By Michael Bushnell
Northeast News
December 30, 2011

Amateur Night, New Year’s Eve, call it what you will, but know this: The police department will have extra patrols out over the holiday weekend looking for impaired motorists.

Rather than risk shelling out close to $5,000 in legal fees expunging a DUI rap from your record, Kansas City’s Yellow Cab Company has a much cheaper and safer option. “Text A Taxi” this Sunday night if you’ve had too much to drink and a cab will be automatically dispatched to your location.

Terry O’Toole, general manager at Yellow Cab’s parent company Kansas City Transportation group, demonstrated just how easy it is to electronically hail a cab for a ride home.

“Just text the street address of your location to (913) 534-8294 and you are automatically entered into our dispatch system,” says O’Toole.

Callers using the text service will receive a return text confirming their cab order and a cab will be dispatched as soon as a driver in that area is free. Wait times for cabs could vary says O’Toole.

“If you get us before midnight, your wait time will be very short,” he says. “After midnight, our switchboard goes ballistic and you may wait a little longer for a ride.”

O’Toole advises saving the number in your phone before going out for the evening.

“That way you’ve got it handy when you need it,” he said.

O’Toole also said the Kansas City Strip Trolley will serve most of the major entertainment areas of the city and operate up to roughly 3 a.m. Riders will be issued a free wristband for the service.