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USA Today said:SAN DIEGO (AP) — Body odor is among 52 criteria that officials at San Diego International Airport use to judge taxi drivers. Cabbies say that smacks of prejudice and discrimination.
For years, inspectors with the San Diego Regional Airport Authority have run down their checklist for each cabbie — proof of insurance, functioning windshield wipers, adequate tire treads, good brakes. Drivers are graded pass, fail or needs fixing.
Anyone who flunks the smell test is told to change before picking up another customer.
Leaders of the United Taxi Workers of San Diego union say the litmus perpetuates a stereotype that predominantly foreign-born taxi drivers smell bad. A 2013 survey of 331 drivers by San Diego State University and Center on Policy Initiatives found 94% were immigrants and 65% were from East Africa.
Drivers wonder how inspectors determine who reeks. Driver Abel Seifu, 36, from Ethiopia, suspects they sniff inconspicuously during friendly conversations in the staging area. Airport authority spokeswoman Rebecca Bloomfield said there is "no standard process" to testing.
San Diego cabbies cry foul over body odor test
I don't get to the city often - I usually only take cabs in NY and Chicago but I must say, if the cab and cabbie smelled better I'd probably leave bigger tips. BO has a specific smell that is unmistakable from say a dirty cab, a cab which has been vomited in earlier and not cleaned properly, or the stench of garbage, pollution, or other foul things. So here's the question: Pick from the positive or negative options in the poll and explain what prompted you to choose that selection. This is a casual poll - have fun with it!