They say the tougher set of standards will give customers a better impression and help weed out some cabbies. Roosevelt McNeill says a few bad cabbies are giving a lot of taxi drivers in Fayetteville a bad name.
"We do have decent people, you know, we don't all haul hoodlums, so I think it would be better if we just cleaned up," McNeill said.
According to reports, there are around 207 company owned and independent licensed cab drivers on Fayetteville streets. Joe Robinson is one of them.
He's the president of the local Taxi Drivers Association and says there are a lot of illegal cabbies on the road.
"We have gypsy cabs, you got rogue cabs drivers that don't adhere to inspections, license fees and insurance, and it makes it bad for the other taxi drivers who are following the rules," Robinson said.
Inspected and licensed cars have the driver's photo ID and fare rate on the dashboard. The meter has a city inspection sticker and on the back of the cab, a city issued permit.
Robinson says the current city taxi ordinances can't be enforced. He's working to compile a tougher set of standards that will require drivers to pass annual medical exams and drug tests. Cabbies will have the ability to read and speak English and adhere to a dress code.
The code would also empower city inspectors to have the power to impound illegal taxies.
Drivers say they generally agree with the new standards.
"I don't have any problems," driver Frank Jones said in response to hearing the details of the code. "There is room for improvement with everybody as far as I am concerned."
Robinson hopes to submit the recommendations to the city council next month.
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