[El Diablo]

Crane,

"Another time the [censored] cabbie took me the long way around from the airport to the Gold Coast. I wasn't paying attention until I realized where I was. I was steamed. When we got there I refused to pay. All hell broke loose. I knew where this was going to end up, but I wanted to have my fun.

"You cheated me, you cheated me!" I was screaming. He screamed back. I said call your supervisor, call the police. I was really enjoying myself. Finally he said, just pay me fare, no tip. TIP! I yelled, TIP! I'll pay the fare minus what you cheated me! The cops came. I explained. I ended up paying the fare. But I got my moneys worth."

I had the exact same experience with a cabbie taking me and some friends from Cheetah's to Hard Rock. First time I pay attention, I realize what a roundabout BS way he is taking us back (was very familiar with the correct route and how much it costs at that time), so I ask him WTF. He says "NO I TAKE YOU SHORTEST WAY" I say are you fking kidding me dude? We argue a bit, I say whatever. We get to the Hard Rock and the fare is whatever, like $10 more than it should be. So I tell him I'm going to pay him how much it should cost and give him that much. He starts yelling at me and we're going at it a bit. Door/security guys come over. They knew me at the time since I'm really nice and tip well. They ask what's up, I tell them, they tell the taxi guy that he can either leave or they can call the taxi commission. Dude says he is gonna leave then says something liek "you are a thief" to me, at which point I go off on the dude yelling at him about ripping me off and then calling me a thief and is the only time in my adult life that I can recall having to be physically restrained from going after a guy.