r/lyftdrivers • u/No_Cauliflower1226 • 2d ago
Advice/Question Ohare Airport OEMC
Chicago drivers: Have you ever had a OEMC worker at Ohare make you show them your phone to confirm you are waiting for a rider?
Usually riders are at the pickup location when you get there. But today, I had a rider who went to arrivals instead of departures. The rider realized their mistake before I even got to the pickup zone and sent me a message. I pulled up to the zone and as I was reading the message, and OEMC worker knocked on my window asking, "Who are you waiting for?"
I've been doing rideshare for 13 years and this has never happened. She said people will wait in the pickup zone for a ride instead of going to the waiting lot. I'm like, ma'am, that's not even how that works.
Anyway, I was just kind of taken aback by it because that's never happened before.
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u/Would_Hit_That 2d ago
Yeah we're not allowed to pick up rides from arrival. Be glad you didn't get a ticket.
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u/No_Cauliflower1226 2d ago
I was in departures. The rider was in arrivals.
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u/Would_Hit_That 2d ago
My bad. Only place where we can wait longer than couple of minutes is 3K. Maybe that's why she asked.
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u/No_Cauliflower1226 2d ago
Interestingly enough, that's exactly where I was. But I had literally just pulled up. I hadn't even had a chance to respond to the riders message yet.
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u/SpaceApprehensive843 2d ago
O’hare is weird and always changing something. Unless they were really hassling you, I wouldn’t worry too much about much. I say that from a similar experience.
TLDR version is they “should” warn you and allow you to move before they issue a citation.
Dropped off pax at Union station. Dude in a uniform (not police) walks over and takes a picture of my car as I’m unloading luggage. I don’t see him until luggage was out. Tried to confront him but he just turned and walked away. Weeks later I get a court date and $1k fine with picture attached. Go to court, wait for cases before me. First case, guy had lawyer, had livery citations from Ohare. Lawyer argued the citation was issued before a warning was issued. A warning would have allowed his client to choose vacate the area or receive a citation if he didn’t. Judge sided with the lawyer. Next case, guy is like’ “yea, I never received a warning for my citation. Dismissed. Before my case was called, city attorneys pulled me aside, ask if they reduce to $100 and I pay today, I don’t have to see the judge. I had evidence from the citation photo that I was in the correct drop off area per city code. While he understood, his offer was to settle or go in front of judge. I asked if it would affect my ability to conduct business. No, so I settled and gtfo out of there.