Below my comments is an interesting article regarding taxi safety and how people get robbed while using a taxi in Panama.

I myself, always get in the front seat with the cab driver unless I am with others.

I usually never get into a cab that has other passengers...with exception to the elderly, a single female, of a female with s small child or two.

I never allow my driver to pick-up passengers once we are underway.

I'll pass on an overly beaten-up cab and I avoid getting into a cab where it is apparent the driver has been waiting for me because he saw me in a store or eating dinner.

I prefer getting cabs ideally where I see a passenger paying and getting out. Next best is the cab driving around looking for fares.

Here is a great article on this subject written by Don Winner who manages the web-page www.panama-guide.com

FAQ: Are Taxis Safe in Panama?
Friday, July 14 2006 @ 11:00 AM EDT
Contributed by: Don Winner

Question:
This week the British consulate in Panama released a general warning to expatirates in Panama after a citizen from the UK was robbed after getting in a taxi at Albrook. There have been several cases in which taxi drivers have robbed their passengers, and there have been some arrests. Can you protect yourself by only using radio taxis that you call from the telephone book (or your hotel or vendor calls for you) instead of getting into random taxis that happen to be driving by when you need a ride?

Answer:
Yes, you can. There are more than 45,000 taxis in Panama City, and in an effort to fight pirate taxis and crimes like this the government is going to require them all to be painted bright yellow. The safest way to use taxis is to either call one through one of the radio-taxi services, or start collecting cell phone numbers of drivers you trust. There are a few other things you can do to protect yourself.

This Is Not a New Issue:
People have been getting ripped off by pirate taxi drivers in Panama for years. Anyone can go to a store that sells car accessories and hang a "taxi" sign on the roof. And honestly how many times have you flagged down a passing taxi in a rain storm and jumped into the car without giving it a second look. There are a few things you can do to keep from becoming the next victim.

Most Taxi Drivers are Not Crooks:
That should be obvious and 99.9% of the guys out there driving cabs are just trying to earn an honest living. Because of the recent push to paint the taxis yellow I've been asking taxi drivers lately what they think about it. Almost all of the legitimate operators are in favor and the guys who are pirating are against (of course.) This law has been on the books for years and originally they were going to make all of the taxis red. It looks like it might actually happen this time and will probably be associated with an eventual increase in taxi fares across the board.

Most Taxi Drivers Have Cell Phones:
One of the best ways to use taxis is to simply start collecting cell phone numbers from guys who are responsible, driving nice cars, and who operate in the area where you most frequently circulate. Many cab drivers have "regular" customers who they pick up every day to go to work or school for example. There's an older lady in my building who goes grocery shopping every week and the same driver picks her up, takes her to the store, helps her with the bags, etc.

Use Radio Taxi Services:
There are several networks of taxi drivers that pay to affiliate themselves with a taxi service and install radios to take calls and make pickups. When you make the phone call they will usually make the radio call while you are still on the phone, and when they know who is going to pick you up they will tell you "It's a grey Tercel with plate number T-4367." So when the guy pulls up at the door you know it's the cab you called. These radio taxi services are listed in the yellow pages starting on page 704 under "Taxis", and some of the bigger groups in Panama City are:

America Libre (Panama City Center): 800-TAXI (8294), 215-2062, 223-7342, 269-1601 (24 hrs.)
Taxi Corozal (For Clayton, Albrook and the Canal Zone) 317-6103
Radio Taxi America (Panama City Center): 223-7694, 223-1928, 223-7534 (24 hrs.)
Radio Taxi Dos Mares (El Dorado Area): 260-4060, 260-9591

Can You Get a Cab For Me?
Most hotels, restaurants, and apartment buildings routinely have to help their patrons catch a cab. Very often they have someone they can call or with whom they have a standing arrangement. Just ask if they can get someone for you.

Some Personal Protection Tips:
If you find yourself having to flag down a passing taxi on the street there are a couple of things you can do to improve your personal safety and security;

Make an Obvious Visual Inspection Before You Get In:
Let the driver know you are looking over his car before you hop in. Actually go towards the rear of the car and check to see that there is a "taxi" license plate (starts with a "T") on the car. In addition, all legitimate taxis are required to have the number of the car painted on the side. Check to make sure that the plate number and what's painted on the side match.

Only Use Taxis That Are in Good Shape:
For the most part, legitimate operators own their cars, and their taxis are a symbol of pride and professionalism. You want to get in a newer car that's not all banged up, with the windows closed (which means the air conditioner works), and that's not a rolling wreck. The guys who are pirates are borrowing the old piece of crap from their cousin Luis, slap a "borrowed" taxi sign on the roof, and hang a "temporary" permit in the window which is just a piece of paper. The interior of the cars are trashed and they look like the owner or driver could not care less about the car. Stay away from those.

Just Wave Them Off:
There is nothing wrong at all with just waving your hand in a "keep going" gesture to let the cab driver that has stopped to pick you up that you don't want to use his cab. Most of the time they will just gun the motor and carry on and leave you to look for the next cab. You are in no way obligated to get into a cab just because the guy stopped, and Panamanians "wave off" cabs all the time.

It Takes Two...:
It's hard or impossible for a taxi driver to rip you off all by himself. What the crooks will do is pick up their targeted victim and then make a cell phone call to the actual "perp" who is waiting somewhere down the road with a weapon. He's standing there looking like just another guy who needs a ride and the driver stops and says "where you going?" Of course, he's going the same way you are so the guy climbs in. Then he produces a weapon and rips off both the cab driver (his buddy) and the actual victim in the back seat. Then he jumps out with your watch and wallet and makes his getaway. The driver will tell you "thank God we didn't get killed" and then try to talk you out of getting the police involved. He will say that he does not want to report it because he fears for his life (and you should too.) Then when you decide not to report it they hook back up later and split the loot.

But Taxi Drivers Pick Up Other People All the Time:
Yup, they sure do. It's up to you to take a look at the person he's picking up and decide if you want to continue on in the car. There have been times when I've had a driver stop to pick up another guy, and I told him to keep going. He said "don't worry, it's ok" and stopped to pick the guy up anyway. So, I got out of the car and told him to carry on and caught the next passing cab. The drivers are not supposed to pick up another fare but they often do to try to make as much money as possible. When you can sit in the back seat in the right hand side of the car. From that position you are behind any other passenger who gets in the front and you've got an angle on the driver. Also, chances are you'll have a better chance to bail from the right than from the left if it comes to that.

Make a Cell Phone Call:
Once you are in the cab, open your cell phone and "call" someone (real or not) and simply tell them you're in a grey tercel taxi number 4367, and that right now you are in front of (wherever) and should be there in five minutes. Now the driver knows that someone else is aware of where you are, what you are doing, and when you are expected. Even if they were thinking about trying to rip you off they will abandon their plan after you make your phone call.

So, This Is a Stick-Up:
If you do find yourself in the middle of a mugging and you are the center of attention, hand it over. Nice and slow, don't move quickly, and give them anything they want. Wallet, rings, watches, cell phones, and your t-shirt if it comes to that. Do not look at the crook hard like you're trying to remember who he is or what he looks like. Be submissive and go along and you'll probably just end up a little lighter but not seriously injured or dead. Worry about the money later. Right now you should just be concerned with your life, health, and safety. Just survive the moment. Common sense, no matter where you live.

Take The Bus:
Busses are actually a safer way to get around than taxis in many ways. The obvious advantages to taking a taxi are speed and comfort, and the downsides are price and safety. The buses always have more people on board and they follow established routes. If you're out in the middle of nowhere just hop on a passing bus and get somewhere that's safer, better lighted with more people around.

This Warning is an Overreaction:
Did the Panamanian consulate in New York issue a warning to Panamanians in New York City because one dude was ripped off in Manhattan? Of course not. The guy who got jacked when hopping in a cab at Albrook was a victim of a crime, to be sure. Was he targeted because he was a "gringo?" Probably. He probably did not do many (or any) of the things in this article that would have boosted his safety level. Panama City is like any other relatively large city with a corresponding level of common crime and petty theft. Crooks target "rich dudes" all over the world, and all of the newly arriving English speaking expatriates have more money than your average Panamanian. Crime and muggings tend to spike on paydays (the 15th and 30th) and right before Christmas. And no matter what, you're still safer in Panama City than you are in any large city in the United States or most of Europe.

So, Don't Sweat It:
Just use some common sense, keep your eyes open, don't carry lots of cash or flash expensive jewlery.

Copyright Panama-Guide.com 2006 (grin). Feel free to use anything you want, just as long as you give credit to the author and post a link to the original article. Please send comments, additions, or corrections to don@panama-guide, and thanks.

Thanks for the good article. All of the recommendations apply to nearly every large Central and South American city.

I hadn't thought about collecting telephone numbers of reputable taxi drivers. I'm going to give that a try when I good to Ecuador in September.

What about those guys who see you are single and just walking around, down by Benetos lets say, who are trying to intice you to go out with them so they can take you to all the "great" places. I am particularly leary of these dopes. There is one guy that comes to mind who is always peddling taking you to some ass joint who is always hanging around outside of the Oasis. He is a total pushy pain in the ass, wears a NY Yankees cap and is around 60 years old.

I always like getting the cabs with the Christian paraphenalia and Jesus stuff around the car............chances are they know their "man" is watching them to be sure they are good boys!

That area around Albrook can be a rough place anyway from what I have been told. Like anything else, common sense is necessary to be safe.

SP