Riders who vomit in Columbus cabs will have to pay

Riders who vomit in Columbus cabs will have to pay

COLUMBUS (AP) — Taxi cab drivers in Columbus are tired of cleaning up after drunk people who vomit in their vehicles.

Now the hurling passengers will have to pay.

A new city rule allows taxi drivers to tack on a $50 fee to fares who soil their vehicles, requiring the driver to leave the road and clean up.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that drivers hope the fee, which went into effect at the end of 2013, will serve as a deterrent.

The rule says drunken passengers who soil cabs “with bodily fluids or solids” can be charged as long as drivers post a sign and verbally explain the fee.

Drivers must assess the fee at the end of the ride. If a passenger refuses to pay, the driver can call police.