The Department of Justice has a guide with recommendations on how to deal with robberies of taxi drivers. Several involve the taxi cab companies spending more money to protect their drivers.
1. Separating drivers from passengers. Screens or partitions should be effective if they make it more difficult for robbers to carry out the type of threat most common with taxi robberies in an area.
2. Recording activity with security cameras. Security cameras in taxis can serve a variety of interests related to robbery prevention.
3. Using a radio or alarm to call for help. Although alarms and radios may be used to call for help, drivers may find it very difficult during robberies to use radios (dispatching or CB) or mobile telephones to call for help.
4. Keeping track of vehicle locations with automatic vehicle location (AVL) systems. Systems using global positioning satellite (GPS) technology have advantages over systems that require drivers to broadcast their locations during a robbery incident.
5. Putting trunk latches on the inside of vehicle trunks as well as near drivers. All taxi vehicles should be equipped with a latch that allows someone to open the trunk from the inside.
6. Disabling vehicles. Systems that allow cabs to be disabled remotely by having the engine turned off may become more readily available.
7. Eliminating cash payments. Drivers should be encouraged to use payment systems that are cashless.
8. Dropping money off. Drivers should be encouraged to drop off cash during their shifts.
9. Keeping money locked up or out of sight. Drivers can put money in a locked safe in the cab. If a safe is used, it is not clear whether this should be advertised (as in convenience stores).
10. Minimizing expectations about the amount of money present. Passengers frequently ask drivers whether they have “been busy†during their shift.
Read the entire guide. This issue is handled throughout the country.
