On a serious note, with the talk of taxi pricing...

For years Negril.com has been warning of the hazards of taking illegal robot taxis (white license plate, not insured to carry paying passengers vehicles). But some visitors still do not heed this advice just to save a few dollars. Irresponsible web pages even promote some of these illegal drivers.

Well, it may soon become law that as a passenger you could be be charged with aiding and abetting the illegal driver.

Fuel prices alone have gone up 40% in the past year. The prices that our legal, insured operators in our Transport section charge are affordable and fair.

Please be wise and always use legal, red plated drivers. Saving a few dollars is not worth being not insured and possibly ending up with a criminal conviction.

For more, here is the Observer link:

http://jamaicaobserver.com/article/2...ICLE/170609978

Pretty sure this has to do with lack of awareness. Yes, Negril.com has definitely helped with the awareness, but how many visitors to Jamaica do not use this site? IMO, there needs to be a media campaign, maybe starting with JUTA and the tourism authority to help bring about awareness, maybe even using posters in the airport.

Some of these illegal taxis are highly rated on TripAdvisor! Yeah it may be a lot more work for them, but perhaps TripAdvisor should not allow ratings unless you're licensed and legally allowed to perform the service for which you are being rated on? I could see some sue happy people suing TripAdvisor, "well he was highly rated on your site."


Just my .02.

~Moose

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Originally Posted by CosmicMoose

Some of these illegal taxis are highly rated on TripAdvisor! Yeah it may be a lot more work for them, but perhaps TripAdvisor should not allow ratings unless you're licensed and legally allowed to perform the service for which you are being rated on?

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Doesn't TripAdvisor already do some vetting of businesses before they can be listed on their site? I thought I heard that restaurants and hotels had to jump though hoops to get listed. I wonder why it's so easy for some non-red plates.

But yeah - I don't pay much attention to most of the TA rankings. Even some of their top ranked restaurants, I thought were just 'meh'.

There have been ad campaigns​ in the past. Should the new legislation go through, there will be a massive awareness program.

I could easily see TA and others be sued because they are aiding and abetting the illegal passengers by promoting the illegal drivers. TA's "vetting" as well as rankings leave much to be desired while some pages knowingly promote illegal drivers.

Interesting you should ask how many people use this site. As of this morning, Negril.com is in the top 800,000 of all websites worldwide (about 1 billion exist).

And we are in the top 180,000 most popular websites in the US.

So far this year we have had some quarter million unique visitors view over 3.5 million pages.

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Originally Posted by Mike_D

Doesn't TripAdvisor already do some vetting of businesses before they can be listed on their site? I thought I heard that restaurants and hotels had to jump though hoops to get listed. I wonder why it's so easy for some non-red plates.

But yeah - I don't pay much attention to most of the TA rankings. Even some of their top ranked restaurants, I thought were just 'meh'.

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TA's vetting is lacking. I myself set up a driver on TA, and it was processed in a day or two. He is a red plate, has been for roughly 20 years just to be clear. I believe at the time I just had to show proof that he in fact had his own business, where I just shared the link to his website.

Awesome stats! But I would guess that is still only 15% or so of Jamaica's tourists each year? But then again, if one in each family/group uses this, not everyone has to.

~Moose

Moose,

Jamaica currently gets about 2 million overnight visitors a year, with Negril getting about half a million.

Extrapolating our numbers, we will be viewed by half a million or more visitors, which equals the number coming to Negril and about 25% of all overnight visitors.

We are always working to improve the numbers!

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Originally Posted by booger

TA's vetting is lacking. I myself set up a driver on TA, and it was processed in a day or two. He is a red plate, has been for roughly 20 years just to be clear. I believe at the time I just had to show proof that he in fact had his own business, where I just shared the link to his website.

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Crazy! I remember reading a story that explained how TA is no longer an impartial source for travel info, since they started booking hotels and allowing businesses to advertise on their site. I believe it said that site sponsorship actually gets factored in to a ranking. It also stated that there are marketing companies that can be hired to bost your ranking with artificial reviews. I will see if I can find the link...

honest question here: where is the cross over? When does a "friend" that you've known for many years become an illegal taxi? Agreed, I don't get into just any white plate, but if someone I know happens to be driving, is that different? If we get into an accident, am I not covered just because I'm a visitor and the assumption of the law?

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Originally Posted by MikeyNYC

honest question here: where is the cross over? When does a "friend" that you've known for many years become an illegal taxi? Agreed, I don't get into just any white plate, but if someone I know happens to be driving, is that different? If we get into an accident, am I not covered just because I'm a visitor and the assumption of the law?

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You'd have to PROVE your relationship to the driver. When I'm in the jeep (white plate) and Linston is driving I can prove my residency history and relationship to him. I'm also insured to drive it.

When he's driving in the red plate the "off duty" sign is in the window.

One time recently I was in Ricardo's car (my son in law) and we were stopped in a routine document check. The officer asked him in patios who I was. I immediately answered in patois "i'm his father in law". We were free to go with no issues.

But the key here you'd HAVE TO PROVE a real relationship with the driver.

Cap

I think there are two issues here. First, "If we get into an accident, am I not covered?" Like Cap said, "you would have to prove a relationship to be covered". Being covered would probably not happen if you were not related as insurance companies look for any loophole not to cover. You're being a visitor would probably disqualify you immediately.

Secondly, I travel frequently in white plated cars where I live in the interior but I do it at my own risk. There are few Red Plates in rural Jamaica especially in sparsely populated areas. A lot of the time I am not paying taxi fares either. If someone is going to Santa (the town near where I live), I tag along and chip in for the petrol. I am under no illusions that I am safe but my friends do drive cautiously or I don't ride with them.

As Rob says, "Use a Red Plate Taxi". It is the best policy. I wouldn't be able to go anywhere around where I live if I had to always use one, however.

Peace and Guidance

To add to Cap's comments, proving that relationship is not easy. If your friend is a known taxi operator, your chance is next to zero. If they are a bank manager with no history of acting as a taxi, your chance is much better. But if there is any hint of money transactions, even in the past, your chance can quickly go back to zero...

A taxi driver friend of mine was recently driving a visitor in his personal car (white plate), not his taxi. He was doing it for free because they were both heading to HiLo. My friend heard him talking with a mutual acquaintance about HiLo so he offered to give him a lift. They got stopped and his vehicle was seized and that free ride ended up costing my friend about j$60,000...

There was no way for either of them to prove no money changed hands, and it would an illegal taxi to boot.

When traveling in someone's personal car and you are a visitor, there can be consequences for you and the driver.

Please use legal red plated transportation for everyone's sake.

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Originally Posted by Rob

When traveling in someone's personal car and you are a visitor, there can be consequences for you and the driver.

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Wow…I really needed to read this. I ride with friends, not all the time but a lot. Confirming they have active insurance was my only priority. But now I’m learning even with insurance, should there be an accident not only will I be denied compensation, but the owner/driver could also be denied or penalized because I (visitor) was in the car.

"Proof of relationship". I’m sure this is true and I'm not questioning anyone who made this statement; however are the owners aware of these conditions?? Is it written in the policies? I’m asking because a friend just informed me he’s surrendering his red plates but I can ride with him still because he’ll have white plates. Now I’m not so excited about the change.

Vi,

I'm glad you are now aware. If you are in vehicle that is driven by a taxi driver or former taxi driver, proof of relationship is a real thing and something nearly impossible to prove. As Accompong stated, insurance companies have lawyers sitting around finding any loophole they can to deny coverage. And something not mentioned, should you be in an accident and something or someone else is injured by an illegal taxi, you can also be held responsible for the damages. That has always been the case, the new law will only strengthen ​that issue.

Your friend knows the laws, for taxi or former taxi drivers, this is Driving 101. You can never become a taxi driver and not know this. Your friend's insurance policy is in the car. Read it. For private driver's its a one page document that specifically states that there is no coverage if the vehicle has paying passengers (livery) or the vehicle is being rented out. Those policies cost a lot more.

For regular, non taxi operating private drivers, this is not an issue. If a hotel manager, bank rep or shop owner stops to offer you a ride in the rain, A FREE RIDE, then all coverage applies. The local police know who is who and know to the best of their ability when a visitor is being helped for free by a private driver. I give my local neighbors a ride and even visitors from time to time, but I have never once charged anyone a taxi fee. The local police know this.

But with your friend's recent decision to give up the red plate, they will be targeted. Just ask my friend who got busted for actually offering a free ride. His position was indefensible even though he seriously wasn't charging. He is known as a taxi operator.

What proof could you give the officer that you didn't pay and never paid for your friend's services?

That is the question you have to ask yourself...

Sorry to be so "wordie", but I used to work with insurance companies and this is an issue I take seriously after reading all their fine print... (grin)

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Originally Posted by Rob

Sorry to be so "wordie", but I used to work with insurance companies and this is an issue I take seriously after reading all their fine print... (grin)

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Knowledge is power....... Ya'll

Cap

Interesting discussion. I was aware of most of it, but appreciate the detailed info.

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Originally Posted by Rob

Vi,

I'm glad you are now aware. If you are in vehicle that is driven by a taxi driver or former taxi driver, proof of relationship is a real thing and something nearly impossible to prove. As Accompong stated, insurance companies have lawyers sitting around finding any loophole they can to deny coverage. And something not mentioned, should you be in an accident and something or someone else is injured by an illegal taxi, you can also be held responsible for the damages. That has always been the case, the new law will only strengthen ​that issue.

Your friend knows the laws, for taxi or former taxi drivers, this is Driving 101. You can never become a taxi driver and not know this. Your friend's insurance policy is in the car. Read it. For private driver's its a one page document that specifically states that there is no coverage if the vehicle has paying passengers (livery) or the vehicle is being rented out. Those policies cost a lot more.

For regular, non taxi operating private drivers, this is not an issue. If a hotel manager, bank rep or shop owner stops to offer you a ride in the rain, A FREE RIDE, then all coverage applies. The local police know who is who and know to the best of their ability when a visitor is being helped for free by a private driver. I give my local neighbors a ride and even visitors from time to time, but I have never once charged anyone a taxi fee. The local police know this.

But with your friend's recent decision to give up the red plate, they will be targeted. Just ask my friend who got busted for actually offering a free ride. His position was indefensible even though he seriously wasn't charging. He is known as a taxi operator.

What proof could you give the officer that you didn't pay and never paid for your friend's services?

That is the question you have to ask yourself...

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How frustrating as I have taken a free ride in both drivers and local business owners cars. Just to be clear, if I am in a vehicle of a local all is good as long as they are not a known driver or gypsy cab? I have zero interest in insurance as I take ownership for my actions, however I just want to make sure I do not put anyone at risk. For example, several times I have taken a ride in a hotel owners car while we go out for the night, is this an issue I need to worry about?

It should not be frustrating at all. I already covered this idea by mentioning not to worry about hotel managers.

Hotel owners have the added advantage of their hotel liability insurance to fall back on. That is in addition to their private auto insurance. No worries there.

Hotel owners are generally not known to be taxi operators. Similar to hotel managers. If the manager is not an issue, the owner would be even less of one...

You may be making it more complicated than it is. Vi was asking about a taxi driver friend who is no longer paying for a red plate. That is making them a potential illegal taxi.

Booger,

To be more specific, the driver has to have a known history of never charging for a ride.

While I give the occasional ride, I don't do it everyday. I would end up making enemies with the legal taxis. They know us equally well. They pay hefty fees for that right to transport people and deserve everything that they receive.

To make it simple, always take legal red plated vehicles.

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Originally Posted by Rob

Booger,

To be more specific, the driver has to have a known history of never charging for a ride.

While I give the occasional ride, I don't do it everyday. I would end up making enemies with the legal taxis. They know us equally well. They pay hefty fees for that right to transport people and deserve everything that they receive.

To make it simple, always take legal red plated vehicles.

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Got it. Thanks

can't remember the last time mi was in a white plate car.........
between the red plates and mi bicycle mi good......

Cool Runnings, Marko