CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte city leaders may officially rethink rules for taxis that are set to kick in soon.
Starting in July, cabs have to be six years old or newer. The city wants passengers to know Charlotte's cabs are new, clean and safe. Shirley Thompson is among the passengers that appreciate that. She said, "Of course, it's not your car so you want to be comfortable in something that you know you can go in just to go from point A to point B."
But cab drivers say that's unfair, that they can't afford to get new cabs that often. William Dobbins showed us inside his cab, a 2009, so he may have to get a new one in three years though this one, he says, drives great and is spotless.
He said, "It's not fair to the drivers; it's just not fair to the drivers."
Tuesday afternoon, a council committee will meet to discuss four options:
- Keep the plan the way it is
- Change the age limit for cabs
- Give drivers an extra year before the rules kick in
- Grandfather in certain older taxis