BTV Taxi News

August 15th, 2009

Mr Louis LaRose, owner of Everywhere Taxi, and of late, driver of J.J. Transit and/or Queen City Transit vehicles, was expelled by Airport Police from Burlington International Airport today.  Reports have it that Mr LaRose was written up* and suspended from the Airport for the remainder of the day because he flew into another rage.  This while confronting a Vermont based contract carrier about “stealing from him”.  He was however, not cited for Disorderly Conduct.

* internal airport documentation

This transpired on the drop off curb of the airport, with members of the public, including the passengers* the contract carrier was discharging, present.  If you’ve never seen Mr LaRose in action, well, it’s doubtful you’d call it a treat but it is a spectacle in unprofessionalism worthy of being a poster child candidate for anger management.  Especially with his trademark brand of intimidation which involves invading his objects breathing space by towering over them while barking and bellowing in a manner a fog horn would envy.

* the stolen goods in question perhaps, and how does that work exactly?

This is not new behavior for Mr LaRose.  Simply rarely documented, though periodically witnessed by startled bystanders and of course, by airport taxi operators, Ambassadors and presumably, seasoned BPD Officers, among whom it is the stuff of legend.  However, in June this year, rather than facing an administrative hearing, Mr LaRose voluntarily accepted a 24 hour suspension from the Airport following a May 4th incident where among other things he stalked up the airport taxi queue sidewalk a few steps behind a female operator a third his size.  Alternately berating her loudly and quietly taunting her along the way.  Subsequently, he confessed to, “calling her bad names”.

She, and others, state Mr LaRose used multiples of not one, but two “C-words”, among other “bad names”.  The concern whispered in some quarters is that Mr LaRose gets so enraged, that he doesn’t actually recall what he is saying, nor perhaps doing, when in one of these rages.

It remains to be seen if any additional sanctions will be added to this wrist slap, “remainder of the day” suspension.

The moral of this story?  File a complaint, do not remain silent when: you believe you are overcharged, have suffered intimidation, or otherwise witnessed unprofessional behavior like the above.

At the very least, PLEASE register your compliant herein with us on BTV Taxi News.  In the course of time, your effort will help us make the case for elevating the standards in order to obtain, and/or retain, the privilege of a taxi queue permit franchise.

Got Questions?  Simply Ask Dear Cabbie, here, now.

(Editors Note: What we have here is a PG 13 site.  Adult Color will be allowed, until it’s not, tread thoughtfully.  Keep in Mind, your choice of words reflects upon, you,** your community and your industry.)

Welcome/Bienvenue

Foremost among our goals -in conjunction with providing transportation related news & commentary- is to provide a forum whereby the traveling public may act as watch dog on the ground transportation providers of Vermont.  When all is said and done, you, the traveling public, are the most informed, and thus, the finest front line available to birddog any industry.  Your participation herein will reach beyond your own circle of acquaintance to provide useful travel information to this regions many Visitors(upon whom, our economy relies significantly!).  So you see, you are essential to an extremely important mission: acting as a BTV Taxi News Secret Shopper(sorry, there’s no pay, this is a look-out-for-your-neighbor proposition), thereby elevating industry standards via critique.

Another high priority goal is to provide a forum whereby the women, and men of the industry may express their concerns.

Whether to grouse or relate tales, all transportation topics are on the table.

Also, we are intimately aware of the fact that the public is frequently taken advantage of because the Rules are generally unknown or misunderstood by locals, let alone strangers to our area.  So! a portion of BTV Taxi News‘ on-going mission will be to provide answers to questions specific to Vermont‘s taxi and/or, ground transportation industry.  Simply write Dear Cabbie, which can be selected from the Categories drop down menu.

BTV Taxi News is not simply a place to register complaints*(which we heartily encourage!, NAME NAMES PEOPLE!**), but just as heartily we desire the expression of appreciation for service well done.  However, of utmost importance in our mind, is empowering the Vermont Traveling Public, by way of useful information and a forum, where your traveling concerns are brought to the fore, shared publicly, thereby improving the likelihood they will be acknowledged and responded to, sooner rather than later.

* nonetheless, a preponderance of documented remarks are usually necessary before constructive change comes to fruition.  Which is why public participation is of utmost importance.  Therefore, nudge someone else to participate.

** though you may post anonymously herein(meaning register an alias user name), Be Warned, as with any site, your posts can, if necessary, be traced back to you.***  The notion that the web is anonymous, is simply silliness.  So! if you’re angry, exasperated or feeling threatened, intimidated or taken advantage of, please have your say here! but stick to the facts, as truth is a defense against libel.  As to naming names: you are well within your rights to examine your drivers taxi license, request the company business card(larger companies have numbers on the vehicle), and/or note the vehicles Vermont license plate number, along with the date and time.  Then, for the benefit of our region, please follow through.

*** by our webmaster, or, law enforcement should you overstep the bounds of good sense.

Finally BTVTaxiNews.com is sponsoring the “Demand Better Vermont“ campaign.

Before we proceed, keep in mind, the suggestions that follow now, and subsequently, do not require you be demonstrative, nor confrontational.  In fact, we view such behavior as pointless and counterproductive.  These suggestions only require you keep firmly in mind “who is paying who”.  Meaning you, the traveling public, can raise and nurture reasonable expectations by your response to unsatisfactory service, or behavior(the reason need not be explained although in some instances, it might help the process, if done succinctly and politely).

Demand Better ‘Service’ Vermont

When being delivered to Burlington Int’l Airport, your driver pops the trunk without exiting the taxi, making no effort to retrieve your luggage from the trunk, let alone placing it safely on the curb; we suggest the following: #1, make a mental note to hire a different company in the future, #2, withhold payment until you have obtained and loaded your luggage cart(which carts are free to the public at Burlington Int’l), #3, remember you are paying to be served and that gratuities are optional.  It’s your change, request every coin, #4, warn your fellow and prospective travelers by way of BTV Taxi News.com, and #5, allow your driver to discover whether depressing the release button, will close the trunk remotely as well.  That’s right! leave the trunk open.  Think of it this way.  The exercise may do your driver good, thereby qualifying you as a Samaritan.

Demand Better for Vermont!