Why is it that the Law Enforcement people HATE us 'CAB DRIVERS?" There isn't any reason. They might be "JEALOUS' that there is MORE danger in our line of work! I say ....."We have complete strangers sitting behind us."......Cop says.."so do We!"....I say..."in custody,DUH!" Cop says "OH!" Our necks can be cut at any moment. A police car has a 'divider' in between him and the person in custody. (THAT'S SCARY....WHOAAA!) We the Cab driver in Austin, Texas can get in BIG trouble if we get CAUGHT carrying a firearm. We the drivers are 'mobile cash registers' but yet not allowed to protect ourselves. There was a driver downtown Austin at a red light at 7TH and Trinity. A guy jumps in the Cab...A COP knocks on the cab and gives him a ticket for 'IMPEDING TRAFFIC'. The police in Austin make it difficult to do our job and safely get the drinkers home. I ask WHY?.....Hmmmmm.....Maybe we take money away from the city for not letting them arrest people on 'INTOXICATION OR DRIVING UNDER CASE' hmmmmmm. Instead, they'll ticket a cab driver for sitting at a BARRICADE, out of the moving lane of traffic instead of letting us do our job. They gotta get paid somehow! We endure enough disrespect from drunks downtown.....and yet.....we get them home safely! WHY....WHY....WHY.? It's all about the money! It's hard work!
I was going downstairs at the Airport to load......when out of the blue, I had lights blaring in my rear view. An Airport Policeman. I finally pulled over in a safe spot downstairs. The 'bad little' policeman approached my window....."where are you going so fast?" I replied..."fast?" The cop said "I clocked you at 60!". There was no way I was going that fast in that short of distance! I said.."SHOW ME!". He said "I paced you!" I replied "from a quarter mile in the dark,(there was a slight drizzle)......I'll see you in court.....I'm not a physics expert, but there is no way this car (Mercury Sable) could go from zero to sixty in that short of a distance." He then asked for license and stuff. The cop walked back to his car. Another officer approached my vehicle......I explained that this was a bunch of bull...he said "your gonna talk yourself into a ticket!" I stood behind the car. Waiting....waiting....waiting....waiting...The cop was running me for outstanding warrants(That's all he wanted to do)...waiting...waiting.....HERE HE COMES. He says "I'm gonna give you a warning......" I said "yes sir" Like I really had a ticket coming from that low-life. I'm CLEAN...I'M CLEAN... The officer had the nerve to hand me the warning and say "slow it down next time". What a butt-head! I held my tongue. That is the kind of things we go through. STOP HARASSING US.
If the police understood.......we could be a nice asset to assist crime with our eyes. The more eyes the better. Be our friend and we CABs might just give you COPs a little more respect.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
WHAT INTEGRITY?
It was a normal week-day morning rush of business people at the Airport in Austin,Texas. I was standing next to my Cab in line. A guy(45-50's)(the BOSS) and a girl (early 30's)(probably the secretary?) Not even a simple....... Hello....how you going...Good Morning..... NOTHING. No manners whatever. Do You Know....(YOUR LIFE IS IN MY HANDS!!!!!) PEOPLE!!!!!! Anyways the guy says "Hilton Downtown!" They entered the Cab.....the girl directly behind me and the guy next too. It was silent, like a detention hall full of mutes and hearing impaired people. So quiet...... I could hear the Earth rotate. Anyways....Kept driving. Heading down 7TH street to get to the Hilton. I can see in my mirror the guys body language. He was acting like.......this piece of trash Cabbie is screwing me somehow......I don't trust his kind!....Just say one word, Cab driver..... I did!
"Excuse me sir" I said. He replied "WHAT!" I said to the guy..."what do you have against cab drivers?". He exploded...."DON'T YOU FU**ING INSULT MY INTELLIGENCE, MY INTEGRITY.....".
I took a hard left before he could finish saying whatever he was going to say. Yelled back at the guy...."THIS IS MY OFFICE...YOU DON'T CUSS ME OUT IN MY OFFICE!" The car was stopped now. " GET THE FU** OUT OF MY OFFICE!" The guy exited the cab in anger. The girl followed. I then told them that fare was $15.50. He said "LIKE HELL I'LL PAY YOU!" I said...."what about your bags?" The guy froze and said nothing. The female approached me and handed me a twenty dollar bill. "keep the change." she said. I opened my trunk and grabbed the suitcase. Gave it to the lady and said...."Ma'am, would you like a ride to the hotel......he can walk." She walked to her boss. I got in the car and called the cab dispatch to explained what happened. To get the correct story in first. Nothing happened. Went back to work.
"Excuse me sir" I said. He replied "WHAT!" I said to the guy..."what do you have against cab drivers?". He exploded...."DON'T YOU FU**ING INSULT MY INTELLIGENCE, MY INTEGRITY.....".
I took a hard left before he could finish saying whatever he was going to say. Yelled back at the guy...."THIS IS MY OFFICE...YOU DON'T CUSS ME OUT IN MY OFFICE!" The car was stopped now. " GET THE FU** OUT OF MY OFFICE!" The guy exited the cab in anger. The girl followed. I then told them that fare was $15.50. He said "LIKE HELL I'LL PAY YOU!" I said...."what about your bags?" The guy froze and said nothing. The female approached me and handed me a twenty dollar bill. "keep the change." she said. I opened my trunk and grabbed the suitcase. Gave it to the lady and said...."Ma'am, would you like a ride to the hotel......he can walk." She walked to her boss. I got in the car and called the cab dispatch to explained what happened. To get the correct story in first. Nothing happened. Went back to work.
I'm Outta Here!
This story involves another cab driver in Austin,Tx. This was during the early 2000's. The Cab driver was Southbound on Interstate 35 coming from North Austin. There was a young white male inside the cab in the backseat. (early 20's). The guy then pulled a GUN on the Cab driver. Thinking quickly, The driver put his head down, started speeding up his Cab and said "I guess we're both gonna die!" The guy in the backseat was confused. The robbery attempt was nothing like he thought. The Cab was speeding, hands off the wheel, head down and was showing.that he was ready to 'accept death'. Funny thing there was a Police unit a little ways behind the cab, Speeding up to pull over the speeding Cab. (the cop had no idea what was happening in the cab)
The robber started to freak out(inexperienced), threw the gun in the front seat and jumped out of the Cab. The Cab was about 70 -80 miles per hours at the time and was still accelerating. The robber slid on the highway and suffered severe injuries. The Patrol car was in shock. He didn't know why. The Cab continued to drive drown the highway to the police station, located right off the highway at 8TH street, he was about 1 minute away. Exited and drove up the three level Police parking garage, got to the top and started blowing his horn. Cops ran outside, guns drawn, no idea what was going on. "GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE...TURN THE CAR OFF....GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE!" He obliged and got taken down to the ground and secured. "WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?" asked the officer. The driver tried to explain....."WE GOT A GUN!!" yelled another officer. Finally the story came together....The Gun, THE DRIVER, the guy on the highway....etc....
The robber was taken to the hospital, stayed a week released and arrested. He was under 'protective' watch the whole stay. The driver lived to work another day. To some drivers....death is a blessing! He picked the WRONG CABBIE!
The robber started to freak out(inexperienced), threw the gun in the front seat and jumped out of the Cab. The Cab was about 70 -80 miles per hours at the time and was still accelerating. The robber slid on the highway and suffered severe injuries. The Patrol car was in shock. He didn't know why. The Cab continued to drive drown the highway to the police station, located right off the highway at 8TH street, he was about 1 minute away. Exited and drove up the three level Police parking garage, got to the top and started blowing his horn. Cops ran outside, guns drawn, no idea what was going on. "GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE...TURN THE CAR OFF....GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE!" He obliged and got taken down to the ground and secured. "WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?" asked the officer. The driver tried to explain....."WE GOT A GUN!!" yelled another officer. Finally the story came together....The Gun, THE DRIVER, the guy on the highway....etc....
The robber was taken to the hospital, stayed a week released and arrested. He was under 'protective' watch the whole stay. The driver lived to work another day. To some drivers....death is a blessing! He picked the WRONG CABBIE!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
DON'T CALL ME----LOW LIFE PEOPLE
It was a week-day afternoon in 2001. I was given a dispatched call at a Anger Management location on E. Oltorf in South Austin. I drove to the place and there was a White female(mid-30's). She entered the cab and told me to go over by the old Airport. She also told me that her 'boyfriend was going to pay. Cool, no problem. This lady had issues. She reminded of a drug using hooker. Come to find out she was. We arrived at the house. Boyfriend wasn't there. The meter was around $13 dollars. She suggested....would I be interested in a sexual favor(B.J.). I said no thanks. She said drive around the block and her MAN might be at a friends house. He wasn't there. I was thinking of maybe getting some kind of collateral. We pull up to her house and the boyfriend had just gotten home. She asked for my 'card', stupidly I gave it. The boyfriend walked to my window and said "how much?". $13 dollars I replied. He paid me exact fare and walked away. He was vocally hostile to the girl...."where were you at? Where did you go?" She frantically said "we were trying to find you." The guy said..."get in the house!" I drove off.
Two weeks pass, I'm at the Airport working in my cab. My phone rings......"hello?" It was that girl. "whatcha doin?" she said. "I'm working" I replied. All of a sudden she went from calm lady to evil lady. "I need twenty dollars!" I said "what?" She said that if I didn't give her Twenty dollars she was going to tell my Company and the police I raped her. I didn't panic. YOU CAN'T HUSTLE A FORMER HUSTLER! I played along and said I'll call you back. I went down to load at the Airport. I loaded a fare heading N. Central Austin. During the fare she calls again this time demanding $40 dollars. "I'll call you back." I said. Hung the call up and got to my destination. Got paid my fare and left.
Having a Cell phone, her number she called from was there. I called her back and said that I was up north. I was contemplating in my head what kind of game could I play! Asked the girl did she know where the corner of 45TH and Burnet was and there was a Mobile gas station there. She said "Yeah, I'll be there in 10 minutes and I want $40 dollars." Another person got on the phone, with an aggressive voice "THIS IS SENATOR BARRIENTOS... SHE ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES IN MY OFFICE...YOU RAPED HER AND IF YOU DON'T GIVE HER WHAT SHE WANTS.....I'LL HAVE YOU ARRESTED! I said that it was no problem. I'll be there.
I had 10 minutes to come up with a plan.....(I did) I made a phone call.....(9-1-1, what's the emergency?) I explained to 9-1-1 what was going on. I was being 'blackmailed' and it wasn't going to happen. I was at the Mobile and realized something......I knew if they see a police car there, they would keep driving. Call again...(9-1-1, what's the emergency?) I explained that I had just called and to let whatever Patrol was coming not to pull into the Mobil. The dispatch understood. A couple minutes later, here comes a dirty, beat up Red Ford Explorer. The girl jumps out of the car, pointing fingers, raising all kind of hell. I put my hands up to the side and started to take steps backwards. The so-called "Senator" remained behind the wheel. As I was stepping backwards a Patrol car drives into the lot.(lights flashing) The officer jumped out of the vehicle and told the women to STOP AND STAY where she was at. He told me to go over by my cab and wait. The girl started to 'dramatize' yelling...."HE RAPED ME, HE RAPED ME...ARRRRRGHHH!" Crying like she was wearing 'onion' eye make-up. Another cop walked over to me and asked me...."What Happened?" Told my story.(AGAIN). The other cop was arresting the girl.....She had 'outstanding warrants'....go figure. A cop asked the driver, "your not a Senator!" The driver said ...."who said that?" The girl was yelling..."I'M GONNA GET YOU....YOU RAPER!........whatever. She couldn't fool a blind man on April's Fools Day. I went back to work. Actually Justified by the Law. WOW!
Two weeks pass, I'm at the Airport working in my cab. My phone rings......"hello?" It was that girl. "whatcha doin?" she said. "I'm working" I replied. All of a sudden she went from calm lady to evil lady. "I need twenty dollars!" I said "what?" She said that if I didn't give her Twenty dollars she was going to tell my Company and the police I raped her. I didn't panic. YOU CAN'T HUSTLE A FORMER HUSTLER! I played along and said I'll call you back. I went down to load at the Airport. I loaded a fare heading N. Central Austin. During the fare she calls again this time demanding $40 dollars. "I'll call you back." I said. Hung the call up and got to my destination. Got paid my fare and left.
Having a Cell phone, her number she called from was there. I called her back and said that I was up north. I was contemplating in my head what kind of game could I play! Asked the girl did she know where the corner of 45TH and Burnet was and there was a Mobile gas station there. She said "Yeah, I'll be there in 10 minutes and I want $40 dollars." Another person got on the phone, with an aggressive voice "THIS IS SENATOR BARRIENTOS... SHE ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES IN MY OFFICE...YOU RAPED HER AND IF YOU DON'T GIVE HER WHAT SHE WANTS.....I'LL HAVE YOU ARRESTED! I said that it was no problem. I'll be there.
I had 10 minutes to come up with a plan.....(I did) I made a phone call.....(9-1-1, what's the emergency?) I explained to 9-1-1 what was going on. I was being 'blackmailed' and it wasn't going to happen. I was at the Mobile and realized something......I knew if they see a police car there, they would keep driving. Call again...(9-1-1, what's the emergency?) I explained that I had just called and to let whatever Patrol was coming not to pull into the Mobil. The dispatch understood. A couple minutes later, here comes a dirty, beat up Red Ford Explorer. The girl jumps out of the car, pointing fingers, raising all kind of hell. I put my hands up to the side and started to take steps backwards. The so-called "Senator" remained behind the wheel. As I was stepping backwards a Patrol car drives into the lot.(lights flashing) The officer jumped out of the vehicle and told the women to STOP AND STAY where she was at. He told me to go over by my cab and wait. The girl started to 'dramatize' yelling...."HE RAPED ME, HE RAPED ME...ARRRRRGHHH!" Crying like she was wearing 'onion' eye make-up. Another cop walked over to me and asked me...."What Happened?" Told my story.(AGAIN). The other cop was arresting the girl.....She had 'outstanding warrants'....go figure. A cop asked the driver, "your not a Senator!" The driver said ...."who said that?" The girl was yelling..."I'M GONNA GET YOU....YOU RAPER!........whatever. She couldn't fool a blind man on April's Fools Day. I went back to work. Actually Justified by the Law. WOW!
Monday, January 12, 2009
DON'T DOUBT ME, BUDDY!
This just happened. Jan. 11,2009. I took a fare from the airport(AUSTIN) to a downtown hotel. Dropped off and got paid the standard fare. Drove from the hotel thinking about....where could I get a fare?. It was 5:25pm RUSHHOUR! Went to Congress. Saw a van cab loading in front of 600 Congress.(Cab Stand there) I parked behind him. A couple of minutes pass. See a guy running to the Van cab. Tried to talk to the driver. Little did the guy know, the van cab was already LOADED. He came back to my cab. He told me he needed a cab to the Airport. (BINGO). Cool....let's go! he said we have to go back to 811 Congress and pick up his friend, dog and three bags. Drove up and around the corner to get to the location. He said he was on a Jet Blue flight 6:55pm. It was 5:55pm! I had to cut off a bus and stop in traffic.(it was three lanes wide) We loaded the cab and headed to the Airport. I said that I could get there pretty quick. ....1ST street....to riverside...to 71 etc.... The guy said why not 7TH street. It's faster. Told the guy during rush hour traffic that it wasn't. 7TH street, 1ST street and Airport Blvd all merge at the bridge.....NO WAY!!!! Said to the guy....in my ten years of driving.....Riverside is the better street to take during rush hour. He says ' I fly all the time' I wasn't going to argue, just kept driving my way. We encountered heavy traffic at the first light at Riverside. They started to act like I was going the wrong way. I told them I'll be there before 6:20pm. They said....yeah right...whatever. The vibe I got.....these guys were lovers. Jet Blue now flys to San Francisco. Poor doggie in the mans lap. We made it down Riverside at got to the Airport at 6:18pm....told the guys....less than 20 minutes here...in traffic....They didn't know what to say. It goes to show......NOT ALL CABBIES ARE SCUM. We can do the right thing....even if your the butt-head. We unloaded at the gate......Not even a thanks.........just a 10 dollar TIP. Good enough for me!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
CUT THROAT-NO RESPECT JOB!!!
Who dares says that cab driving is a easy job. There is absolutely no loyalty in the business. Bottom line.....first come...first serve. It is very, very, very, very rare to hear about another Cab driver helping out another strange cabbie to make more money than them. I saw the fare first, is the common lingo. Don't you dare try to pass me....I will go into 'NASCAR' mode. I have to get there first. You don't pay my BILLS! or maybe, TICKETS!!!! Get the hell out of the way. I saw her first! No love...no loyalty...no rules...no mercy....no sweat! Did you know that our job is more dangerous the a policeman's? HOW SO,YOU ASK?...... I the cab driver have complete strangers sitting behind me! Cop says "so do I." Cab says "without handcuffs. The cop says "OH". When you have a Cab with no center 'partisan', your free game. It is....what it is! We the Cab driver is a walking target. Easy game. Example.....if there are 6-8 cars speeding on the highway and the cab is in the middle. They will always....I mean 9 times out of ten...pull the cab over. WHY? It is because I am COLORED AND NUMBERED. Can't hide. Easy money towards a Cops 'quota'. All CABS work a very difficult job that is needed in our world. Can you imagine if there were NO CABS in America? How would we balance the EMPLOYMENT of MINORITIES in America. There are only so many GAS-STATIONS. DOLLAR STORES.
I hate to say it.....the WHITE man is the minority in the CAB business in America. Is that why people 'spit'on us, Cops harass us, God forbid............GIVE US BENEFITS!!!!! Yeah right! I am in it to win it. I make money for me and my family.....the hell with y'all......Donations? I LOL!!!! GET AWAY From my cab....at every corner....they all say VET on every other cardboard sign.....WHY?..........what the hell is your M.O.S.? They say....what do you mean? I tell them take that sign down before I KICK their ASS!
If a person served our GREAT COUNTRY they would know what that meant. If you don't.....Military Occupational Specialty. (what you did.) If there was a retired cop on the corner.......I would write his ass a ticket. Don't ticket me for speeding because you have colored lights on your car. That's quite colorful......GAY?...That's why you enjoy frisking me? I AM NOT A PILLOW BITER.....not saying there's anything wrong with that. Like I said before.....I am 100% LESBIAN, I love females. You don't have to get me drunk....I won't fake it.....I am not burning in my pants. I dipped my penis in 'crazy glue.' Those aren't herpes.....I got racked by a porcupine. WOW! They all think cab drivers are uneducated son of a bitches. We got you home after you wrecked your car drinking and driving. Who's the dumb one.....maybe I should call the cops.....I am your best friend now....aren't I. The appreciation only comes at your misfortunate times. We are some dumb, scum, piece of shit drivers when your not in need of our services. Go TO HELL AND TAKE SOME OF THOSE BADGED SUCKERS WITH YOU TOO!!!!
I hate to say it.....the WHITE man is the minority in the CAB business in America. Is that why people 'spit'on us, Cops harass us, God forbid............GIVE US BENEFITS!!!!! Yeah right! I am in it to win it. I make money for me and my family.....the hell with y'all......Donations? I LOL!!!! GET AWAY From my cab....at every corner....they all say VET on every other cardboard sign.....WHY?..........what the hell is your M.O.S.? They say....what do you mean? I tell them take that sign down before I KICK their ASS!
If a person served our GREAT COUNTRY they would know what that meant. If you don't.....Military Occupational Specialty. (what you did.) If there was a retired cop on the corner.......I would write his ass a ticket. Don't ticket me for speeding because you have colored lights on your car. That's quite colorful......GAY?...That's why you enjoy frisking me? I AM NOT A PILLOW BITER.....not saying there's anything wrong with that. Like I said before.....I am 100% LESBIAN, I love females. You don't have to get me drunk....I won't fake it.....I am not burning in my pants. I dipped my penis in 'crazy glue.' Those aren't herpes.....I got racked by a porcupine. WOW! They all think cab drivers are uneducated son of a bitches. We got you home after you wrecked your car drinking and driving. Who's the dumb one.....maybe I should call the cops.....I am your best friend now....aren't I. The appreciation only comes at your misfortunate times. We are some dumb, scum, piece of shit drivers when your not in need of our services. Go TO HELL AND TAKE SOME OF THOSE BADGED SUCKERS WITH YOU TOO!!!!
Shame on Her!
I was on the late night shift, once again. I was driving north on Lavaca when I was hailed down at the corner, in front a bar, by a bouncer. It was 2000. I know this. Because, It was the only year I drove a VAN taxi. The bouncer slides open my side door and puts a girl in the van. She was fine for the moment,(so I thought). She tells me to go to Enfield and 15TH street. This was a strange request. ENFIELD is the same as 15Th street. I was at the corner of 15TH and Enfield and asked the customer where to. No reply. She was passed out . In the Vans back seat. I thought to myself. I'll get to West Lynn area.(residential) and ask again. I was taking a wild guess. I finally arrive at the West Lynn light, make a right, stop and asked again. NO response. She was out like a lightweight in a Mike Tyson bout. I got out of my Van, walked around, slid the door open and shrugged on her leg. I was asking her "What's your address?" She spoke. She kept saying "I'm sorry." I said sorry...for WHAT! She said sorry again. "I can't tell you that." Passed back out. I thought to myself, what to do. I immediately dial 9-1-1. "9-11, what's the emergency." I explained the situation. The dispatch was telling to make sure that her head was upright and that help was on the way. About 5 minutes pass. Here comes an unmarked unit followed by a firetruck. The officer approached me while firemen attended to the cab. I explained to the officer what had happened, while the firemen got the girl to come to. She was in shocked. Kind of embarrassed. When she told the officer where she lived at. I was about a block and a half away. (lucky guess!). The meter was on the whole time. It was around $25 dollars. The officer asked was I still going to get her home. The officer asked the girl if she was going to pay the meter. She said, "Does he take credit cards?" I wasn't equipped back in 2000 to take cards. I told the officer I'll take her home anyway. It was only down the street. It was my good deed for the day. Plus it was 'primetime' downtown. Primetime means it 2am and the bars were closing. Business everywhere downtown. She was a very gracious. Telling me that she could mail me the fare. We pulled up in the driveway, I got out to open the van door. She gets out looks at me and says that I was a very nice guy. Wraps both arms around me, kisses me on the cheek and says "thank-you" for the 100TH time. By this time I was telling the lady I had to get downtown. She looked at me and smiled and said "I'll go downtown on you!" She wanted to show me her appreciation sexually. I thought to myself, hmmmmmm.......girl passed out in my cab.....awaken up by the law....drunk.....wants to pleasure me.....NO THANKS!!!!! That was a 'lawsuit' in the making. I pulled back and told her thanks, but I have to go. I got back in my cab. DOWNTOWN........HERE I COME!!!!!!!
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