All Hail The Taxi Cab

As a public service announcement, we wanted to let you know it's okay to hail a taxi in Seattle. If you always thought it was, go about your business. Nothing to see here.

Contrary to what you read on the Slog -- "It's illegal for cabbies to pick up people hailing cabs in Seattle" -- it is entirely legal for cabbies to pick up people hailing cabs in Seattle.

We checked with the city clerk: "The text makes a reference to 'hailed trips' and does not prohibit them. Taxi drivers may pick up a hailing customer in a passenger load zone."

The confusion may arise from how specific the ordinance gets in the part about "soliciting and cruising standards" (Ed: This is still about taxis, right?). But this part refers to the cabbie:

A. Taxicabs.

1. A for-hire driver may solicit passengers only from the driver's seat or standing immediately adjacent to the taxicab (within twelve (12) feet), and only when the vehicle is safely and legally parked (Class A).

Reading the ordinance, the point seems to be that a cabbie needs to find a safe, legal place to park to pick up a fare. They can't just park, get out, and canvas passers-by in all directions. But that has nothing to do with your drunk ass hailing a cab at 1am in the morning. If you haven't left your wallet at the bar, you're golden.