The odds of being overcharged by a Las Vegas cabbie are about one in four.
That’s the finding of a Nevada state audit, which discovered that Vegas cab drivers overcharged 23% of arriving tourists in 2012 by taking the long way from the airport.
Taking the freeway from McCarran International Airport to the Strip actually takes more time than driving on local streets. And it adds about $10 to the fare.
Still, cabs took the longer route about 22.5% of the time in 2012—adding a total of nearly $15 million to their meters.
The state auditors suggested that Las Vegas put signage at the airport warning of the practice, called "long-hauling," and listing the amount a ride to each casino should cost.
A trip to the airport should cost about $25 from downtown, and about $15 from the south end of the Strip.
