<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The Informer in April addressed a question about taxicabs operating illegally in the city of Lake Charles.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The column noted that all taxis must have meters equipped with flags, and it listed the cab fare rates set by the city code — up to $4 for the first mile, up to 50 cents for each quarter-mile after that, $1 for each additional passenger.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">And the column relayed information from city spokesman Matt Young, who pointed out that taxi drivers must have valid permits and occupational licenses and must display their permit numbers — paired with the letters “CPNC.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“It is not recommended that anyone enter a taxicab without first observing its permit number on the vehicle,” Young said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">A reader on Wednesday forwarded to The Informer an email he’d sent minutes earlier to the Mayor’s Action Line and the Lake Charles City Council.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“I am not sure which department to send this to but I know that you have reported on this in the past,” the reader wrote ahead of the forwarded message.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“There are many unauthorized taxis that operate in the city at the hotels and casinos. This is a serious concern for citizens and visitors,” reads the forwarded email.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“They have charged guests at the hotel where I work as much as $25 for rides to the casino less than a mile away. They especially take advantage of the older guest and those who come back from the casinos in the early morning hours.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">He said many of the taxicabs lack CPNC numbers and driver identification.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">In response, The Informer asked city officials about the email.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">City Administrator John Cardone said the city’s legal department had already planned to meet with cab companies and police officials next week to discuss permit requirements and other issues.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">He said officials had set up the meeting several days beforehand — ahead of the complaint — to ensure that residents were protected and that properly licensed companies were treated fairly.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Young provided The Informer with a list of taxi companies that are licensed to operate in Lake Charles. The list, comprising CPNC numbers and company names, owners and color schemes:</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">1 — Big Red’s Taxi, Karen Pickens; white with red lettering.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">2 — Yellow Cab, Jordan Page; yellow with white and black lettering.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">3 — LA Taxi, Cory Guillory; white and baby blue with black lettering.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">4 — Lake City Taxi, Melvin Fuselier; white top and green bottom with white lettering.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">5 — Dependable Taxi, Flori Jenkins; white with green lettering.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">6 — Express Transportation LLC; black with white lettering.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">7 — Superior Taxi, Tomika Duhon and Jason Mallet; silver and black with silver lettering.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">8 — Fast Taxi, Jimmy Randle and Brandy; silver with black sign and yellow lettering.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">10 — Capital G Taxi, Harry “Jake” Ceasar; silver and black with white lettering.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">11 — Imperial Excellence Transportation/Taxi, Gwendelyn Clarke Washington; burgundy with white lettering.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">13 — Ronald’s Taxi &amp; Shuttle Co., Carolyn Frelow; tan.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">16 — Louisiana’s Finest Taxi LLC, Lilly May Brown; black with silver lettering.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">17 — Grant’s Executive Transportation &amp; Taxi, Russell Grant; gray with white sign and black lettering.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">18 — Able Taxi &amp; Transportation LLC, Marcell Watson; blue with yellow lettering.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">19 — Lake Charles I-210 Transportation Co., Charles Pete and Christopher Cliatt, gold with blue and black sign and white lettering.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">20 — Pic Me Up Taxi and Transportation Service, Kenneth Jackson; red with white lettering.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Violations of the taxi ordinance can be reported to the occupational license office at 491-1442.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Online:</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">www.cityoflakecharles.com.</span>

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<span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">The I</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">nform</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">er answers questions from rea</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">ders each Sunday, Monday a</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">nd Wednesday. It is re</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">searched and written by</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Andrew Perzo</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">, an</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">American Press</span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">staff wri</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">ter. To ask a question, call</span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">494-409</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">8 and leave voice mail, or ema</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">il informer@americanpress.com.</span>