Use Caution When Flagging Down a Taxi

Losing Valuables

Many tourists lose valuables in taxis and are never able to retrieve them because they have taken a number of different taxis in a day and have a difficult time remembering which taxis they used. Many taxi drivers make an honest attempt at getting valuables back to their owners, but alot of fares are from business to business and the customer sometimes uses a public phone to call the taxi. These situations make it virutually impossible to track the owners of valuables down.

Unlicensed Taxis

This area has no specific department per se that regulates taxis. Because of this and the sheer number of taxis in this area, you are more likely to have an encounter with an unlicensed taxi than you would in other areas of the U.S. The unlicensed taxi may be operating soley for the purpose of collecting illegal fares. However, they could be operating for purposes of a more malicious nature. For this reason, it is preferable to call a taxi as opposed to flagging a taxi down.

Safety Tips

Never Take a Taxi That:

• Does not have a taxi meter. – Any taxi operating in the Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, Gulf Breeze and Navarre area is required by law to have a taxi meter.
• Does not have a phone number on each side of the vehicle and the rear of the vehicle. – legitimate taxi companies promote their company through advertising on their vehicle. Lack of phone numbers should be an obvious indicator that they are trying to do the opposite – not be noticed.
• Does not have inside door handles. – even though there may be no malicious intent on the part of the taxi company, you should should never get in a vehicle without inside door handles as you would not have an easy exit from the vehicle in case of an emergency.
• Has illegible decals on the vehicle. – Just as lack of company phone numbers should indicate that company is trying to “fly under the radar”, illegible decals should prove the same.
• Has no company lettering or logos (an unmarked car). – the lack of any markings on the vehicle should raise a huge red flag.
• Does not appear roadworthy. – the danger of getting in a vehicle that is not roadworthy should be obvious.

Avoid Taking a Taxi:

• If you are a woman alone (especially if you are intoxicated) – unless you are familiar and comfortable with the company or driver.
• If it has no taxi light – taxi lights are not required by law in this area, but the more reputable companies have them.

Safe Ways to Order a Taxi:

• The Internet. – The more reputable companies will appear on the front page. Search Examples:
  • Pensacola Beach Taxi
  • Taxi Pensacola Beach
  • Gulf Breeze Taxi
  • Taxi Gulf Breeze
• The Yellow Pages.
• Have a policeman flag a taxi down for you if needed.