I have on two occasions observed fellow Zipcar members using Zipcar and breaking the no pets rule. One time I was passing the Zipcar in a friend's car and the other time I just sitting on the steps outside my apartment minding my own business when the Zipcar (with canine passenger) drove by.

Each time I have debated whether or not to call Zipcar and report my observations (I did not in both cases). By telling Zipcar the sex of the driver and the time of my observations, I have no doubt Zipcar could accurately track down the perpetrators.

My question is, does Zipcar encourage members to call and report observations in circumstances like those I described? I can see the value of having members who are going about their daily business report infractions they observe. At the same time, I am not sure I am comfortable with being a snitch, or with opening the door to reporting observations such as instances of bad driving, when more often than not what is "bad" driving is based on one's subjective interpretation.

I would like to know Zipcar's position on this issue, as well as the positions of fellow members.

Thank you.

-- Anonymous, June 17, 2003

Answers

With respect to rules (and dogs), our goal is to do everything we can to ensure that you pick up a clean, safe and operational vehicle at every Zipcar reservation. We do rely on members to report on the condition of the car when they pick it up. Our commitment is to follow up, warn, fine and eject violating members as needed.

We also highly value privacy, and are not interested in anything more than providing excellent service to our members, protecting our vehicles and our company reputation.

When we receive a 'tip' on a rules violation, from a non member or not, we will take a look at the car simply to prevent a member from finding a car in poor condition. We do not respond to reports on driving habits. If, on our inspection, a car shows evidence of abuse, we will respond appropriately.

We appreciate the opportunity to prevent a bad member experience, but I can't help you with your personal decision to report. I can assure you that we will not take such a report on face value, and if unable to verify through standard operating procedures, will do nothing with it.

Most importantly: We expect (and require) that all members, on picking up a Zipcar, assess the condition of the car before driving.

Stephen Oakley, Director, Zipcar Boston

-- Anonymous, June 19, 2003

I think reporting infractions has its place in keeping Zipcar a viable service. These are tough economic times and we all would like to see Zipcar succeed. So far, happily, it looks like that is the case.

But if people abuse the Zipcar policies, and drive around with pets, or smoke in the car, or leave a lot of trash, or return the car with less than 1/3 a tank, then over time members will drop out of Zipcar as they won't like the service anymore. If members keep droppping out then Zipcar may have to close.

So if someone violates a policy I say shoot it up to Zipcar themselves and let them decide what to do about it. Any guilt about "snitching" is certainly less of an issue that the offender violating a policy.

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2003

Thank you, Ronald, that was probably us. A female and an un-crated pit bull. Oh, and please feel free to report it – why? See below.

When I go away for the weekend (or have the car rented for the whole day), my pit bull comes with me. She has a bad hip and cannot be crated – so she sits on the (covered) front seat. Next time you should really take a closer look – we have adorable colorful green, yellow, or orange ombre fleece blankets on all seats in the car, front and back. While they are good for dog fur, they are really great for sitting on, in shorts and a tank top. Or getting into the car after a being outside, dry leaves, hay, and all. Or driving on a hot day with the windows down.

Fleece blankets in my experience are much better than crates in preventing the fur/dander contamination. Even airline crates. Of course, they do not do much for nose prints on the glass – but that is what Windex is for.

Then again, my dog sheds much less than my ex boyfriend, and smells better than his father.

So why am I encouraging you to report it if you feel so inspired? Because once I am done with driving, the car is cleaned. Not the cursory exam – we are talking vacuuming the seats, wiping down surfaces (windows, dashboards, floors). The car is much cleaner when I return it, than when I picked it up. Of course, it implies actually planning and budgeting some 40-50 minutes at the end of the reservation – this is why it is impractical if I am running 15-minute errands.

As far as I understand, this is the spirit of the Zipcar. If I pick up fake fur fabric in Chinatown, and transport it without protecting the seats, the car will be covered in little synthetic fur clippings. Anyone who sews can tell you how annoying and notoriously hard to clean those are. Would you care that it is fake fur, vs. dog fur? No – you would just want the car clean.

A couple of anecdotes. The only real fur contamination occurred when I sat down in the car in my winter coat. My dog was not even in the same state – yet the car upholstery had fluff all over it. Of course I cleaned it up – that is what the sticky lint brushes are for. If you have a dog, you learn to never leave home without one.

And, the most embarrassing, by far, was buying a “slightly irregular” feather bed at a local discount store. Turned out that slightly irregular referred to the stitching – so when I got home, the trunk of the car looked as if I transported a dozen or so fighting chickens. If you were snooping that day, you would probably see the me vacuuming the trunk with my giant floor vac, cord dangling out of the second floor window, across the front yard, sidewalk, and some shrubs.

Basically, if you mess it up, clean it up – whether it’s your dog, your fur coat, or your boyfriend shedding all over the seats. And the next time you see us passing by, say hello.

And, not to sound insensitive to those with dog allergies – but everyone I know who has severe dander allergies and lives in the city, medicates on a regular basis. Dogs (service dogs) are allowed in all public places; in Boston, all dogs are allowed in the subway (non-peak hours). It is different outside the city… but it’s a reality here.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2004