Cab UnFair

I just fired off the following email to the DC Taxicab Commission. Based on past experience with the commission, I am not hopeful that anything will come of this, but I figured it was worth a shot.

To Whom It Concerns,

Last night (7/23/10 at 12:25 am) at the corner of 9th and F Street NW, a Yellow Cab on duty refused to take my friend and me to XXXXX. The cab number was 5454-1212. I don't have any more information because the driver sped off.

As many of the cabs do, he slowed down, rolled down the window, and asked where we were going. When I said, "XXXXX," he shook his head, said no, and drove off. He was clearly on duty and simply refusing to take us where we needed to go.

This happens time and time again in DC, and having had several conversations with cab drivers about why this is, it seems many taxi drivers only accept fares when they think they can get a lucrative return fare, especially on a weekend night. One evening, a girlfriend and I stood on Connecticut Avenue as three different cabs slowed down, asked where we were going, and then refused and sped off when she said "Capitol Hill."

There must be some repercussions for this sort of behavior as it seems to be not only common but also acknowledged by other drivers as routine. I can understand not wanting to accept a fare if the person is rowdy or intoxicated, but two sober women just looking to get home late at night hardly seems like a risk in any capacity.

Please do something.

Thank you,
Jacki

UPDATE: I could have sworn the cab number was correct, but then I realized we may have caught the cab phone number and added in an extra digit. Oh well. We'll get 'em next time.