There’s no shortage of Florida Man headlines in the car world. I hadn’t heard one involving a cab, an unfortunate lack of planning, and a trip right back to the slammer…until today. Here’s what happened: Charles Folk had just gotten out of the Brevard County Jail Complex and needed a way to get home to Melbourne, Florida. It was around 1 a.m. when he flagged down a taxi for the 30-mile trip. He told the driver he’d pay with a credit card when they arrived.

Once the taxi arrived in Melbourne, though, things took a turn. 

Folk didn’t have the money. He said his sister or his roommate could help, but neither came through. His sister was out of town and offered to pay over the phone, but the cab driver refused. Without another way to cover the $70 fare, the driver called the police.

Officers arrested Folk on petty theft charges. Ironically, Florida Today shared that he ended up right back at the Brevard County Jail Complex…the same place he had just left. This time, though, he was held instead of getting a $2,000 bond. In other words, the judge decided to just assign Folk some time rather than pay bail, which he (pretty obviously) probably didn’t have anyway.

As previously mentioned, Folk’s troubles didn’t start that night. Court records revealed that his initial arrest was for criminal mischief. He had allegedly ransacked his own home, destroying his roommate’s belongings in the process. That incident landed him in jail in the first place.

If Florida Man had no money for the cab, what else could he have done? 

A public bus might not have been an option that late at night, but during operating hours, they’re much cheaper than a taxi. Folk might have called a friend for a ride or even asked the jail if there were any resources to help recently released inmates get home. Certain establishments, for example, offer “gate money” and “release cards” worth a small amount of cash to help folks get home and back to their daily life. We can assume he had a parole officer with the initial arrest. Calling them could have resulted in a free or lower-cost ride.

Instead, he found himself right back where he started…behind bars. Heck, for all the trouble, he could have tried to walk instead. 30 miles sure is a long haul, though.

It’s a tough situation, but ordering a taxi without the money on hand didn’t do him any favors.