Chicago taxi drivers seek 16 percent fare boost, threaten strike if they don’t get it.

Chicago taxi drivers are seeking a 16 percent fare increase, and threatening a strike if they don’t get it.

Members of the United Taxidrivers Community Council presented petitions with their request for the increase to representatives from Mayor Daley’s office Wednesday.

“We are overdue for a fare increase,” said Ron Florence, the organization’s spokesman. “We have families we have to take care of, bills we have to pay.”

Florence and about a dozen other taxi drivers and supporters presented the petition signed by more than 1,300 drivers who say economic conditions and gas prices are hurting their income. In addition to the increase, they want biennial review of fares.

There are about 6,500 taxi medallians in the city, Florence said.

The city is committed to looking into a fare increase for 2009, said Norma Reyes, commissioner of the Department of Consumer Services.

The price of gas has risen more than 50 percent since the last fare increase in 2005, said Peter Enger, a member of the organization. He said the drivers would like an independent body to research the costs of cab driving and the current economic conditions.

A $1 surcharge was added to all trips earlier this year, but it is inadequate to cover the cost of fuel, Florence said.

“The fuel surcharge has given some of the drivers a few extra dollars, but overall it has not made a dent in our incomes,” he said.

Florence also said the charge is not fair to riders because it is the same amount for long and short trips.

The drivers also complained of receiving hefty fines for “minute” traffic violations. Fines range from $75 to $1,000, Enger said.

“I don’t know of any other business where you can be fined half of your monthly income for one mistake,” he said.

If Daley does not respond to the drivers’ requests, Khozindar said, there will be a one-day strike, followed by a rush-hour strike. He did not set a time limit for response to their request.

Enger didn’t give specific numbers, but said the organization surveyed “thousands” of drivers, and “95 percent” said they would be willing to strike.

Khozindar said he thinks a strike would be effective because of the city’s reliance on taxis and because it may affect the city’s bid for the 2016 Olympics.

““The strike will paralyze the city,” he said. “We are moving the city.”