Regarding the route taxi incident that happened to Hussyband....

[smith744]

to cover my back-side,
let me quote (in part) from the negril.com F.A.Q., Guideline section::::>>> "....In order to ensure that Negril.com message board remains an informative space to share experiences, views and good vibes about Negril and Jamaica in general, we have established the following rules as guidelines for good conduct. ..."

hopefully,
my post(s) is(are) kosher.

that said,,,,,,,,,,,,

....I'm talking a avg size car type with 6-7 people in the back(sitting on peoples laps) and 4 in the front with a baby....Just something to keep in mind....

Yep,,!!..
*that* could/does happen
on occasion

HOWEVER, in
my experiences, my observations, and my route-taxi riding,
what you described is NOT that common-place on the BeachRoad in Negril.

as i posted earlier (someplace?),
there's a law against too-many people in a taxi (i.e., as described)

On MANY occasions,
i've observed, seen, over-heard comments where driver WON'T do the jam-up thing-y in Negril, on the BeachRoad ---- for fear of getting caught and fined, etc.

In fact,
i can recall on more than a couple of occasions,
where the driver was anxious to GET OUT of Negril
(on the way to Lucea, GreenIsland, where-ever)
'cause the Negril police made a more assertive attempts/practice of fining drivers {sometimes}

Regarding seat-belt usage:::: Strange as it may seem,
the driver WILL and the passenger in the front, next to the window, with the seat belt WILL buckle-up.

the other passenger or passengerS in the front seat might not buckle up but the driver & window rider WILL.

Lately,
(i.e., when i was down there two-years ago)
on the BeachRoad, on the drive between Negril and Lucea, the drivers were refraining from piling in a lot of folks like they use-to.

Additionally,
2-years ago,
there were more and more regular cars being used as route-taxis ---- NOT as many of those hatch-back cars as in the pass. In fact, there was a LARGE influx of mini-vans being used as route taxis, as i mentioned in one of my old-old trip reports from 2-years ago.

anyhooooooooooo,
regarding the hatch-back mention ----- there was a time, when FREQUENTLY *they* would put passengers in the trunk/hatch-back area. But on my last few trips, that practice was becoming a no-no, not-done anymore, except under *special* occasions, circumstances, and for short distances.

Now,
with all that said,
in the rural areas
ALL bets are off that any of what i typed (above) is valid.

[smith744]

Now,
with all that said,
in the rural areas
ALL bets are off that any of what i typed (above) is valid.

* sigh *
here it is 3 o'clock in the morning
and i'm recalling one of my '..charter..' taxi experience IN-a-RURAL-area

( not sure, but i *think* i posted this in one of my trip reports )


'twas one of those visits,
to my Ja-play-dawta's family-yard.

not far from Negril,
in rural-suburbia/ex-urbs

her mother & some neighbors
invited me to accompany them to an evening church service,
in an area, just off the SavRoad,
just below SpringValley

we were waiting for the '..charter..',
which was to-be a van,
to carry the 9-of-we

driver showed-up (late) with a 4-door, hatched-back thing-y

:-(

there was a *problem* securing the van

* sigh *

long-story shortened-version

in-front ---- 2 people (including driver)
back-seat ---- 4-ladies
in-trunk ---- me, two boy-pickneys, and an older really-nice gentleman

The first-plan was to go to church
via the main-road,
pass/drive thru Negril,
and over-to the church along the SavRoad

but 'cause the car was so full-up,
the driver-SAY::::>> ".. can't do that ..... Negril police blah blah raaa raaa ...... we'll have to go the back-way.."

'twas a nice *drive*...... cool-cool A/C
....we got there ok....

.....but at a reduced-rate,

.....'cause the promised vehicle wasn't used