Woman, 83, Arrested For Not Paying $117 Cab Fare

[matcom]

<snip>

PORT RICHEY, Fla. -- An elderly woman was arrested when she refused to pay a $117-dollar cab fare after receiving a ride from Tampa International Airport to her daughter's home.

Authorities say 83-year-old Catherine Saloma practically dared a Pasco County sheriff's deputy to arrest her as she disputed the large fare.

Saloma had boarded a United Cab minivan at the airport Saturday, expecting a $25 to $30 flat fare similar to shuttle services she has taken in the past.

But when the arrived at Saloma's destination, the cabbie read her the $117 total on the meter. Port Richey is about 30 miles northwest of Tampa.

When she refued to pay, a deputy arrested her on a pety theft charge and gave her an order to appear in court. The charge carries a maximum of one year in jail upon conviction.

A sheriff's spokesman says the deputy did not feel it was necessary to lock up an 83-year-old woman under the circumstances.

The woman said she thought the van was for a shuttle service and not a regular metered cab.

http://www.wftv.com/irresistible/4066140/detail.html

[0007]

1. I'm surprised that the Florida police didn't use the stun gun on her!

[Deja Q]

2. Arrested? What next? Be late on the credit card bill and they haul ya in?

:wow:

[benburch]

3. Ummm....

Doesn't sound like anything terrible happened here;

An old woman was less than careful about what cab she got into, didn't look at the meter running the whole trip, and then was asked by the cabbie to pay. It isn't like the cabbie is allowed by his company to charge any less than is on the meter. It also isn't like the cop used any force or even took her to jail. He issued her a citation and a summons. He also had no choice but to enforce the law.

Sometimes old grandmother-ladies are in the wrong, you know.

[matcom]

4. this isn't an op-ed

i'm just the 'reporter' here ;)

[driver8]

5. A friend of mine took a cab from Dallas to New Orleans, once...

I forgot what the fair was, though. The funny thing was, the cab driver got lost and my friend ended up driving about half the trip.