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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#188925
03/28/2019 10:11 AM
03/28/2019 10:11 AM
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 721 Colorado
sxmbeachlover
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 721
Colorado
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As I recall, the legitimate taxi says "taxi" on their license plate.
Famous Quote from SBHonline: The best moderation is the least moderation.
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: SammyM]
#188928
03/28/2019 10:15 AM
03/28/2019 10:15 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,547 Ohio
ruralcarrier
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,547
Ohio
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This has been going on WAY prior to Irma but it is probably more rampant now though. The "official" taxis belong to an association, pay dues, have valid plates and ID's and are required to have insurance and MOST are really good people. We have know several for almost 28 years now. Some of the casinos and restaurants will have a "driver" deliver people back to their place of lodging and many of those do not have valid credentials.
One of the things the "gypsy" drivers will often say when you question them not having a taxi plate, "My taxi is in the shop and I am using my other car". They are misleading people. Just having a taxi sign on top of the vehicle or in the front window is no assurance it is a licensed taxi or driver. Look for the "TAXI" license plate, both Dutch and French side have specific taxi plates and ask for a taxi association ID if in doubt. You may also see an expired TAXI plate laying in the window, this is another way the deceive people. They buy an old souvenir plate and they think they are in business.
There is no "licensed taxi company" that I am aware but there are multiple taxi associations the drivers can belong to and usually wear an associated shirt and ID. There are probably at least 4-6 different taxi associations and many of the drivers belong to multiple. There are probably some transportation agencies that employ taxi drivers but it is not like you can call a "Yellow Cab Company" for a driver.
Many of the gypsies will work just outside the cruise ship pier, bars, restaurants and casinos at night. Most are probably ok but they are also hurting the drivers who do this as a legitimate job and pay the fees associated with legally doing the job. Sorry, illegal is illegal.
J.D.
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: sxmbeachlover]
#188929
03/28/2019 10:17 AM
03/28/2019 10:17 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,547 Ohio
ruralcarrier
OP
Traveler
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OP
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,547
Ohio
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As I recall, the legitimate taxi says "taxi" on their license plate. Dutch side, Yes "TAXI". French side I believe is "TXI" somewhere in the license plate number.
J.D.
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#188930
03/28/2019 10:21 AM
03/28/2019 10:21 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,887 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Posts: 82,887
Central Florida!
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JD--you are correct. Illegal is illegal, and this stuff was going on WAY before Irma. I remember a few years ago, a gypsy taxi driver murdered a person in SXM. Can't remember all the details, but I think it was a robbery gone wrong. It's not worth potentially saving a couple bucks if you get robbed or worse.
Carol Hill
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#188932
03/28/2019 11:32 AM
03/28/2019 11:32 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,583 St Maarten
BillandElaine
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,583
St Maarten
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The new plates this year on Ditch side no longer say TAXI. They are just T with a #. T-100
Elaine ********************************* God Bless the broken road....
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#188933
03/28/2019 11:32 AM
03/28/2019 11:32 AM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649 Brookfield, CT.
pat
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649
Brookfield, CT.
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I remember that as well, Carol, though I don’t remember or perhaps never knew if they caught the guy. I just hope this one isn’t more talk. Talk. Talk!
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: BillandElaine]
#188936
03/28/2019 11:48 AM
03/28/2019 11:48 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,547 Ohio
ruralcarrier
OP
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OP
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,547
Ohio
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Thanks. I saw some like that and wondered what they were for sure.
J.D.
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#188938
03/28/2019 12:20 PM
03/28/2019 12:20 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,583 St Maarten
BillandElaine
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,583
St Maarten
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I think the buses just say "B" now also.
Elaine ********************************* God Bless the broken road....
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: BillandElaine]
#188939
03/28/2019 12:24 PM
03/28/2019 12:24 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,547 Ohio
ruralcarrier
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,547
Ohio
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There was still a mix of old and new plates when I was recently on the island.
J.D.
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#188941
03/28/2019 12:49 PM
03/28/2019 12:49 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278 Maryland/DC Metro
BeachKitten
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
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JD--you are correct. Illegal is illegal, and this stuff was going on WAY before Irma. I remember a few years ago, a gypsy taxi driver murdered a person in SXM. Can't remember all the details, but I think it was a robbery gone wrong. It's not worth potentially saving a couple bucks if you get robbed or worse. LINKI fixed your link to make it "clickable".
Last edited by ruralcarrier; 03/28/2019 03:54 PM.
"It is good to do nothing all day, and then to rest"
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: jazzgal]
#188952
03/28/2019 03:55 PM
03/28/2019 03:55 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,547 Ohio
ruralcarrier
OP
Traveler
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OP
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,547
Ohio
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I guess we were both fixing the link at the same time.
Thank you.
J.D.
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: Kennys]
#188958
03/28/2019 04:31 PM
03/28/2019 04:31 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,547 Ohio
ruralcarrier
OP
Traveler
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OP
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,547
Ohio
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Thanks Lesley. I did recall seeing "T" on larger vehicles/busses and wondered what it was about.
J.D.
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#188963
03/28/2019 05:57 PM
03/28/2019 05:57 PM
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,318
Kennys
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,318
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: BillandElaine]
#189091
03/29/2019 07:56 PM
03/29/2019 07:56 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,583 St Maarten
BillandElaine
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,583
St Maarten
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Lesley is absolutely right, as always! My bad, thanks for the correction.
Elaine ********************************* God Bless the broken road....
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#189121
03/30/2019 07:56 AM
03/30/2019 07:56 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,583 St Maarten
BillandElaine
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,583
St Maarten
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Maho is a mess with taxi's and buses lining the street by the roundabout. Someone's gonna get hurt!
Elaine ********************************* God Bless the broken road....
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: BillandElaine]
#189124
03/30/2019 09:04 AM
03/30/2019 09:04 AM
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,318
Kennys
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,318
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: BeachKitten]
#189136
03/30/2019 10:50 AM
03/30/2019 10:50 AM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,819 Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,819
Auburn, WA
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Question: If we hit "ignore" on a profile, does that mean that we would no longer see that person's posting on a thread? I would like to know too.
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: BeachKitten]
#189138
03/30/2019 11:10 AM
03/30/2019 11:10 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,547 Ohio
ruralcarrier
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,547
Ohio
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Not sure as I do not see that option, unless I am missing it. As a Moderator, I am probably not seeing the same options as there are other options Administrators and Moderators may see. Perhaps Carol or Eric can answer this.
J.D.
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#189139
03/30/2019 11:14 AM
03/30/2019 11:14 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,887 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,887
Central Florida!
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I think that's what it's for, Eric would know, but he's offline for several hours. Try it and see what happens, BeachKitten and Scubaman. You can always switch it back off.
Carol Hill
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#189143
03/30/2019 11:23 AM
03/30/2019 11:23 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278 Maryland/DC Metro
BeachKitten
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
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Thanks. Might give it a try. Toxic comments that make no sense isn't a great way to start the morning off. I hear ya dude! That was my thinking....I'm sitting on the patio, enjoying a warm Spring morning with my coffee, and the first thing I read is crap. I'd rather not be exposed to it or allow myself to respond... But if we test it, how do we know it works?! lol.....I mean, wouldn't we need to know that there was a post we weren't seeing?!
"It is good to do nothing all day, and then to rest"
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Re: Gypsy Taxi Crackdown
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#189145
03/30/2019 11:29 AM
03/30/2019 11:29 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,547 Ohio
ruralcarrier
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,547
Ohio
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Well. I'm thinking if it's blocked that it should block the previous posts from that poster too. Only way is to give it a try. Carol said we could always turn it back off. There you go. Give it a try and report back.
J.D.
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