Just a little confused

[booger]

i've had a white plate from catch a falling star every time . . .

I've seen both actually. If you are concerned with a red plate ask for Dandy or Wayne, both of who I have used many times and are great drivers. Or simply ask Catcha for a red plate driver.

[Lola]

Hold on a minute Cap, white plate car insurance does not cover casual passengers, only the driver is covered?

***

If you are asking for a taxi, then a red plate you should get.

If you are utilizing an offer of transportation courtesy of a restaurant, that is not a taxi. If you insist that courtesy transport be a red plate then you should hire a taxi. My perspective.

[gerryg123]

So if you get injured in an accident in a red-plate cab, your medical expenses will be covered? I'm skeptical despite what the law might be.

[captaind]

Hold on a minute Cap, white plate car insurance does not cover casual passengers, only the driver is covered?

***

If you are asking for a taxi, then a red plate you should get.

If you are utilizing an offer of transportation courtesy of a restaurant, that is not a taxi. If you insist that courtesy transport be a red plate then you should hire a taxi. My perspective.

I'm not sure if any visitor including myself would be a casual passenger. I ride with Ailsa in her car with a white plate and can prove she's my daughter etc. Never had to do that so I really can't say what judgment an insurance company would make and would probably involve getting lawyer.

When I ride with Linston I always have the chartered sign in the window. Most likely a legal grey area.

I imagine you would have to produce evidence indicating a relationship. The question may be if you are paying for the ride or not.

If a restaurant send a whites plate to pick you up is that a part of the financial arrangement to buy food and drink?

Better safe than sorry.

Perhaps Rob can lend some information.

[Lola]

CapD, if its not too much trouble next time you are in yard could you photo/scan the Covered and Excluded sections of the white plate and red plate insurance policies?

I agree if a person is paying for a ride, they should be in a red plate.

Re: the restaurant financial arrangement, maybe, I thought about that too. Like if a minimum purchase is required.

[captaind]

Lola,

No problem. I'll be back a week from Thursday. I want to read it myself.

Cap

[Melody]

So if you get injured in an accident in a red-plate cab, your medical expenses will be covered? I'm skeptical despite what the law might be.

I didn't think the insurance of a red plate would cover your medical expenses, that you would need to have covered yourself with medical insurance. My understanding was that if you got into an accident in a white plate vehicle, you could be accountable for any damages and legal charges. Hopefully Rob or Captain will be able to confirm exactly what is covered.

[Rob]

I didn't think the insurance of a red plate would cover your medical expenses, that you would need to have covered yourself with medical insurance. My understanding was that if you got into an accident in a white plate vehicle, you could be accountable for any damages and legal charges. Hopefully Rob or Captain will be able to confirm exactly what is covered.

Of course it covers your medical costs, that is the entire point of the requirement of the red license plate for taxis in the first place.

The required insurance covers all the paying passengers in the vehicle, otherwise they would not be allowed to be a legal taxi. That is why you should always take a legal, red plated taxi. Should a hotel or restaurant secure you a ride in a non-red plated vehicle, their business liability insurance coverage would cover you in case of an accident. But I would certainly ask that the establishment find me a red plated legal and proper taxi when asking for the ride.

[Rob]

I'm not sure if any visitor including myself would be a casual passenger. I ride with Ailsa in her car with a white plate and can prove she's my daughter etc. Never had to do that so I really can't say what judgment an insurance company would make and would probably involve getting lawyer.

When I ride with Linston I always have the chartered sign in the window. Most likely a legal grey area.

I imagine you would have to produce evidence indicating a relationship. The question may be if you are paying for the ride or not.

If a restaurant send a whites plate to pick you up is that a part of the financial arrangement to buy food and drink?

Better safe than sorry.

Perhaps Rob can lend some information.

Many drivers in Jamaica (or almost any country for that matter) carry the minimum coverage required by law. That is normally what is called "third party" coverage, which covers damages to others that the driver and vehicle may cause. But this does not cover the vehicle nor anything or anyone in the vehicle which caused the damages.

Paying passengers in a white plated vehicle are essentially breaking the law and no coverage would exist at all and you would be held accountable for damages done to others just as the driver would be.

As for an establishment procuring a ride for you, there is no minimum purchase requirement. If an employee of the business gets you a ride, the business now assumes the risk and their liability insurance will kick in. If you are unsure if a business has proper business insurance, then always ask them to get you a legal red plated taxi when asking for the ride. I would do this all time anyway.

[Rob]

Hold on a minute Cap, white plate car insurance does not cover casual passengers, only the driver is covered?

In many cases, the driver is not covered. The minimum requirements under the law require insurance that covers damage to others caused by the driver/vehicle - not the vehicle or the driver or the contents in the vehicle.