Pay Up Front

Seems like a reasonable ordinance to me.

The new ordinance will allow drivers to ask for prepayment under certain circumstances, including out-of-town destinations, intoxicated passengers and those who have a history of not paying or change destination en route.

Previously, cab companies could ask for prepayment between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. if they required all customers to pay it.

Union Cab marketing manager John McNamara said discussions about changing the prepay rules began a few years ago after Madison police stopped responding to calls for unpaid fares and asked drivers to use the city’s self-reporting system.

Then again, I’m not sure why this should be a city matter and not just a company policy issue.