[westicle]

"The police view it as a civil matter, but could they look at it differently? Is there an ordinance that could be passed locally?"

This is more an issue with lazy or unmotivated policing rather than need for more and more specific laws. The driver is acting dishonestly to defraud the passenger of money. There are numerous statutes regulating fraudulent criminal conduct ranging from street scams to Bernie Madoff.

The fact there is a private contract between them regulating their commercial transaction does not obviate the need for both parties to comply with criminal law.

I wonder why the reporter did not seek any input from anyone legally trained. Relying on the police, who have no incentive to overly burden themselves with non-revenue generating police work, to inform the public on whether something is criminal or not is half-assed journalism.