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JUSTIN GEORGEMany taxi drivers wouldn't think of doing anything else, despite rising gas prices, carjackings and no-shows.
TAMPA - When cab driver John Lesley hears a customer say, "Just go up Dale Mabry," he knows the ride could be trouble. Experience tells him people are paranoid or drug addled when they have no direction in mind and one thought in their head: Just drive.
Then there are the "runners," those who dash out the back of a cab without paying, and the no-shows, an annoying daily occurence.
There are the drug buys, when a customer says "wait right here" outside a flophouse. Lesley does not, but he sometimes takes part in the "Hyde Park shuffle," a predawn shuttling of South Tampa bar patrons for about $6 a ride. The rides cost more when passengers pass out and forget to give Lesley an address. He once ended up near the Pasco County line.
There are many dangers cab drivers face, including carjacking, as Lesley knows all too well. But there is one financial danger they cannot get away from: rising gas prices.
"They've more than doubled," said Rosie Funk, general manager of Bay Area Taxi Service, or "Bats Taxi," in St. Petersburg. "I've actually had drivers who have stopped driving because they can't afford it anymore."
About a month ago, Bats Taxi raised its base charg e from $2.10 to $2.30 and its per-mile charge from $1.80 to $2.
In Hillsborough County, the Public Transportation Commission, which regulates taxis, limousines, shuttles, tow trucks and ambulances, also raised its rate limit to help out taxi drivers. The base charge jumped from $1.75 to $2, and the per-mile charge increased from $2 to $2.25. Taxi companies cannot charge more than that.
"Twenty-five cents a mile helps out quite a bit with the fuel costs rising," said Gregory Cox, Transportation Commission executive director.
According to the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association, taxi drivers drove an average of 60,518 miles in 2004.
That cost drivers, who pay for their own gas, $7,552 a year for vehicles getting about 15 miles per gallon. If average fuel costs had stayed where they were on Sept. 2, cab drivers would be paying about $4,100 more for gasoline this year.
But fuel costs did not stay at $2.87 a gallon. Regular gasoline in the Tampa Bay area costs $2.92 a gallon, according to AAA figures updated Friday.
"This is a significant burden on the driver," said Alfred LaGasse, the association's executive director.
Raising the limits on cab charges, at least in Hillsborough, has helped some.
"I would have had to stop doing it," said Alison Briggs, who drives United cab No. 470. "I wouldn't have made it. It's still iffy now. ... It's not really making me richer just paying my gas."
"I would have stopped," said Binyam Derar, who drives an Americab minivan. "We're fine for now. I'm not complaining."
Others say it makes little difference.
"The gas is too expensive," said Loodi Paris, who drives Yellow Cab minivan No. 162. "And we pay too much money for the cab, too. And the business is down."
That's true, Lesley said. Business is down and the cost of leasing cabs from companies is up for drivers. But recent rate increases have kept drivers behind the wheel, he said, by affording them $60 to $120 a week more.
Among the drivers are former master masons, chefs, shuttle and valet workers - even retired Hillsborough County jail officers such as Lesley. As operations manager for Cab Plus, a luxury fleet where drivers are required to wear ties and where most drive Lincoln Town Cars, Lesley helps hire the drivers.
A married father of two, Lesley, 54, said he drives because he loves being an independent contractor who can set his own hours. He once worked at Home Depot. He was a substitute teacher. But driving beats them all, he said, especially when he gets $60 on a run.
"And I haven't had kids yell at me," he said. "I got into this, and I said, "Man, this is living.' Basically it's the freedom."
He has driven for Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the crew of The Punisher , filmed in Tampa. He has ferried around major executives.
And he was carjacked on July 4, 2004, while looking for customers outside the ShangriLa Gentleman's Oasis on Dale Mabry Highway. Ronald Tozzi, 36, jumped in the driver's seat, threw Lesley into the road and drove off at 3:20 a.m.
Three hours later, Tampa police cars boxed in the stolen Town Car, but Tozzi rammed the cruisers and tried to run officers over.
Police fired upon and wounded Tozzi, who gave up. He won't be released from prison until 2029, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Lesley's car was totaled, and he now drives a 1999 Lincoln Town Car with 252,000 miles on it.
He's a little more wary when he's "freelancing at the drunk hour," and he makes sure his dispatch radio remains tuned to colleagues so his rides can be monitored when someone tells him to "Just go up Dale Mabry."
But one thing he can worry a bit less about is the cost to fill up his tank.
"I'm stunned I can't get more people interested in the career," he said with all sincerity as he drove one day, loving every mile.
--Justin George can be reached at 813 226-3368 or jgeorge@sptimes.com