Tipping a Taxi driver

Taxi Driver Tipping: Taxi drivers only deserve tips when they do something out of the normal routine of just driving from point A to B. my reasoning for this is simply that I have driven taxi before myself, and never expected much of a tip based on the following: 1. The taxi driver leases the cab per day. Minus the lease, and gas, he gets to keep anything he makes, making tips unnecessary, however very nice to get. 2. The meter automatically charges a flat rate, usually around $2.50, just for picking you up, and again for dropping you off. In addition to the actual charge for the drive. And at 50 cents per mile, approximately, you are already overpaying for a short ride usually.