Gypsy Taxi Crackdown

ARTICLE

Good if it actually is enforced.

I suppose this is a good thing, but there are two sides to every story. I believe since Irma some individuals have turned their personal vehicles into 'unofficial taxis' to help earn money for themselves and their families. In fact, I'm sure of this. Many people on St. Maarten are still suffering economically, and making money in this 'unofficial' manner was an alternative for them. I'm not saying this is right, because there are many concerns here. If they are not licensed as taxi drivers you can't be certain about who's driving you from point A to point B. And, what their background is. Do they carry the proper insurance should an accident occur, and if their passengers are injured is another concern.

When taking a taxi on SXM my advice is to ask and verify that they work for a licensed taxi company on the island. This is especially true for day visitors from cruise ships who often forego the overpriced shore excursions offered by the cruise lines and plan to explore on their own when they make port in Philipsburg.

As I recall, the legitimate taxi says "taxi" on their license plate.

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.

Dutch side, Yes "TAXI".

French side I believe is "TXI" somewhere in the license plate number.

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.

The new plates this year on Ditch side no longer say TAXI. They are just T with a #. T-100

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!

Elaine--thanks for the update, as for years, we tourists knew to look for TAXI.

Good info.

Thanks. I saw some like that and wondered what they were for sure.

I think the buses just say "B" now also.

There was still a mix of old and new plates when I was recently on the island.

LINK

I fixed your link to make it "clickable".

BeachKitten's link:

LINK

I guess we were both fixing the link at the same time.

Thank you.

Not correct Elaine . Still Taxi and the T is for Tour Buses.

Thanks Lesley. I did recall seeing "T" on larger vehicles/busses and wondered what it was about.

Welcome Sir.

Lesley is absolutely right, as always! My bad, thanks for the correction.

ANOTHER UPDATE

Maho is a mess with taxi's and buses lining the street by the roundabout. Someone's gonna get hurt!

Welcome my Dear.

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.

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.

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.

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?!

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.