A Fare Share for Cab Drivers Taxis are about to cost 17 percent more in New York City. A 12.5 percent raise would have fit the bill, but at least the city's Taxi Commissioner David Yassky is promising that the whole increase is going where it belongs - to the person behind the wheel. A lot of cab drivers don't think they'll ever see the extra money when fares go up in September. Many fear the fleet owners will charge an extra fee or penalty, even though the city's taxi commission is supposed to ensure that doesn't happen. This new fare increase for drivers also comes with an extra $10 they must pay on top of an already steep $113 or so to use the cab for a day. Plus the driver covers the gas. Following this fare hike, Mr. Yassky's operation should do a better job of policing the system and making sure drivers get their fair share. They need it. They haven't had a raise since 2006. Here's one low-hanging fruit: Drivers pay up to 5 percent of their credit card fares to the owners. The new rates will allow the driver to keep all fares paid by credit card and pay a flat rate of $10 a day to the cab owner. Ideally, that should be a wash or even a bonus for the driver, especially if riders get more comfortable using their credit cards. The new fare increase, which will show up as an extra dime every time the vehicle moves a fifth of a mile, will not make cabbie rich. But, a 12-hour shift that now brings in about $130 a day will earn the driver about $165. That's a big difference. Maybe enough that those of us in the back seat can feel better about requesting indulgences like air conditioning or a different radio station or perhaps even a driver that might please consider staying off his cell phone?