This Europe: Turbo-powered taxi drivers make an art form of overcharging

A Prague city councillor has demanded police protection – from taxi drivers. Zdenek Zajicek has asked for police bodyguards for himself, his wife and children, because, he says, some of the city's taxi drivers have started threatening him.

It is not a matter to be taken lightly. Prague's gangsterish taxi drivers are notorious for massively overcharging and then threatening or intimidating those who refuse to pay. Last month, the police arrested one driver who was sending threatening e-mails to the city council from his home computer.

The drivers are incensed at what is a long-overdue crackdown by the council, and Mr Zajicek has been singled out because he is seen as the main force behind the new campaign.

Anyone who has visited Prague is likely to have been overcharged for a taxi. The drivers have elevated overcharging to an art form. Many taxis are fitted with a device called a turbo, which allows the driver to alter the speed of the meter as he drives – meaning even if you insist the driver puts the meter on, you can still be overcharged. Things can become nasty if you refuse to pay.

Mr Zajicek has said the crackdown is essential because the taxi drivers are damaging Prague's reputation as a tourist destination.

The dishonest drivers seem to control the taxi ranks in prime tourist areas such as Wenceslas Square – but not only the tourists are suffering. Taxis frequently overcharge Czechs as well, and many Praguers call cars from reputable taxi companies on their mobile phones rather than flag down a taxi in the street.

Now the city council has ordered undercover inspectors to make spot checks on taxis day and night. The identification numbers of drivers found overcharging are being published on the council's website, and the city transport department is levying heavy fines. The council says it is planning to introduce an SMS service to allow passengers to check the correct price of their taxi ride over their mobile phone.

Drivers managed to scupper the city authorities' last effort to rein them in, a few years ago. Praguers are hoping this new campaign will be more successful – and the threats against Mr Zajicek show it is making the dishonest drivers squeal.