WASHINGTON - You may have had some trouble catching a cab in the District Tuesday because of a strike to protest low fares.

The strike was primarily organized by two cab driver union, according to John Porterfield, a senior vice president for the Dominion of Cabdrivers.

He said the unions had estimate 85 to 90 percent of D.C. cab drivers were complying with the strike. The estimate could not be independently verified.

Drivers complain their income has dropped 30-35 percent since the introduction of meters. One driver said his income has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years. He blamed the city's transition to meters more than the economic downturn.

Striking driver Elizabeth Sebhat said she's lost 40 percent of her income.

"I can't afford it. I can't feed my children," she said. "I used to make $70 day and now it's $40."

"I could cover my bills, now I can't," added driver Larry Frankel, who says he's now working 12 hours a day and can't make ends meet. "I had a one-bedroom apartment that cost $1,400 a month. I lived there for 7 1/2 years. I had to give up that apartment." 

The cabbies want to the District's Taxicab Commission to change the fare structure and allow them to pickup multiple fares.

Porterfield claims D.C. has the lowest meter fares in North America at $1.50 a mile and a $3 drop fare. He said $2 per mile is average. The union is seeking a $4 drop charge.

"We're fine with meters so long as the meter rate is the same as Montgomery County (web | news) are other nearby jurisdictions," Porterfield said.

ABC 7 News repeatedely contacted Mayor Adrian Fenty about the driver's concerns. We were told Fenty was unavailable but that someone from the taxicab commission would answer our questions. By 6 p.m., we still hadn't heard back.

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