the fundraising efforts. "I would think that by now more companies would have made donations."

The companies can't even claim ignorance.

The drivers sent a fax to every owner Oct. 4 soliciting donations in as polite a way as they could. When there was no response, a second "friendly reminder" was faxed Oct. 18.

The second time the frustrated cabbies took a different approach, trying to shame the companies into coming up with cash. But the drivers still got a miniscule response.

"Your cab drivers are often referred to as the front line ambassadors of Las Vegas, greeting millions of visitors each year," the second fax says. "One of those ambassadors has fallen, victim of a vicious murder.

"We now ask that your cab company honor the industry as a whole by honoring his son with a generous donation."

The problem here is that the companies don't know the meaning of the words "honor" or "generous."