Discover why carloads of Baltimoreans risk their lives every hour taking and giving illegal rides in the documentary “Baltimore City Haks,” showing at the Creative Alliance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
In the film, Baltimore filmmaker Bernard Threatt profiles drivers, passengers and those who would rather walk or take the bus than risk getting raped, robbed or murdered.
“Even though people know there could be serious consequences — in Baltimore, a $500 fine for both the driver and rider, and you don’t know who you’re getting into the car with — people still trust each other enough to give and take rides,” Threatt said.
“On the Block [Baltimore Street], North Avenue, Greenmount Avenue, even Pulaski Highway, Park Heights, really, all throughout Baltimore, you’ll be able to catch these people standing on the corner signaling with their fingers out, or drivers flashing their lights or honking at all times of the day. Whether it was 2 at night or 2 in the afternoon, I could get a hak within 10 minutes of standing on a corner.”
Of all the haks Threatt interviewed for the film, a mother of three Kim remains on his mind.
“The day she picked me up, she told me she was haking because she needed a couple more dollars [to buy] crabs,” he said. “She was taking a chance on someone she didn’t know. It was dangerous, but when you see the film, she was totally comfortable and had no problem telling me her life’s story.”
For more information about Thursday’s screening, visit www.docsinprogress.org.
