What happened:
In the coming weeks, the East Lansing City Council will try to pass stricter drug testing laws for taxi cab drivers in the area.
In a report by The State News on Aug. 6, former employees of Big Daddy Taxi accused current drivers with the company of smoking marijuana and giving beer to MSU freshmen while on duty. Big Daddy Taxi’s owner denied the accusations.
The city attorney is looking into the matter. When he’s done, the City Council will discuss the situation and adopt a policy.
Source: The State News
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City may drug test taxi cab drivers
In coming weeks, the East Lansing City Council will try to pass stricter drug testing policies for taxi cab drivers in the city, Mayor Sam Singh said Wednesday.
The initiative comes in response to multiple reports Singh has heard from students and cab drivers suggesting some local drivers operate while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The council is waiting to receive more information from the city attorney before they resume discussions about the matter, Singh said.
“I don’t care what taxi cab drivers do on their own time, in their own homes and in their private lives,” Singh said. “But these reports that I’ve heard from students, as well as other cab drivers, of potential drug and alcohol use while they’re driving is something that’s a great concern to me.”
Singh first learned about these allegations from a report by The State News on Aug. 6 – an article in which two former employees of Big Daddy Taxi accused employees who still work at the company of smoking marijuana and handing out beer to MSU freshmen while on duty.
Big Daddy Taxi owner Cleat Jones vehemently denied the accusations, saying that if he had “people doing that stuff, they would have gone to jail and been fired.”
Still, the allegations were enough to arouse concern in City Hall.
Singh said he isn’t sure what kind of policy the City Council will adopt. Everything, including random drug testing, is a possibility, he said.
Implementing a strict drug testing policy for taxi cab drivers would be a tremendous safety measure for the city to take, said Mehedi Kamal, general manager of Big Daddy Taxi.
“It’s for the greater good,” Kamal said. “There should be drug testing in cab companies, but I do not believe there should be random drug testing. People come here for jobs, and I just don’t want the cops or anyone harassing them while they’re doing their work for a random drug test.”
In addition to enhancing safety, periodical drug tests would vindicate Big Daddy Taxi from all the false accusations, Kamal added.
“It helps us to prove that all our drivers are regularly drug tested, so no one can come up and say our drivers are using drugs,” he said.
At this point, any policy aiming to deter taxi cab drivers from driving under the influence would be a step in the right direction, said Julie Voeller, co-owner of Shaggin’ Wagon Taxi.
“Taxi cab drivers should be held to a higher standard,” Voeller said. “The insurance companies understand we should be held to a higher standard, it’s a good thing that the city of East Lansing is recognizing that as well.”
Alex Altman can be reached at altmanal@msu.edu.
Published on Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Comments
Eric Voss
09/11/07 @ 2:04am
You should be aware that many of the persons, who drove for Big Daddy Taxi in the past, who regularly consumed marijuana prior and/or during their driving shift, now work for Shaggin’Wagon. My suggestion is for the City of East Lansing to ban any driver who possesses a prior felony conviction or convictions—without exception. Shaggin’ Wagon seems to have told only the part of the story that is advantageous to Shaggin’ Wagon.
Sierra T
09/15/07 @ 5:59pm
I feel that Shaggin Wagon is by far better than Big Daddy Taxi and I also feel that any Driver with a Felony of any kind should be banned from driving in the taxi business. From previous experience I now use Shaggin wagon over BDT. Some of BDT drivers are too young I used one gentleman who was 21 and all he did was talk on the phone the whole time and was speeding!!He asked way to personal questions!! I think there should be an age limit on who drives. BDT needs to do better background checks on there employees! In face i called Mr.Jones and complained about the driver and he said he would take care of it.. I used him a few times after that thinking things would be better but they def were not.
Jenny
09/15/07 @ 6:29pm
Big Daddy Taxi is the worst cab company ever they are never on time and when i called the dispatcher always hangs up! she is rude! when they finally get there they smell of weed and alcohol its distgusting!! I had "Rob" as a driver and he was speeding the whole way back to the dorm..Scary he handed me his business card and I laughed like id EVER use them again!
Sarah
09/17/07 @ 12:16pm
I have always received good service from Big Daddy Taxi. Everyone uses BDT! Sure, I used Shaggin’Wagon when they first came out; but, I found the drivers totally rude, random, and creepy. I rode with “Roc” as a driver—he smelled funny and I did not feel safe. Later, I had some older woman with long, black hair, glasses and she acted crazy and spoke to herself the whole time. I will NEVER ride again Shaggin’ Wagon.