by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 9:20 AM ET, Mon December 16, 2024
Three taxi drivers were arrested in Puerto Morelos, Mexico, after they threatened a tourist that was using a rideshare app instead of a taxi.
The news, reported by the Associated Press, found that this is not a singular issue, but one that has been occurring for years. Traditional cab drivers have harassed and assaulted tourists using ride sharing platforms like Uber and Lyft, while also damaging vehicles of rideshare drivers.
In a video that has been circulating social media since last week, three taxi drivers block an English-speaking tourist from getting into a ride-share.
The men tried to intimidate the tourist from taking the ride-share, repeating in English several times, “It’s not legal.”
According to the Associated Press, operating Uber in Cancun had been illegal until 2023 when a court allowed Uber to begin operating in the area. Puerto Morelos is located near Cancun. Since then, confrontations have been frequent.
But many travelers find traditional taxi drivers in the area charge extremely high fares for service, leaving Uber an attractive money-saving option. Tourists should be aware of their options and the risks associated with their chosen transportation option.
Puerto Morelos is located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo considered by the U.S. State Department as a Level 2 risk, citing crime as a reason to exercise increased caution when traveling to the tourist-heavy state.
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