Gypsy Cabs

Depends on how you define "gypsy cab." In New York City, most residents arbitrarily refer to any cab that isn't yellow as a gypsy cab, but technically, most of the other cabs are operated by car services and registered with the Taxi and Limousine Comission, so these are liveries and not really gypsy cabs as such. They don't run on meters, and sometimes you have to haggle, but they generally have standard fares for certain distances (i.e. between neighborhoods or to the airport, etc.) "Gypsy cab" is supposed to refer to a cab not registerd with the T&LC. These are not common in Manhattan, but I've heard they can be found in the outer boroughs. Anyone can drive around in a Town Car and pick up a fare, I suppose, but the T&LC cracks down on these, as they're illegal.

Edited to add: most liveries have a sticker of somes ort on their back windsheild or bumper with the name of the car service, and there will be a round, yellow reflecter on the bumper. A gypsy cab would probably not have these markers, but would drive around soliciting fares. (Soliciting fares is also technically illegal in New York City, but a lot of the non-yellow cabs do it anyway. They drive around and honk at people they think might need rides, sometimes even pull up to the curb if they see someone they think might want a cab.)

~Erin
New York City Municipal Liaison
Maybe not famous, but at least ubiquitous

Succinctly, a gypsy cab is an unlicensed cab.

I will differ from Erin in my experience with gypsy cabs. There are a good many on my little island. I take one home from the grocery store every week. Typically it means squeezing into the front seat of a vintage Toyota Corolla or some such.

They were also somewhat common when I lived in Chicago. Typically you are going to see them outside of the busy commercial areas. They go where the cabs don't. Just another testament to the power of the market.

Joe Breen
St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe. -- Carl Sagan

When I was in Russia they didn't have cabs as much as Joe Blow who needed a couple extra bucks who would pull over and pick you up, you haggle a price for a destination. You wouldn't be able to tell until the car pulled up and the driver wanted to know where you were going.

Not sure where you are setting your story but it would be a good way to get good interaction. (And exteremly high danger potential.)

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Does not read and follow label directions.