Seattle proposes eliminating hygiene standards for taxi drivers
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SEATTLE -- Behind the wheel of a taxi cab for 20 years, Jagjit Singh has seen it all.
Ask him about the tougher roads he's been down, though, and he'll talk about the bumpy one between taxi drivers and the city of Seattle.
"Our company should regulate (things), not the city," he says as he drives north toward the Emerald City on Wednesday night. "This is an independent job."
Singh is among the many taxi drivers supporting proposed changes in the Seattle budget package for next year. The changes would eliminate current dress code and hygiene standards among taxi and for-hire drivers, removing the requirement that drivers be "neat and clean," among other things.
According to the city, neat and clean means clothes should be "clean, free from soil, grease and dirt and without unrepaired rips and tears." In terms of cleanliness, the city currently requires an "absence of offensive body odor" and "well groomed" facial hair.
"Basically they're saying, 'Treat us like adults,'" said Denise Movius, deputy director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services, which oversees taxi regulations in the city of Seattle. "We don't dictate to any other business in the city how they should dress."
Movius - and other city officials - say the hospitality industry has expressed concern that removing uniform and hygiene standards among taxi drivers could send tourists searching for air freshener - and leave them with a negative impression of the Emerald City.
"We're trying to be a world-class city. I don't think this goes in the right direction," said Eli Darland, who owns both a for-hire company and a limo service in Western Washington. "Most of the hotels are appalled at the level of service that the taxis are giving," he added. "Now Seattle is saying, 'Hey, let's make it worse.'"
Supporters of the change say drivers can regulate what they wear, how they look, and smell - and will, out of necessity.
"People are not going to want to patronize your business if they have an unpleasant experience," said Dawn Gearhart with the Western Washington Taxi Cab Operators Association. "(Drivers) have the same interests you do in keeping this business running, keeping it viable, keeping it presentable, and making it something people continue to patronize because there are other options."
After driving Western Washington roads for two decades, Singh says he couldn't agree more.
"(The) city should not force a driver to wear a uniform," he said. "You work for Boeing? You work for Microsoft? They force you to wear (a) uniform? No. But (in Seattle) it's too many regulations."
The city council will take public input on the measure - and other budget-related issues - Thursday starting at 5:30 p.m. at city hall.
Ask him about the tougher roads he's been down, though, and he'll talk about the bumpy one between taxi drivers and the city of Seattle.
"Our company should regulate (things), not the city," he says as he drives north toward the Emerald City on Wednesday night. "This is an independent job."
Singh is among the many taxi drivers supporting proposed changes in the Seattle budget package for next year. The changes would eliminate current dress code and hygiene standards among taxi and for-hire drivers, removing the requirement that drivers be "neat and clean," among other things.
According to the city, neat and clean means clothes should be "clean, free from soil, grease and dirt and without unrepaired rips and tears." In terms of cleanliness, the city currently requires an "absence of offensive body odor" and "well groomed" facial hair.
"Basically they're saying, 'Treat us like adults,'" said Denise Movius, deputy director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services, which oversees taxi regulations in the city of Seattle. "We don't dictate to any other business in the city how they should dress."
Movius - and other city officials - say the hospitality industry has expressed concern that removing uniform and hygiene standards among taxi drivers could send tourists searching for air freshener - and leave them with a negative impression of the Emerald City.
"We're trying to be a world-class city. I don't think this goes in the right direction," said Eli Darland, who owns both a for-hire company and a limo service in Western Washington. "Most of the hotels are appalled at the level of service that the taxis are giving," he added. "Now Seattle is saying, 'Hey, let's make it worse.'"
Supporters of the change say drivers can regulate what they wear, how they look, and smell - and will, out of necessity.
"People are not going to want to patronize your business if they have an unpleasant experience," said Dawn Gearhart with the Western Washington Taxi Cab Operators Association. "(Drivers) have the same interests you do in keeping this business running, keeping it viable, keeping it presentable, and making it something people continue to patronize because there are other options."
After driving Western Washington roads for two decades, Singh says he couldn't agree more.
"(The) city should not force a driver to wear a uniform," he said. "You work for Boeing? You work for Microsoft? They force you to wear (a) uniform? No. But (in Seattle) it's too many regulations."
The city council will take public input on the measure - and other budget-related issues - Thursday starting at 5:30 p.m. at city hall.
and how many many "inspectors" does the city pay to run around and smell the cab drivers?
There are two real sides to this story. Does the city have the right to dictate dress standards to a non city employee and should creating a monopoly for the cabbies with restricted license and other controls give them the right. I agree to get into a cab where the drive smells so bad no colon will bury it or dress like they just climbed out of the sewer is proper attire to serve the public. Common sense should dictate that one should put their best foot forward, but with a lack of competition there is no incentive for them to maintain high standards so a city ordinance is used. I guess they have to pay something for the free ride the city gives them by keeping the number of taxi's under control.
I should receive a hefty consulting fee for this.
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Black Dress Shoes (No Tennis Shoes)
I wish some of the drivers would cut back on how much cologne they douse on themselves. I had a driver pick me up and take me to SeaTac and I had to have the window down and my head out the window the whole time because I felt like I was suffocating. A little cologne goes a long, long way. I get that in their country they may not have had the same luxuries as here but cmon enough is enough with the perfume factory in a car routine.Â
Is this for their own protection in these dangerous times?
Why don't they make them get a drivers license while they are at it.
They have hygiene standards?Â
You sure wouldn't guess by getting into a cab.
Normally I'd the government should stay out but in this case the government gave a monopoly on operating taxis to a few select companies so they have to have oversight. If it was truly a free market then they would be free to oversee themselves. As a customer you have little to no recourse in dealing with the same companies if you want a taxi ride so you can't "vote with your pocketbook."
 @Root Please Yep. I just kind of assume that the scattered "you can just take your business elsewhere if you don't like the smell of the cab" are either trolls or are people who reached adulthood without ever leaving the house. You can wait up to an hour for a cab and you don't get much of a choice. It's not a free market. An inelastic supply does not necessarily mean a monopoly, but more regulation always exists in businesses where there's more control over the supply.
 @wysoumible  @Root Please One has the option of calling
a shuttle, or using one of the limo services. Before I retired I found the
shuttles usually beat the taxi rates and the limo service to be worth every
extra penny that I spent compared to the taxi rates.
So we cant be adult enough to responsibly use plastic bags, but this is okay? This city council HAS to go!
yes. if they don't like the rules that are given to them. then go home to your own country. welcome to AMERICA.
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Are cabbies subsidized by the city? I'm a little lost on how the city has a law that governs the dress code of taxis. The article is right, if cabs get nasty then people will generally avoid them so the concern seems pretty self correcting. If the city wants to improve service, how about putting GPS in all the cabs?
 @Balzaak The city grants a limited amount of taxi vehicle permits. They are not adding any more, so the current owners have a true oligopoly. There can be no additional competition. The city sets the rates, which are non-negotiable. In any government supply-controlled industry, the government must control many aspects of the business (like power and water utilities) since there is no financial incentive to have better service. Econ 101, but even the city employees don't understand basic economics, and the representative from the taxi side has no incentive to tell the truth.
This has nothing to do with ethnicity. When you go to work, you need to present yourself professionally. Especially when your addressing the public. If not a uniform I think it's fare for these drivers to at least have a dress code and regulations on the cleanliness of their vehicles. I was in the last trimester of my pregnancy and I had to take taxis to and from my doctors appointments because i was to big to drive myself. I swear every time I got in those cabs I wanted to puke from that horrible smell that smelled like Human Waste. Never again will i ever take a cab.
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@Molon Labe No, I don't travel much but yes believe me I do know what your talking about. What I meant is that no matter what the culture or enthnicity cab drivers in general should present themselves with more dignity and professionalizm. Especialy now that they are here in the states.
 @HCorn your right, When you go to work you need to present yourself professionally. Where we differ is that I don't think it is the Government's business to dictate that. That should be left to the company to decide. I also think they should open up the taxi regulations so that anybody with the proper drivers license can drive (rather then restricting it to a few companies)
Well if the company isnt doing anything about it now why whould they change in the future. I mean if it's letf up to the company you would think they would have done something about it already. It's not like it's been going on since yesterday.
So more wisdom from our elected city officials. What next, the complete deregulation, elimination of The  Public Health Dept.  too?   I sure will never take a taxi with a smelly, unkept cabbie, no matter what their  ethnic background. If they stink and have no respect for themselves than why would they have any respect or consideration for their custome. Oh other than the all might dollar bill that is. Customers are #2.. Am I right taxi riders?
 @clearthinker2 then let the company they work for deal with them and not the government! You actually think the government should be involved in this?Â
Remind me not to take cabs or limos when I come to Seattle. Trying to be too PC again?
Oh goody.  Another reason to stay out of Seattle.
Despite the TP/GOP rhetoric that states an enterprise shoudl "self-regulate" hasnt it been made abundantly clear from industries from energy,to banking to transportation, to dry cleaning & foodservice that self-regulation does not work in society's or the consumer's favor. KEEP the hygeine regulations on cabbies. KEEP the uniform regulations on cabbies. EXPAND the local roadmap/destination knowledge requirements on cabbies. These are NOT "business killing" regulations that the TP/GOP like to crow about. These are necessary regulations to maintain appropriate and comfortable service for the consumer.
Does this mean they can wear even more cologne now?
When a city or town forgoes regulation for taxis they're asking for problems. Taxi drivers in most areas are independent contractors. The company they drive for can NOT institute rules as then the drivers fall under employment laws. The drivers are essentially their own business. However, with regulation from local government, the drivers then have to follow regulation as most are contracted to "perform their duties in a manner befitting the industry to which they are contracting." If Seattle passes this, trust me, they will be sorry.Â
That said, shame on drivers that don't understand the appearance of the driver and the vehicle are of utmost importance. I have managed a taxi company in NC for many years and never hesitated to suggest a driver clean up or clean the vehicle he drives (although for me, this isn't a usual occurrence). I do have the ability to tell any driver I have no vehicle available for him.
Any passenger has the ability to complain to the driver, the company he's operating with or the regulators if their ride/driver/vehicle was unsatisfactory in any way and SHOULD! Â You'd complain in a restaurant if your food or service was bad, right? I know I would.Â
Regulation may not be perfect but in a non regulated transportation industry the public stands a larger chance to be disappointed by their experience. Without regulation illegal taxicabs and drivers would be everywhere. Would the public be more comfortable in a taxi that has no insurance to cover an accident? I would hope not but it does and will happen.
For every "smelly" driver out there, in this country alone, there are at least ten drivers who are doing their job, just trying to make a living in a clean cab. They are polite, helpful, knowledgeable and looking to build their business. They're not all "bad guys" but they are responsible for how they present themselves as a business.
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If the rule is what you would "expect" people to do now why change rule? It only allows people to do whatever they want. If the rule is the norm, why get rid of it?
 @K00lGuy i'd rather smell bad BO then a million squirts of cologne any day. I get migraines from cologne or perfume.
Thank god for car rentals...
I had to get a cab back from an emergency clinic in Marysville to home - I couldn't drive my own car as I had a problem with my right leg - Yellow Cab - the first one, no help getting into the back seat. Coming back another Yellow Cab, the guy hadn't had a bath in ages, trash all over the back seat and the front bucket seat - car was filthy, absolutely filthy, dirty greasy seats and nasty attitude from the guy - parked his cab on the incline to the house and I practially had to scream at him to park the car on the flat side of the street as I couldn't get myself out of the cab. These were white guys too - I've not ridden a cab since and really don't ever want to. What ever happened to cleanliness and a polite attitude? Went down the toilet with the rest of humanity I guess.
If you love Political Correctness then I hope you enjoy riding with a smelly driver. Enjoy...
 @Citizen#3457899654 I love personal choice and freedom not political correctness. The majority of adults are capable of determining what is appropriate attire, and also clean them self with regularity. A stinky cabbie will lose business- that's just the free market at work. I think you've done a complete 360 on this one, Citizen. It seems far more "big Government/ Nanny State" to have the city telling people who work for a different employer what to wear and how to groom.
Everyone complains that the regulation that regulates their actions is unfair. They claim that they will self-regulate. One of the reasons we have regulations is that humans do not self regulate. It really is necessary to tell people how to behave.
 @Gherryt While there's some truth to that, I think we need to balance things and regulate those who have a larger effect on the bigger issues. Cab companies can probably sort this one out. It should be competitive enough in the bigger cities that a company could actually make bank by advertising themselves as clean and courteous, and making sure they are.
I've never taken a taxi in Seattle. I've seen them cause severe accidents and I know the general competency level of the drivers. I see them violating traffic laws every day and even blow stoplights and almost kill pedestrians.
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My guess is this same group of people probably need hygiene forced on them by the city, as well as mandatory driving lessons.
They want to be treated like adults? Well then shower everyday and keep yourself presentable. Obviously there was an issue and that's why Seattle made the "neat and clean" ordinance. I find it ridiculous that people even need to be told to keep clean. If you have access to a shower, use it! There's nothing worse than being stuck in a car with someone who reeks like butt.
@Tattooed_Angel EXACTLY. It was written for a reason.
Look I am not racist in any way but I will point out some facts. I live in a apartment complex with a lot of indians and majority of them have their cabs parked outside in our parking lot. They are ALL extremely nice and polite HOWEVER there is barely a day when I can walk in my house after being at work and my home not smelling like whatever strong spice they cook with. When I walk to my car, mailbox I can smell whatever they are cooking. My landlord even pointed out to me that when 1 of them moved out he had to replace the same carpet he replaced 2 years earlier not because of any stains but the spice smell. All i am saying is that if you are not from that culture which most people who catch a cab aren't the smell can be overwhelming.
 @tkyed It's the curry and I totally agree. For some reason the smell is overwhelming and it leaches into everything. I don't know if they are using an abundance of it or if it is just that strong but it makes me gag every time.
 @Petwlkr  @tkyed Curry doesn't actually bother me. I knew a Sicilian family when I was a kid, and their level of garlic consumption could bring you to tears if you were standing in line behind them in the grocery store. I love garlic though. Smokers smell. Perfume wearers can cause me to wretch. It is across the board - we all stink if we don't wash our self and brush our teeth every day.
@two loons Catch is the ones I know do take showers and brush their teeth everyday but like I mentioned with but the smell leaches into their furniture, carpets etc... I understand that perfume, cigarettes and garlic are strong smells BUT whatever spice this is is 100 times stronger.Â
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"Daddy, what's that smell?"
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"That's what happens to you if you don't shower every day hon."
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"Daddy, why are we going around the block again?"
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"That's because the driver thinks we're tourists who have never been here before."
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"Daddy, why did the driver tell us to get out and why did he wave with just one finger as he drove away?"
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"I guess he felt we weren't sensitive enough towards his culture. The wave was his way of thanking us for our business."
Obviously anyone who agrees with this have not been stuck in a cab on I-5, in mid August, during rush hour.
The problem I see with this is the fact they have to be told in the first place to bathe.
 @swansong68 That is a problem, and it is not limited to the cab driving profession alone. We had a couple come into the restaurant I work in yesterday that smelled so bad! They sat near the front door, and I could smell them in the hallway that leads to the bar. It is a considerable distance. Someone told me their problem is that they run a puppy mill in a hoarding type situation and do not practice any sort of hygiene. It was apparent. They're a couple of old Tar Heels.
@two loons That is really gross, and funny. I haven't heard the term "tar heel" in a long time!
People who live in that sort of environment do not notice the smell. Like someone with a lot of cats that urinate on everything can't seem to "smell" it. I know an old cat lady like that. Go to her house and the smell just about knocks you over and she's like, "what?"
OMG! I drove cab for four years, and I feel there SHOULD be regulations with personal hygiene! And since a cab is a public place like a bus, they should NOT smoke in their cabs! It's a state law! I saw one other cabbie get away with molesting drunk female customers and I knew of one driver that was living in his cab! After he got fired, he left a trunkful of garbage! Another thing I hated is that they "milk" the customer by going really slow to raise the fare. When I drove, I tried to have the attitude that whether you were a CEO or a homeless person, you got the same respect, service, and courtesy. And driving safe! I always wanted my customers to be comfortable and feel safe. I think the city or county should regulate cabbies MORE! And get new owners for the companies. The owner I leased a car from hated women and I was eventually fired. Most of my customers really liked my service, and I got a lot of repeat customers.
This should go over well with residents and tourists alike...
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6 months from now, I'm picturing smelly cavemen cruising around in unkempt taxis...and NO FARES. Who would pay for a ride with a dirty cab driver?
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What's the big deal? Kind of silly as many businesses DO have a dress and personal hygiene code.Â
You reap what you sow, and Seattle will rue the day they passed this ordinance. I am a national taxicab consultant who has worked in every major city in the country. In this era of Independent Contractor taxicab drivers, it is impossible for cab companies to affect, let alone control, driver appearance. The only way to do it is through regulation. I advise my clients to lobby their regulators to initiate driver standards, in other words the exact opposite of what Seattle is doing. I caution anybody reading this to note my words well, as I guarantee you will be shocked with what you see 5 years from now, which is the lowest common denominator of taxi driver on the streets of Seattle.
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An unintended consequence of this proposed ordinance is that private concerns like hotels, restaurants, country clubs and tourist attractions will wind up creating their own "on-site" rules about driver appearance as a reaction to customer complaints. You will see hotels and the like creating exclusive contracts with individual cab companies where drivers dress better and shave more than their competitors, as recently happened in Anaheim, CA and in many other US cities.
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Don't believe me? You will see. Five years from now, or even less, you will all be saying "You know, that guy was right."
Last time I took a cab was ten years ago when our ride didn't show up to pick us up at the airport. They guy drove like a maniac, went 95 on northbound I-5 and talked on his cell phone the whole time. I decided my life was more important to me than getting home faster than one of the airport shuttle services. I have succeeded at never taking a cab again after that. And I hope to continue never to have to take one. Plus, as a woman you never know who you're getting into a car alone with. An old friend who was a cab driver said it was ridiculous to think anyone screens cabbies for criminal backgrounds. Maybe they're supposed to but they don't.
 @Julia I could not agree with you more. That's why I got a lot of repeat customers. They SHOULD screen the cabbies more closely. One cabbie I knew drove a woman a couple of times and ended up stalking her. She never used him again and I ended up driving her because she told me she felt more comfortable riding with me.
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