How do you rack up a $1,000 taxi bill?

Stuff reports:

An Auckland man has been charged with deceptively taking 67 taxi rides worth $28,686. 

Elton John Taniora-Waitai appeared for the first time in the Manukau District Court on Wednesday, charged with five counts of obtaining a service by deception. 

Court documents alleged he racked up bills with Super Shuttles,  Auckland Co-op Taxi Society, South Auckland Taxi Association and Corporate Cabs in December last year and January and February 2016. 

On New Year’s Eve the 25-year-old was alleged to have taken two Corporate Cab rides worth $2117.75.

So each ride was around $1,000. They must have been 300 kms or so. I would have though for any ride of that distance the driver would want proof of payment!

Earlier that month he is alleged to have taken 27 taxi rides in just one week, racking up an alleged tab of $10,554.40 with South Auckland Taxi Association.  

In January he was alleged to have taken four shuttle rides, costing $3995, and 17 rides with Co-op costing more than $7000. 

In February it’s claimed he again took 17 taxi rides over a two week period with Corporate Cabs, to the value of $4916.30. 

I’m amazed he got away with it for so long. You’d think after one long trip in which he didn’t pay, his details would be alerted to all other drivers.