DId You Know Your Bus Lane Violation Ticket Could Become A Moving Violation? & CA SB 720 Safer Streets Act & Chicago Ordered To Refund $69.6 Million & When in Paris, France: English Speaking (Taxi Parisien) Cabs , Rates And More & Emily Steel, Our Hero & A Conversation With A Seattle Taxi Veteran & Seattle Times Uber Article & TaxiPoint UK Taxi News

 Watch Out for those Ticket Cameras

The new camera law in CA got me to thinking about something I struggled with when I was forced to insure my car with New Mexico-based auto insurance.  I might have written about it last year but what I had to deal with was an erroneous report from the City of Seattle saying a bus lane ticket was a moving violation. It took me months and many telephone calls and emails to correct the mistake. I was never told why it happened. Mistakes are made is the simple answer.  

I write this as a warning to all of you who are now paying the highest taxicab insurance rates ever noted in the USA industry. It doesn't matter if your five-year MVR is completely clear, you are still looking at paying $5-6000. annually. Get a ticket on your MVR and expect your rate to skyrocket to the moon.  

The unfortunate reality is that with so many miles on the road each month, tickets, at least camera generated tickets, are coming your way. In San Francisco, cabs are allowed to use bus lanes but in Seattle they are a revenue-based violation the city uses to bolster their budget. 

If you do get a camera issued ticket, make sure you get records stating the following: that it is paid; that it  clearly states what kind of violation it is; and that it is a non-moving violation. Make a copy and send it to your insurance agent. That way, if a mistake occurs, you will save time and money because, like me, your insurer will immediately be charging you more.  

Also please remember this: the insurance companies do not care about you or the cab industry in general.  I found that out beyond any doubt when Progressive tried to blame me for an accident when I was sitting stationary at a light and a driver, driving on the wrong side of the street, struck my cab. Outrageous but true.  Progressive corrected their error but did they apologize?  No. 

State of California Camera Rule Changes

CA SB Bill 720, in a compromise to allow for more traffic camera expansion, makes all violations a civil not criminal violation. Whether that will stop drivers from running red lights, or increase the likelihood, it still might be an improvement. Always stay informed to ticket rule changes in your home state, city and county. You the cab driver are an easy target. Never forget it. 

And in Chicago: Judge Rules City Violated State Law

On Feb 19th, 2026, Circuit Court Judge William B. Sullivan, ruled in a lawsuit filed in 2018, that the City of Chicago must pay $69.6 million in refunds in drivers who had received citations.  He also ordered that the City of Chicago forgive $93.8 million in debt held by ticketed drivers. Why this incredibly large monetary settlement?  

Because the City of Chicago violated Illinois state law by illegally charging late fees that were not allowed. What is interesting to me about this is that in 2017, Chicago agreed to a $38.7 settlement alleging it had failed to provide adequate notice to drivers ticketed by red light and speed cameras in over one million issued citations. Talk about not learning your lesson. 

Given that Chicago has over 13,000 taxicab drivers, you can be sure many of those tickets in both cases were issued to them. And concerning the recent judgement, the City of Chicago is weighting whether it should appeal. Why not kick the can down the road?  Why care about the many affected drivers?  Why care about anything except $$$? 

All About Taking a Cab in Paris, France

Paris is my favorite big city.  If you hadn't been, go, and you too will see what I mean. My favorite part of the city is around the Gare du Nord (the North Train Station).  If I ever live there again, that will be my first choice, a migrant filled neighborhood that is filled with vibrancy, urban vigor at its shouting best.  To further entice you, here are a few lines from the song "Give Paris One More Chance" performed by Jonathan Richman and his Modern Lovers in 1983:

"Well, if you've been to cities but you've had enough

Have you been to Paris, France?

And if you doubt Paris was made for love

Give Paris one more chance" 

On my second to last visit I met this lovely French woman at a bookstore. We began talking about books and poetry and clearly there was a connection. I walked into the night but then, was it hallucination?  was it wishful thinking? or just pure madness? I heard in my brain "come back, come back" but I didn't go back because I knew if I did I might be starting something that wouldn't stop, something I wasn't prepared to do. So, you too might want to give Paris a chance. You might never come back. Screw Seattle!

Paris cabs (Taxi Parisien) are everywhere. Their toplights are either beaming green or red.  A green light means they are vacant, free to be taken. A red light shows they are occupied. 

You can easily find them on the many stands throughout the city but if wanting to guarantee an English-speaking cabbie then the taxi company G7 would be your first choice.  Their 24/7 telephone number is 0 41 27 66 99.  Their app link is: https://www.g7.fr/en/  Their customer service in English website is https://aide.g7.fr/he/fr

The minimum fare in Paris is 8 euros ($9.41), so taking a cab, like taking a London Black Cab, is not cheap. There are two major airports in Paris, Charles de Gaulle and Orly.  Fares from de Gaulle: 65 euros to the Left Bank; 56 euros to the Right Bank of the city. The River Seine is the divider. From Orly: 36 euros to the Left Bank; 45 euros to the Right Bank. 

Unless you have lots of luggage, I suggest taking a train or bus. Trains have always been my first choice. The RER B runs from de Gaulle very 15 minutes from 5:30 AM -11:30 PM, ending at the Gare du Nord. There is now new bus service from de Gaulle, the Express 9517, that will take you to the Metro Line 14 for about 3 euros. From there , the Metro will take you into central Paris. If arriving in the daylight, do that and see the city.  I make every effort in every foreign city I arrive in to take local buses. For me they are cheap tour buses. Never boring. 

And here are more examples of how cab rates in Paris are divided in a given day and week. How anyone can keep track of all this is beyond me. Do the meters automatically change as the clock ticks on?  Next time I am in Paris I will have to take a G7 cab and find out for sure.  Despite all my time in France, I am not a French speaker. My ex-wife was the opposite, having learned French in Belgium and France when she was 14.  The rates are divided as Tariffs and all the rates are in euros:

Tariff A

10 AM-5 PM except Sundays and Holidays. 1.25 per kilometer and max hourly rate 38.85 (As I said, cabs are expensive in Paris. One kilometer is about 2/3rds of a mile.)

Tariff B

5 PM-10 PM and Sundays 7 AM-Midnight and all day on public holidays. 1.64 per kilometer and max hourly rate 51.79.

Tariff C 

Sundays 12 AM-7 AM 1.74 per kilometer and max hourly rate 42.52.

Ya got all that?  Talk about complicated.  And rates are different outside of Paris. But the reality in Paris is that the public transport in so good, it makes little sense to take a cab. The weekly transit pass is cheap when compared to taxi rates.

Back in Sept 1984, being assigned the task of moving our bags from our apartment to our hotel, I took a cab across Paris. It was a good ride but remembering thinking it was too expensive. The next day, walking and finding ourselves lost in the giant park that is the Bois de Boulogne, we flagged a cab and got back to our hotel, and a little bit later, had one of our best meals in Paris, eating in a cafe sharing a long table with locals. Such is the wonder and pleasure of travel!

Another Emily Steel NY Times article concerning Uber

The Feb 19th, 2026 article is entitled "Uber Moves to Enact Stricter Background Checks for Drivers."  It reminds everyone that between 2017-2022 sexual assault or sexual misconduct was reported on an average of every 8 minutes to Uber.  And of course, Uber did nothing to stop these attacks.  

Who is to blame?  Certainly Uber itself but more broadly it was Uber's enablers in State, County and City governments that allowed this to happen by letting Uber dictate the rules. In CA this fall there is a statewide ballot initiative to make Uber responsible for the actions of its drivers. Makes complete sense.

A Very Entertaining Conversation with a Taxi Buddy

From 1700 miles away I can laugh but living the dysfunction that is now Seattle taxi (and Uber and Lyft and town car) is certainly no fun. Tales of ripoff mechanics (I know the guy) and drivers who have gone over the edge (a friend of mine) makes for a sad narrative. From him I only received more evidence that the vast majority of Seattle cabbies are living in the past even while the present isn't very nice.  His tale of just trying to purchase another car to be his next taxi was harrowing.  Can you trust anyone?  Perhaps not.  

If I had the millions necessary I would sweep in and attempt to rescue everyone. Perhaps I better buy a lottery ticket. I would unite all the associations, and suddenly, all the cabbies would be making real money again, and the customer service would be at a historical high. We would give Seattle transportation customers new reasons to take cabs while giving Uber and Lyft the boot.  Wouldn't that all be great fun? 

Seattle Times Feb 26th, 2026 Article concerning too many Ubers: Seattle Has an Uber Problem

It is entitled "WA Union for Uber, Lyft Drivers says Too Many Rideshare Drivers on the Road." Reported by Nicholas Deshais.  Nothing new here but it adds to the obvious.  I encourage everyone interested to write your opinion to him at ndeshais@seattletimes.com.  Educate the reporter!

TaxiPoint/TaxiPoint Premium UK Taxi News

This is a website I have subscribed to, providing helpful news concerning our taxicab comrades faraway across the mighty Atlantic in merry old England.  Reading it can keep you updated to new trends as London's Black Cab industry could be considered the pinnacle of worldwide taxi. But that doesn't mean it is a perfect world, as the latest report describes. Check it out with a 90 day free trial. 

It turns out that connectivity issues affecting mobile payment systems have led some passengers to accuse  Black Cab cabbies of impropriety, resulting in complaints to the taxicab ruling Transport for London (TfL). As any cabbie in this modern world knows, connectivity failure is commonplace. I have certainly lost money due to connectivity drops, finding myself unable to properly and timely authorize a credit card charge. Over my taxi career, I estimate I lost about $1000.00 total from run-outs etc. Part of the fun and games that is taxi. 

There are two things going on with these London complaints. One, it is too typical to blame the cabbie, because longstanding mythology shouts every cabbie is a thief. Everyone knows that!  The other is basic.  To become a certified Black Cab London cabbie, you will spend two-four arduous years learning every bloody street in the ENTIRE city of London and metro area.  

Why would any cabbie throw all of that toil away to gain an extra penny from a passenger?  It's nonsensical but as every cabbie knows, that never stops some asshole passenger from saying you are this and that. Over my 35 years plus years beneath the toplight I was accused of every crime imaginable save murder. And the only reason I wasn't accused of murder is that a body had to be produced. 

In other words, the issue plaguing Black Cab cabbies is totally bogus, and hopefully the TfL is smart enough not to waste everyone's time. There are real reasons why every ride should be recorded, taping both sound and motion.  And once it is proved that the passenger lied, off to the gallows we go!  Keep a rope in the boot. Hang 'em high!

Back In The USA: Five More Mexico Cab Rides & Speaking Of Crazy, Some Readers Must Think I Am Nuts: My Love And Hate Relationship With Taxi & Jan 23rd Was The Last Day To Begin Your Taxi Renewal Process

 Back in Sunny but Chilly SW New Mexico: Five Cabs Rides Near and Around Ajijic 

Brrrr its cold! after more than a month on the sunny shores of Lake Chapala. But before I left Mexico I had occasion to take five more cab rides, including our last one to the Guadalajara airport. I always like reporting on my foreign taxicab rides, always interested in comparing driver skills and general attitudes displayed by my cabbie comrades where ever they might be.  

Four of the rides came in tandems of two, the first two occurring in Guadalajara toward my trip's end, deciding to return to that hectic city and visit at least two art museums. Taking a "fast" bus into the city (fare:70 pesos), I found myself at the old bus station, Central Vieja de Autobuses.  Being not totally clear where I was, and how far it was to where I wanted to go, I headed to the stand of waiting cabs.  My first destination was the Instituto Cultural Cabanas (art museum) and the 35 famous murals painted by Jose Clemente Orozco. The cabbie, who spoke no English, knew where it was, quoting me 150 pesos and off we went.  Given the language barrier, I just enjoyed the ride as he negotiated heavy traffic on what turned out to be the same long street, Calzada Independencia Norte, I stayed on upon my December 10th arrival. 

The ride took more or less 15 minutes, the driver making an effort to put me right next to the place, getting an extra $2.00 US for his troubles. If you ever find yourself in Guadalajara, I think you would enjoy the extensive campus that is this former sprawling orphanage. From there you can walk directly to the historical center of the city. The Cabanas is also about two blocks from the largest enclosed market in Guadalajara, a wonderful jumble of stalls not to be missed. It was there I had lunch has a busy counter called Fonda Don Jose. Pink clad waitresses flew around in organized frenzy, fresh tortillas flying off the grill. And cheap too, all this food---arroz, frijoles, pollo and espaguetis--- for 79 pesos ($4.40).  I will never forget the smile my grumpy waitress gave when I handed her a 10 peso coin. A wonderful moment. 

Ride two that day was unexpected. While sitting in a plaza after lunch, I checked my emails and found that "she-who-can't-be-named" locked herself out of our rental house, wrapped only in a towel, finding herself trapped in the tiny back courtyard. That of course abruptly changed all my plans, walking back to the main street where a eager cabbie grabbed me and off we sailed back to the bus station.  The driver spoke some English and was cheerful, getting me quickly to the station. 100 pesos and two dollars for him too.  Lucky, for in 10 minutes I was on the bus back to Ajijic and Lake Chapala to rescue the stranded sunbathing damsel, further museum visits having to wait another day.

On my last Saturday I had a goal in mind, and that was to make it to the south side of the lake. Lake Chapala is the largest lake in Mexico, and for three years running, I wondered what was on the other side.  As she didn't want to go, I took a bus to Jocotepec where I was told that somewhere in that confusing city I would find a bus to take me along the southern shore and my destination, the 17th century town of Tizapan El Alto. The information I had gotten was completely unreliable, saying I had only to walk one block to catch the necessary bus. No, not at all true. And that information was provided by a gringo.  Figures.

After being dropped off at the tiny Jocotepec bus station, no one seemed to know what I was asking about until I was rescued by a kind English speaker, who discovered the info I needed.  It turned out that where I needed to go was an intersection about two miles outside the city, and while walking was an option, I took a cab sitting a block away. The fare was 80 pesos (he got 100), with the driver knowing something about Seattle, having picked apples and pears in Yakima, Washington for three years.  He was friendly and it seems, has been driving cab in Jocotepec for nearly 30 years. He got me to the intersection on Route 15, and after waiting for about 15 minutes, my bus pulled up, the fare 117 pesos. 

The south shoreline is far less developed, as I enjoyed scanning a shoreline new to me.  Once in Tizapan, I wandered thought their Saturday market adjacent to the cathedral, where I watched local believers take communion. After sitting in the local plaza, munching my lunch of roasted chicken and tortillas, I wandered back to the highway, where immediately I found a bus taking me back to the original intersection, where I waited for either a local bus or a cab. A cab came around the corner first, with a nice older gentleman taking me back to the Jocotepec bus station, he too getting 100 pesos. Both the the drivers were true professionals, taking me directly to where I needed to go. Who can ask for more? Not me. 

My last taxi ride, the one taking us to the Guadalajara airport at 3:00 AM, was by far the best.  It turned out that a cabbie lived right next door to our rental house, making sense to hire him for our early morning departure. Speaking taxi like I do, I understood his every action, from pulling up in front, to loading our bags, to how he approached the airport drop-off, patiently waiting for a departing car to leave.  Driving taxi can be an art form, and this gentleman was a true artist, a veteran of 37 years beneath the toplight, and the proud son of another taxi veteran, his father having driven for 45 years. 

He spoke English, which is why I joined him in front, but being the consummate professional, kept our conversation a to minimum as my companion in the back seat made it clear she wasn't interested in more taxi chatter.  Obnoxious but I love her anyway. He got 800 pesos for his early morning journey plus six dollars US.  

If anyone finds themselves in the general Lake Chapala number his number is ("plus sign" 54) 33 12 27 56 72.  I never got to ask his name though his business card called him Roger but I am doubtful that's what it truly is, instead using a non-Mexican name  for his hopeful rich gringo audience.  I ranked his ride right up there to the one I got in a London Black Cab in early March 2000 by a true taxi dinosaur. Both knew what they were doing.  The last thing any passenger needs in that time of morning is a BS ride, something you might expect with an Uber or Lyft, this cabbie's wisdom brighter than the headlights illuminating our roadway to the airport. If we return for another season, he's my man!

You Cabbies Might Drive Me Crazy But I Love Everyone of You!

I have gotten the strong suspicion that many of my loyal readers might have been offended by attitudes expressed in my 2025 assessment of the American taxicab industry. Since I can understand why some might think I despise taxi, it simply isn't at all true,  But then what is true, how do I really feel about an industry that I gave over 35 plus years to?  How can I say the industry is dysfunctional yet at the same time remaining steadfast in my affection for all my taxi colleagues, both known and unknown?  While it might be hard to believe, my unwavering fondness for my fellow toplight sufferers is based explicitly upon knowing your daily reality: the bullshit you face ride after ride; yet simultaneously I become frustrated by your exhausted response, your silent complicity with the very forces that would destroy you and your ability to make a living. 

What do I mean when I say, and I have said repeatedly, that the cab industry is crazy? While knowing full well that pejorative term has been historically attached to cabbies, I mean it in a collective sense rather than individually aimed at all you hard working cabbies. What I find disturbing, what I find crazy is a pervasive acquiesce to events and decisions made by those who have no direct connection to the industry, and by direct I mean by having driven a cab like you and I have.  

Does anyone think it's odd that all the taxi regulators in Seattle and King County have never driven a cab? And this phenomenon isn't isolated, because in New York City, a big deal was made concerning the announcement of a new leader for the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission, Midori Valdivia, but of course this new woman in charge has never for a second driven a cab.  

Making this even clearer as to what is occurring, is that Bhairavi Desai's only qualification to lead the NYC Taxi Workers Alliance's is that she graduated from a university with a BA in Women's Studies. Again, never for a moment having driven a cab. What I again call crazy is the mass acceptance by the 13,000 NYC cabbies of being regulated and guided by amateur professionals. It isn't that both of then aren't well meaning. I am sure they are. But I have said this. before, and I say it again: no one can understand a cabbie's daily reality until they too have driven beneath the toplight. As I also keep repeating, taxi is an unique occupation where the abuse to mind, body and soul is singular, the cabbie often seen as a kind of societal and cultural leper, a pariah worthy of a kick in the pants.  But don't believe me, ask any Seattle cop, they'll tell you what's what. 

Knowing your agony, having lived it, fully explains why I can, and never will, abandon my comrades in taxi arms. I know what my brethren in Seattle continue to endure.  A friend, transferring his cab from Yellow to One Taxi, after nearly two months, still doesn't have his cab on the road.  Another friend, finding himself so confused by the medallion renewal process, might have his medallion retired despite poor communication by the City of Seattle, something he wasn't responsible for. 

I tell you, taxi brothers and sisters, if I was the one running the regulatory offices in Seattle and King County, none of this would be happening. I wouldn't let it happen because I know taxi reality inside and out, having experienced every kind of insult and bullshit imaginable. So curse me if you like, call me an a-hole and any other choice words but never forget I am you and you are me, forever bonded we are in the blood, sweat and tears that is driving taxi in the USA. My advocacy for you is real. And Permanent. 

January 23rd at 4 PM was the last offical day to begin you City of Seattle Taxi Medallion renewal process

If you hadn't already applied, apply ASAP and ask for waiver.  Get on it before you lose your medallion. 

More Dumbbell Thinking in Seattle, King County and the State of Washington

More pain and suffering for Seattle cabbies, and all local car drivers in general, is due to the I-5 north-bound Ship Canal repaving project, something that will extend into 2027. While maintaining roadways are essential, commonsense should prevail when accommodating a driver's reality trying to get from home to work. What is inhibiting morning south-bound traffic along I-5 is the decision to make the reversible express lanes north-bound only 24/7, thus greatly impacting all south-bound traffic along I-5, especially the morning commute. The usual Lynnwood to DT Seattle commute, once averaging 35 minutes, can now be expected to average between 50-65 minutes. The question many are asking is why can't the south-bound express lanes be opened during that morning commute?  Minus any real answer as to why not from the WSDOT, drivers continue to confront a frustrating commute trying to get to their workplace.  

As I have written about many times over the years, even without any ongoing roadwork, the morning and evening north and south-bound commutes are horrendous, a true nightmarish slog guaranteed to drive you crazy. For Lynnwood commuters, the only viable alternative is taking the now expanded Light-rail Link to DT.  Many are making that choice, leading to crowded trains but doubtful if they match the jam-packed subways in Mexico City and London. Such is modern life in crowded urban centers. Most recently I experienced heavily congested roadways in Guadalajara, population six million. For comparison, the population of the Seattle metropolitan area (King, Pierce, Snohomish counties) is 4.15 million. The current estimated WA State population is just over eight million, which should tell you how unpleasant Guadalajara traffic can be. 

Getting back to the Seattle traffic dilemma, the convergence of area geography and an ever growing population means that living there translates into a kind of lifelong roadway imprisonment, the local driver sentenced to a daily frustration leading only to a shortened lifespan. Add some of the highest living costs in the world, it makes me wonder why anyone stays there, let alone relocates there. Given new rounds of tech industry layoffs, that all might be changing.   

Locally here in SW New Mexico, if 30 cars past my house in a 24 hour day, I start swearing.  Referring back to Seattle, King County and State of Washington's decision makers, I remain confounded why commonsense rarely prevails. If 50% of the population wisely decided that they had enough, and move away like I did, their tax base would collapse, leaving the entire area high and dry. But dumbbell bureaucracy never truly considers longterm ramifications.  They just go on and on with their poor decision making.  A recent Seattle Times article I found humorous featured the now deposed Seattle mayor Bruce Harrell saying his loss didn't cause any reflection on his part.  No news there as there was no "reflection" during his tenure as mayor, Harrell languidly drifting along in his personal dreamworld, murmuring "everything is fine" when clearly it wasn't. 

I'll end with what has become a personal mantra: "Welcome to Seattle: home of never ending circular thinking." Enjoy yourselves everyone, if you possibly can.

More Waymo Investment

Waymo just raised 16 billion from new investors. Waymo's new evaluation will be 110 billion dollars.  Big Money gives no thought whatsoever to what happens to all you cab drivers. To Big Money you are cockroaches in their kitchen, vile creatures to be stepped on and swept away. There is no pretense. That is how they feel.