News Release

Bandit Taxis on the Prowl this Halloween

Edmontonians are reminded to avoid bandit cabs this weekend which are not only unlicensed, they’re also unsafe.

“The City of Edmonton’s first concern is public safety,” said Garry Dziwenka, Director of Business Licensing and Vehicle for Hire. “We want residents to know how to identify licensed City taxis that are safe and have met all of the requirements to operate in Edmonton.”

The City’s licensed cabs and drivers are subject to monitoring and checks that make them a safe option for riders. Licensed cabs are easy to identify because of these features:

• Front licence plate that says “Edmonton Taxi”
• City of Edmonton inspection sticker displayed in vehicle
• City of Edmonton driver’s licence displayed inside the vehicle
• Fully visible meter
• Meter rate sticker displayed in vehicle
• Unit number decals on the vehicle’s rear side panel and back bumper

Anyone who sees an unlicensed taxi should not get in. Passengers who are injured in an unlicensed cab are potentially not covered by unlicensed vehicle insurance and the City may not be liable. The City of Edmonton is dedicated to keeping unlicensed taxis and drivers off the road to ensure the safety of Edmontonians.

City of Edmonton licensed taxis cannot refuse rides based on the location of the passenger’s destination. Anyone who is refused a ride or witnesses any other problematic behaviour in a licensed taxi should call 780-496-5244 or report it online with the company name, unit number, time and date of the incident.