SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) -
A Savannah taxi driver was shot and killed late last summer. Now, the city is teaming up with taxi companies to make their drivers, and the community, safer.
City leaders say they have seen a recent surge in crimes against taxi drivers, and are taking action. Some taxi cab companies started programs on their own, like Yellow Cab last fall with the Taxis On Patrol program, training drivers to be more vigilant and alert when they see crime or suspicious activity.
The city is taking it a step further.
The Parking and Mobility Services office has set aside a $50,000 grant for a trial program to provide taxi cabs with security cameras. If it's successful, the city could ask for more grant money.
The taxi cab companies would have to pay to install the security camera system in their cabs and then get reimbursed for half of the cost, or up to $750, whichever is lower.
Most video surveillance systems in cabs cost between $1,000 and $1,500 per tax. The city thinks this is a proactive way to help taxi companies, drivers and help the community.
"Public safety is our number one priority and we all have a responsibility to make sure people are safe when they are here and certainly while riding in cabs," Van Johnson, Savannah City Council, told WTOC. "This is a comprehensive approach. The details have not been fleshed out but we are excited about the opportunity for us to help our taxi drivers and in return the people who live here and visit our city."
The program will also clarify rules for when taxi drivers can refuse a customer service and the video cameras will help determine if a complaint is valid or not.
The three main reasons to refuse a fare, according to the city, include:
- Overly Drunk
- Belligerent Behavior
- Lack of an ID (so the ID can be called into dispatch should the passenger need to be known later)
City of savannah officials and Savannah-Chatham Metro Police have met with the Savannah Taxi Owners Association to come up with these strategies. Again, if it is successful, this trial grant program could help put cameras in more than 100 taxi cabs across the city.
Copyright 2012 WTOC. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2012 WorldNow and WTOC, a Raycom Media Station.
