We have only three types of taxis out here in Phoenix these days it seems and the HHR is starting to become the most noticed by me lately. The Crown Vics are seeming to be replaced with either HHR's or Prius' once they hit there long use life. And if it ins't a Colorado or Ranger then most companies are also switching over to HHR's for delivery vehicles.

 

There are lots of new Caprice PPV's for sale locally at several lot's. If any department is saying there is a shortage, they are not looking hard enough. Lot's out there. I could probably find 50 locally, both the standard and dective models.

 

843....

I agree with you about "pepper spray" but for another reason. I have seen to many people just shake off the effects of pepper spray and continue an assault, a threat or whatever. Might have something to do with the different manufacturers and percentages of capsicum, but I also have seen highly "jones" people unaffected by it.

I once "hosed" a guy down with law enforcement grade pepper spray and he continued his attack. To bad because he sustained broken collar bones, a broken wrist and a broken ankle afterword (by the responders).

A taser, while an effective defense weapon, has limitations also. And would be kind of hard to use in a taxi cab.

 

I'd go with a multi-tiered method. Instead of pepper "spray", I'd go with a gel or foam based product. I considered a stun gun, but that would require me to be able to contact the perp directly with a hand-held object. A taser would maybe work, but it's a one-shot deal usually, so if I miss...
Then, of course, there's the obvious tool, which I've no problem using if someone is willing and able to threaten my life. The only real question is where to mount it, and whether to go with a snub, or to go ahead and just us my full size pistol. I just don't like the idea of losing it for an unknown amount of time if/when I do have to use it.
A $2** Taurus 85 is pretty reliable, a decent short range popper, and I could stand to lose it for a bit while the bureaucratic juggernaut does its thing.

Back to the car, though. I checked with my wife, and the HHR seems to have decent enough legroom in the back, if I suck it up a little bit. We don't have any kind of barricades in the Yellow vehicles, but we also have a nearly zero crime rate against cabbies here. (It's widely known that most cabbies here are armed)
Just the occasional crazy or drunk. Here's a clip of one of yesterday's passengers, after getting out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qQXcmU6mq0

 

I just saw what I think was an HHR taxi, on a Progressive TV ad, wherein the scraggly dude pays for folks' parking meters.

 

Driving a taxi, or working at night in a convenience store is a very chancy occupation. But the way things-are-a-changing, being a customer of either is getting to be risky as well. There are nuts on both sides of the seat or counter; around here at least. You just never know for sure anymore.My $.02.

 

I agree. Unfortunately, these days, unless I want to go back OTR in trucks, my options are limited, and driving a cab offers me the flexibility to attend school for a career change.
Advantages are that and the relative safety of our market here in central AL, and the fact that I have every right to refuse a fare if I'm not comfortable letting them in the car. I would have refused the one in the video, but I wasn't the primary driver at the time.

 

I drive a '09 HHR taxi here, and I have never had any problems with passengers. I will post some pics of the cab tomorrow (with boss's ok, of course) I think it's the best looking cab in the county, if not the whole state.

 

to the forum atheywa!

And greetings from an old cab driver/hack wrangler, sometimes I do miss it, you get to meet so many people from all walks of life.

 

Sorry it took so long, here is the cab I drive. It's a little small for me (I'm 6'5") but everything else is about it is great.


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