He was driving in the wee hours when a young man flagged his taxi at Clarke Quay, cabby Alan T. said, recalling an unpleasant encounter a few years ago. The passenger, who looked in his 20s, reeked of alcohol. His speech was slurred and his eyes bloodshot.

Not long after arriving at the destination, the drunk passenger fumbled with the door handle, stumbled out and fled without paying his fare, which came up to about $30.