Fight the Cabs!

My biggest pet peeve lately has been taxi drivers who keep their doors locked and force you to tell them your destination before letting you in. Of course, if they don't feel like taking you there (even if it's within DC), they just drive off. It's particularly bad on weekend evenings, and, after four of them pulled this stunt on me on Saturday, I double checked the DC Taxicab Commission's website to see if there isn't a law about this, and, sure enough, here's what I found:

Is there a circumstance when a driver can refuse to take on a passenger?

It is against the law to refuse a person based on race, disability or destination in the District of Columbia. A taxicab driver is required to drive a passenger to any destination in the District of Columbia. However, if the driver has been operating the taxicab for more than twelve (12) hours of any continuous twenty-four (24) hour period, or the vehicle is on-call or off-duty for mechanical or other reasons, then he/she may refuse to take on a passenger. (See rule 820). The driver, however, is required to display the “on-call” or “off-duty” or “out-of-service” signs indicating that the vehicle is out of service and must have the cruising light turned off indicating that the taxicab is not for hire. (See rule 605.6)

I copied down the tag number of one of the cabs, and filed a complaint. I don't expect them to actually do anything about it, but at least I feel better. The next time some driver gets offended that I want a ride from downtown to Van Ness, I'll be sure to do the same.