# Just pay the fucking fare already **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 26, 2005, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-pay-the-fucking-fare-already/318719 "2005-08-26T12:57:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-pay-the-fucking-fare-already/318719/21 "2005-08-29T07:39:02Z")
> [@Portia](#): > > I thought I read that when one took a cab in NZ/Australia, it was rude not to ride up front w/ the driver; is that untrue? Or is that an out-of -date thing? I generally sit in the front when I’m travelling on my own. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-pay-the-fucking-fare-already/318719/22 "2005-08-29T08:43:57Z")
> [@Portia](#): > > I thought I read that when one took a cab in NZ/Australia, it was rude not to ride up front w/ the driver; is that untrue? Or is that an out-of -date thing? I seldom take taxis but when I do, I sit in the back. A male passenger riding on his own would probably sit in the front, though. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-pay-the-fucking-fare-already/318719/23 "2005-08-29T17:16:59Z")
> [@jabiru](#): > > I seldom take taxis but when I do, I sit in the back. A male passenger riding on his own would probably sit in the front, though. My cab experience is minimal, but from what I’ve seen, that would not usually be the case in the States. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-pay-the-fucking-fare-already/318719/24 "2005-08-29T17:39:08Z")
> [@Portia](#): > > My cab experience is minimal, but from what I’ve seen, that would not usually be the case in the States. I have rarely seen anyone sit in the front. In fact, I think it’s illegal. I’ve only seen it happen in two circumstances. One, if there are too many people to fit in the back, and two, if the sole passenger is female and really cute. ---
**Author:** ![Stringer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Stringer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringer)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-pay-the-fucking-fare-already/318719/25 "2005-08-29T20:35:19Z")
I take cabs on a semi-regular basis and I never sit in the front unless there are 3 or 4 people in my group. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-pay-the-fucking-fare-already/318719/26 "2005-08-29T23:29:45Z")
> [@Portia](#): > > > [@Jabiru](#): > > > > I seldom take taxis but when I do, I sit in the back. A male passenger riding on his own would probably sit in the front, though. > > My cab experience is minimal, but from what I’ve seen, that would not usually be the case in the States. I realised that it must not be the normal practice when I got into the front seat of a taxi at JFK airport. The driver’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-pay-the-fucking-fare-already/318719/27 "2005-08-30T00:53:55Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I wonder if some morons think of cabbies the same way they think of the homeless–as not really being quite human. You know, they’re Haitian, they don’t speak English, they don’t have “real” jobs, etc. I beg your pardon. I got through grad school as a hack. But you are right. And a passenger in the front seat (unless it’s a large group and can’t fit) is very … unusual. I don’t know if it’s any less safe (I never had those plexiglass things), but it’s very out-of-order. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-pay-the-fucking-fare-already/318719/28 "2005-08-30T03:25:12Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > I swear on my eyes I’ve heard of cabs that are built to resemble squad cars. They have the bulletproof plexiglass between the front and back seats and a drawer-type contraption for exchanging money so a gun can’t be pointed at the cabbie’s head. Was this a movie or something I’m thinking of? > > I know it would cost a deal of money (including protection for the driver’s seatback) but it is too far out of line to think this may be a good idea? In New York City, such an assembly is required by law. [1] The ordinance in question prompted Ford motors to introduce a stretched Crown Victoria taxicab package to meet the legroom needs of cabbies and cab passengers. [2] [1] NYC cabs will have either a police-car-style partition or a camera. [http://c.rathbone.home.att.net/facts.htm](http://c.rathbone.home.att.net/facts.htm) [http://www.taxicabpartitions.com/html/cameras\_or\_shield.shtml](http://www.taxicabpartitions.com/html/cameras_or_shield.shtml) [2] Long wheel base Crown Victoria [http://www.journoworld.net/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=105&STORY=/www/story/11-28-2001/0001623650](http://www.journoworld.net/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=105&STORY=/www/story/11-28-2001/0001623650) [https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/2006fleetshowroom/2006-crviccomm.asp](https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/2006fleetshowroom/2006-crviccomm.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-pay-the-fucking-fare-already/318719/29 "2005-08-30T11:33:27Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > I realised that it must not be the normal practice when I got into the front seat of a taxi at JFK airport. The driver’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. IIRC, I thought that the reason for riding in front is that it would be rude to look as though the rider thought of him/herself as ‘better’ or something, and it would insult the driver to be made to feel like a chaffeur when they’re really just doing a job like any other. I could be terribly wrong, and I think I read it in Reader’s Digest, so…it was many a moon ago. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-pay-the-fucking-fare-already/318719.md?page=1)