Attorney General's News Release

February 28, 2000

Second taxi company ordered to regularly test meters, pay civil penalty to resolve overcharging allegations

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today obtained a court order requiring a second St. Louis taxicab company and several of its drivers who allegedly overcharged some customers through inaccurate meters to conduct regular, independent testing of their taximeters and pay $6,425 in penalties and costs to the state.

In addition to the testing and the penalty, Riverfront Cab Co. Inc., located at 205 Zepp St., also must educate its drivers with the terms of consent judgment and make them familiar with city ordinances regulating taxicabs. The taximeter testing must take place every six months and after repairs to the taximeter, transmission, odometer or speedometer. On Feb. 8, Nixon obtained a similar order requiring Harris Cab. Co. and one of its drivers to regularly test their meters and pay penalties.

Five drivers for Riverfront Cab also are included under the order issued today by St. Louis City Circuit Judge David C. Mason. Those drivers are Ezezew Biru, Jessie Bonner, Fikre A. Alemar, Haddish Kaleta and Ocabaselassi Mehari. Two other Riverfront drivers, Patrick Lee Demsko and Tesfamichael Teferi, had judgments issued against them earlier this month, barring them from driving a taxicab for two months and imposing $9,500 in penalties and costs against Demsko and $4,000 against Teferi.

Judge Mason issued a permanent injunction preventing the defendants from advertising or selling taxicab services unless the taximeters being used were operational and met all applicable state laws.

Last February Nixon filed lawsuits charging three taxicab companies and several individuals with violating Missouri consumer protection laws by using inaccurate meters to overcharge customers. A lawsuit is still pending against Hugo's Taxicab Co. and its sole owner, Zahari Jovhev.

Taxicab passengers often are placed at a disadvantage in using taxi services, Nixon said, because they often must take the next available taxi in line; they often are visitors unfamiliar with actual distances involved; they are typically required to pay in cash; the taxicab operators control the meters; and the passengers have little recourse when presented with the fee calculated by the meter.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818