CHICAGO, March 2 (UPI) -- Chicago is going to sock it to cab drivers who behave badly, a report said Sunday.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported with cab passenger complaints increasing by 58 percent in 2007, the fines for related city driving violations will triple starting next month. Effective April 1, the fine for bad-driving behaviors by Chicago cab drivers will rise from $25 to $75.
In 2006, the number of complaints against Chicago cabbies sat at 7,088, but in 2007 the total reached 11,227, with 2,375 complaints specifically targeting reckless driving by Chicago cabbies.
Consumer Services Commissioner Norma Reyes said the current fine system was too low and allowed cab drivers to simply view them as an added cost of their job.
"I want them to put public safety first, Reyes said. "I want to weed out the bad cabdrivers and bolster the good ones."
