Occurred Monday, June 4, 2012, 7:20pm 5900 Weber Rd. No Taxi permit, 1206040143

The Corpus Christi Police conducted an undercover operation in order to take enforcement action against taxi cab services that are not licensed by the city.

Corpus Christi Police obtained information of a cab company in Corpus Christi that charged $10 fares and did not have proper permits from the city. The permits for vehicles for hire are regulated by the municipal code chapter 57. The permits are required for uniform safety standards which include vehicle safety standards, driver quality, and taxi meter fare standard practices.

June 4, 2012, an undercover police officer called a number provided on a business card found at a Corpus Christi night club that advertised flat rate $10 cab rides. The officer was met by 24-year-old Jairius Duncan-Pollard (2/12/1988) in a red 2011 Suzuki 4 door sedan. The Suzuki was not marked as a cab, had no fare meter, and did not have any display to identify the driver or any cab company. The officer paid for the ride and then the Suzuki was stopped on a traffic stop to identify the driver and seek opportunity for the driver to produce the license and permits required for cab service in the city.

Duncan-Pollard was operating as a cab in the city without the permits required. Duncan-Pollard was cited for the same violations on May 25, 2012, and had not complied with the requirements to obtain permits. Duncan-Pollard was arrested for No Taxi Vehicle Permit and No Taxicab License. The Suzuki was impounded and Duncan-Pollard was delivered to the city detention center.

The public should be aware to hire only reputable cab companies that permanently display the cab company name on the vehicle, have a fare meter, and display the identity of the driver. These requirements are in place for the safety of the public. If a person calls for cab service and does not see the clear identification of a cab company, the fare meter, and the identity of the driver displayed, the person should not get into the vehicle. Unlicensed cab services could be an opportunity for a predator to take a victim to a vulnerable place to conduct criminal activity. Call police to report any unlicensed cab service.