“Fake Taxis” on Pinelles County Beaches pose threat to public safety; Tourists especially vulnerable

Pinellas County ---  "Tourism is vital to our local economy; we owe it to our guests to make sure they don't get taken in by this new wave of scam artists" said Nick Cambas, President of United Taxi. With the holiday season approaching, tourists flock to our warm climate and beautiful beaches.

Cambas says it is up local residents to make sure tourists know what to look for and what to avoid.

"It's a shame. But uniformed visitors have no way to know it they are about to get into a legitimate taxi driven by a professional - or taken for a ride by a shady crook," Cambas said. "I've lived here my entire life and my family and I love it here. Our community has a reputation for people who are as warm and sunny as our scenery. I hate to see the pristine reputation we've enjoyed besmirched this way. I'm afraid we're going to see a decline in tourism if visitors have bad experiences with these posers."

"Obviously, I have concerns for the real drivers. They are self-employed, small business owners. They invest so much of themselves into providing high quality service, and they deserve a level playing field. When I see these hardworking professionals lose business to a hustler who can charge a little less because he has yet to get caught cheating, yes, it does bug me," said Cambas, whose family has been in the Pinellas taxi business for generations. "Here's what's happening: some guy slaps a cheap magnet on his car and calls it a taxi. He doesn't carry insurance, he hasn't taken the classes, and for all his passengers know, he's got multiple moving violations or a criminal record. When he spots a person looking for a ride, he approaches them and says "hey - looking for a taxi? Here we go,"  and the trusting tourist gets in. Who looks that closely?"

"But, I'm equally concerned for my neighbors and especially for their guests," he continued. "During vacations, especially during the holidays, people tend to let their guards down. And, speaking as a family guy, I shudder to think of could happen. You know, not everyone who wants to be a taxi driver GETS to be a taxi driver. There's a reason we have standards."

Cambas advises that people in need of an on-demand or scheduled ride remember that the first available ride isn't always the best available ride. "Look for the permit and the meter. If you don't see proof that the driver and vehicle are legit, why risk it?" He adds that guests at local hotels should be told to look closely prior to accepting a ride from a taxi arranged by the bellman. “It’s not legal, but some bellmen do receive a ‘kickback’ from the shady outfits,” he said. Cambas suggests that hotel guests make arrangements for a taxi by using their smartphones or referring to the phone book to request service from one of the legitimate fleets in the area.

As for those magnetic signs, he adds, "Anybody can buy a sign. I'm proud of our good name, but what matters is to public safety is not the name, it's what the name represents: minimum standards - at the very least - for both car and operator, and especially accountability."

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