Cabbies, Tow-Truck Drivers Gearing Up

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- For many, watching the championship game at home simply won't do, and NBC 4’s Marshall McPeek has the information fans need.

It's only been a week since cab drivers and tow-truck operators were hard at work for New Year’s. They're preparing for organized chaos all over again — the kind of organized chaos that happens when the Bucks take to the field for a national championship game.

“Last year was pretty chaotic, and we anticipate probably the same thing,” said Acme Taxi's Michael Gouldsbury.

All 38 of the company’s drivers will be on the road — that’s twice as many as usual. Meanwhile, dispatchers are expecting to answer as many as 1,000 calls.

“Some people might get a cab in five minutes; some people might wait up to one hour,” Gouldsbury said.

Eric Jerge isn’t as interested in picking up people as he is illegally parked cars. He’s a tow-truck operator.

Jerge said some drivers likely will ignore the temporary east campus parking ban.

The ban will be in effect from 4 p.m. Monday until 4 a.m. Tuesday and will affect Chittenden and 12th avenues, from High to Summit streets, and 14th Avenue, from High to Summit streets.

Most of the area is permit parking, McPeek reported. All of the meters were bagged by 9 a.m.

Reclaiming a car can cost more than $100. Owners of towed vehicles either will have to call the city or, if on private property, call the number posted on a nearby sign.

The parking ban is a security precaution. A few years ago, the area was the epicenter of the rioting after OSU beat Michigan, McPeek reported.

Stay tuned to NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for more information.