Post by Logan on Jan 20, 2016 16:42:54 GMT -6
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) -- If the cash you doled out for a Las Vegas cab ride hurt your wallet, it's not all in your head - auditors in Nevada also think taxi rates are outrageous.
Las Vegas-area cabs are overcharging customers to the tune of $47 million a year, according to an audit released Tuesday of the Nevada Taxicab Authority, which regulates the rides in Clark County.
Auditors for the governor's finance office blamed a $3 credit card processing fee that they say is much higher than in other cities and probably shouldn't exist. They also criticized a decision to increase a fuel surcharge even as gas prices are tanking and said having the surcharge at all is unique among the 12 major Western cities that the taxi board tracks.
"The board's decision is a windfall for the industry, which is able to pass additional operational costs on to the public," the audit says. "These are mostly tourist/visitor dollars that would otherwise likely be spent elsewhere in the local economy."
Continued at hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_VEGAS_CABS_OVERCHARGING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-01-20-17-02-51 .
Las Vegas-area cabs are overcharging customers to the tune of $47 million a year, according to an audit released Tuesday of the Nevada Taxicab Authority, which regulates the rides in Clark County.
Auditors for the governor's finance office blamed a $3 credit card processing fee that they say is much higher than in other cities and probably shouldn't exist. They also criticized a decision to increase a fuel surcharge even as gas prices are tanking and said having the surcharge at all is unique among the 12 major Western cities that the taxi board tracks.
"The board's decision is a windfall for the industry, which is able to pass additional operational costs on to the public," the audit says. "These are mostly tourist/visitor dollars that would otherwise likely be spent elsewhere in the local economy."
Continued at hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_VEGAS_CABS_OVERCHARGING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-01-20-17-02-51 .