Sophomore Katherine O'Neil has a personal driver.
O'Neil relies on Doug from On Time Taxi to chauffeur her around the Durham nightlife. Doug, who declined to give his last name, gave O'Neil his personal cell phone number so she could call him directly for her transportation needs.
"I prefer having a cab driver that I kind of know. They get there faster and are more reliable," O'Neil said. "It's easier to call and find out where they are."
Cab drivers from local companies such as Charlene's Safe Rides, On-Time Taxi and Durham's Best Cab Company often offer their personal cellular phone numbers to student clients.
The practice, however, has drawn the ire of some dispatchers, who claim the practice hurts the entire company while benefiting individual cab drivers.
Some students also have criticized the practice, noting that the relationship between the customer and employee can become too personal.
"[Drivers] are not supposed to give out personal numbers," said Jay Belmoylog, a dispatcher from Charlene's.
Charlene's does provide its employees with company cell phones, however, and puts those numbers on business cards.
Bell Belahouel, a manager from Charlene's Safe Ride, said he discourages students from taking personal numbers to prevent students from developing an inappropriate bond with Charlene's employees.
Beshir Mohammednur, a cab driver from Durham's Best, defended the practice of giving out personal cell phone numbers as more convenient and reliable for students than contacting the dispatcher.
"I give them [my number] and then if they need me I can come in an emergency," Mohammednur said.
Drivers at Durham's Best are encouraged to give out their personal numbers in order to increase total revenue.
"All of the driver's here are like independent contractors. They pay the dispatcher a monthly fee of $250 and keep their total fare without paying any portion of it back to Durham's Best," dispatcher Hasan Kafi said.
April 2005, Kafi was arrested on allegations that he had assaulted a female Duke student. Kafi plead guilty in May to misdemeanor sexual battery but will not face jail time.
Some students said accepting the personal numbers of cab drivers is inappropriate.
"I feel like it is becoming more intimate than it needs to be," senior Stephanie McIlroy said.
Freshman Alex Hauspurg said many of her friends have readily acquired the personal cell phone number of cabbies.
"[The driver] made it seem like it was more convenient to just call him," she said.
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