San Francisco Taxi Drivers has a new Machine!

Most of us heard about these wonderful machines that San Francisco Taxi Companies are installing on recommendation of the SFMTA. There is a navigation system, and credit card processing capabilities. The drivers have been complaining about the 5 % charge assessed by the Cab Companies to use these credit card machines for weeks now. These awesome machines are suppose to allow us to have electronic waybills. Another issue drivers dont like is the thought of electronic waybills. Many drivers are concerned about the possibility of radiation effects on their bodies while being enclosed in the car with this machine, and now a second one back behind their heads. These machines are brought to us as part of the Verifone system. The machine that processes credit cards is also connected to our meter that controls the charges to the customer. The meter rates are determined by the city of San Francisco.

I have a question..... Tonight at National Cab Company, several of the drivers complained about inaccurate meter readings. I myself experienced taking a customer from the Hilton Offarell to the 3rd and Williams streets in the Bay view. The meter read 7.15 and the meter should have read 13.50 another driver took someone to Berkeley and back to San Francisco and their meter read 17.00 which is about a 60.00 ride. Fine the city and the SFMTA want to be able to have the drivers accept credit cards and allow Verifone to Beta test their equipment on the San Francisco Taxi Drivers. Who is responsible for our lost income from inaccurate meter readings. I was able to fix mine by rebooting the system which takes about ten minutes. On a Friday night I could lose a couple fairs just to fix a problem that should not occur. There should be compensation to the drivers tonight for this terrible situation that was faced by drivers who have low incomes. I also spoke with a couple Desoto drivers who were experiencing the same thing.