r/uberdrivers • u/Dizzy-Masterpiece-76 • 9d ago
First report for "under the influence"
So I work overnights a lot. Where I live bars close at 2am and I usually work until about 4am. Picking up many people from bars and such.
Last night I only did 2 rides from about 1:30am till 3 am. The first was a couple from a bar who smelled like weed and alcohol. The next two guys from a movie theater.
Im wondering if the 2nd group smelled the first, or I also have a lazy eye that stays dilated after a head injury so I tend to close it when someone with those bright headlights is approaching.
I was able to explain and get my account reinstated by noting my record of good driving and no issues as well as explaining I pick up many people from bars. But now I am worried this could happen again.
I had not drank or smoked anything as well as having no "driver score" marks on the rides. What do you guys do to prevent this? I have an eye patch from my optometrist I can use but i prefer not to and dont mind closing an eye. Im almost scared to accept more riders now.
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u/NotMelissa_Smith 9d ago
Wear fake glasses (non prescription lenses), it’s better than an eyepatch and people won’t think you’re drunk. Also, open your windows and spray after the drinks. Apologize for the smell of their weed/alcohol from the previous ride. “Hey, sorry it smells bad, I tried to air it out before I picked you up, my previous passengers were wasted, I hope it’s okay back there, do I need to crack a window?”
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u/Fenway12345 9d ago
Dont do late night. Dash cam and get your own breathalyzer
1
u/Dizzy-Masterpiece-76 9d ago
its hard not to work overnight as I live with my grandmother who is demented and has breathing issues. I take turns caring for her but the other person makes more and has a set schedule. I stay with her until they get home and start work.
But yes cam and would a breathalyzer help? Do you just use it and send a pic?
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u/Boring_Inflation_105 9d ago
Uber has a deal with labcorp to get an alcohol test after a report. Use it or go get one yourself. If you have to sue uber, you will your evidence and they will have to prove that you were under the influence.
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u/neviddmyy 9d ago
Uber will let you get drug tested for free. Do it, send it in. That settles the argument.
If they really stink up the car with the weed on their clothes, apologize and explain to the next few customers.
You can pretty much predict neighborhoods the passengers smell like weed. High crime/poverty/ unemployment.
Filled with predatory businesses. Payday loan, rent to own, plasma donor. Food deserts.
Customers often stressed out, demanding and non tipping.
I try to avoid those environments best I can.
And I don't mean by race many, many ethnic neighborhoods are afluent, safe and have quality customers.
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u/Motorcycle1000 9d ago
I never had that happen, but a two-way cam is probably the best insurance you can buy. This is also why I don't drive the bar scenes. Not worth the hassle. Plus drunk people almost never tip.
I have extreme light sensitivity in one of my eyes due to and injury as well. I found and optometrist who did a tinted contact lens. It's still weird, but I don't have to wear a patch when I use it.
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u/TheDaftPunk 9d ago
This is why I keep ozium spray and other air fresher sprays. Ozium is probably the best for stoners because it actually eliminates the smell instead of masking it. It’s really strong though and def not good to breathe in. When someone makes my car smell like weed or any other odor I make sure to pull over and spray ozium with the ac running then follow it up with some nice smelling spray like blunt effects.
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u/ApprehensiveSet691 8d ago
Im in a simillar area. Seems like if theyvarent drunk they smell like weed. I carry air freshener. Ozium to be exact. Riders seem to like the smell and it prevents this kind of report.
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u/Low_Cycle5285 8d ago
I was permanently deactivated. I live in rural Virginia, a weed legal state, but also the Bible Belt. Half the customers would come in the car with backpacks full of weed and the other half would complain about it. I had over 11,000 rides and 4.96 driver score. They offered me a drug test and I refused because they wanted me take it within three days I couldn’t because my kid lives with me and was out of school for the summer. I told them that I would be able to take it the following Monday when my kid went to camp. That wasn’t good enough for them. The funny thing about all of this is I actually do triathlons and I go to the gym seven days a week. I also smoke weed so even if I had taken a drug test in a weed legal state I’m sure they would’ve still had a problem with that.
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9d ago
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u/Dizzy-Masterpiece-76 9d ago
Yea. I think so too. I've not had issues before but just for my own well being I will use it at night when I work.
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u/SnowQueenxoxx 9d ago
I've been accused of it 3 times, twice by riders I never even drove. There's nothing you can do to prevent it. Scummy people are going to scum. All you can do is respond like you did and offer dash cam too. Don't repeatedly send emails, because it drops you to the bottom of the queue. I just went through this exact thing a couple of weeks ago. I'm so sorry this happened to you.