LYNN – You never know whom you’ll get for a driver when hailing a cab in Lynn, but there is a chance you might find Santa sitting behind the wheel this month.Charles Jones, a cab driver for Tom’s Taxi, will be taking fares dressed as the jolly fellow this December as he has done for the past two years in hopes of spreading holiday cheer and reminding riders about the true spirit of the season.”I find that people are starting to lose the Christmas spirit getting caught up in bills and commercials and shopping. This helps them remember what it’s all about, and plus, the kids like it a lot,” said Jones.Even without the sleigh, reindeer and elves to complete the costume, he gets plenty of merry responses.”A few nights ago I was picking someone up at the Knights of Columbus. Some parents there noticed me and asked me to talk to their kids. I was happy to, and they really seemed to enjoy it. That’s why when I can, I’ll take a few extra minutes for a fare and then I’m on my way.”The children are some of his favorite passengers because when they are on board, he gets the chance to be in character. He rarely wastes these opportunities.”Kids ask me a lot, ‘Why is Santa driving a cab?’ and I just say I need some extra money to buy hay and grain for the reindeer, or that driving the cab helps me get around to check who is being naughty or nice,” said Jones.Sometimes he gets in character with the adults too. Often he will remind them that they also have wish lists with more expensive items on them. After this is acknowledged, Jones jokingly eludes to “something they might have forgotten they did back in ’72” for a shared laugh.Jones, who has been living in Lynn for most of his life, has been standing in for Santa for almost four years now. You may have seen him at the North Shore Mall a few years ago where he started his seasonal career.He initially had apprehensions about the job, especially because he would be thrust into the center of attention, which he says is not what he was doing it for. After the first day though, he was having too much fun making people happy to worry about who was watching.At the mall, he had an estimated 1,000 kids sit on his lap every day. Jones enjoyed hearing what people wanted for a short while, but soon realized that he preferred driving a cab in costume.”When I pick someone up with groceries and they see me in the suit, there is an immediate response. Once we’re talking, it doesn’t matter what they just bought, they’re getting in the spirit,” he said.Jones believes Christmas should be looked at from two different perspectives at the same time.”I believe parents should teach their kids that Christmas is showing love and kindness to one another?the original point of Christmas is religious, and that’s where the gifts come from, the wise men bearing gifts. Everything else is just a sideline, but it still makes the season fun for everyone, and it’s beautiful to play that up too.”