![]() Legislation also could benefit the industry as a whole by preventing a glut of available drivers, which has a compounding effect that leads to lower wages. city to announce ride-share regulations.Īdvocates believe regulations could even the for-hire vehicle playing field, considering there is already a cap for the number of taxi medallions - which have fallen precipitously in cost over the past five years. Two aldermen brought up a ride-share license cap and driver minimum wage just days after New York became the first U.S. ![]() “I’ve been in this business 20 years.This rally isn't the first time the idea of ride-share regulations has emerged in Chicago. ![]() An explosion of ride share drivers and the devaluing of taxi medallions has ruined business, according to Mohammad Mazouni. One driver who offered WGN Investigates what he described as a “black car service” said City Hall is to blame for the pressure they feel to find fares. The city encourages anyone who feels they may have been scammed by one of these drivers to report them via 311. Despite two sting operations carried out by the city this year the rogue drivers continue to operate. Records reveal police issued 75 citations for unlawful solicitation of rides at O’Hare airport last year. One guy pulled a knife and stabbed the other as he tried to defend himself with a traffic cone. Police said two drivers hustling rides got into a fight over a fare outside O’Hare airport’s international terminal in 2018. City officials have heard complaints about passengers being told one fare at the airport only to be told they must pay a higher amount upon arrival at their destination.Ĭompetitions between drivers has led to bloodshed. A suburban taxi service that’s authorized to offer pre-arranged airport rides charges $50 for that same ride. One driver told WGN Investigates a ride from O’Hare to Naperville would cost $89-$100. “They’re trying to step ahead of the line and not follow any of the rules and in doing so they’re also putting the public at risk,” said Chicago Business and Consumer Protection Commissioner Rosa Escareno.Ĭity officials said people are putting themselves in danger by using unlicensed operators because many drivers don’t submit to background checks and their vehicles are not inspected. However, city ordinance clearly states only pre-arranged rides are permissible at Chicago’s airports. WGN Investigates went undercover to see how often we would be solicited.įour drivers in 45 minutes said they were “taxis” or rideshare services “like Uber and Lyft.” They insisted their state issued “livery” license plates or City of Chicago chauffer’s license allow them to solicit rides at the O’Hare and Midway airports. Glass says some of the drivers have threatened him for exposing the airport hustle. Glass has made it his mission to identify and report these unauthorized taxis. “These people are hostages in that car unless they pay what they’re told to pay,” said airport greeter Mark Glass. ![]() Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.ĬHICAGO - The City of Chicago’s attempts to crack down on people who illegally offer rides at Chicago’s airports hasn’t stopped a steady stream of solicitors. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. ![]()
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