# 'Call 911' On top of taxi cabs
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-911-on-top-of-taxi-cabs/123308
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 10, 2002, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-911-on-top-of-taxi-cabs/123308 "2002-08-10T20:06:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2002, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-911-on-top-of-taxi-cabs/123308/1 "2002-08-10T20:06:56Z")
Last time I was in D.C. I noticed this on top of a lot of cabs. It was on the little light on top of the car that usually is on if they are looking for a fare, or light up the “off duty.” When I was in NYC I didn’t see any cabs with a “call 911” light on the roof. I’m guessing that the “call 911” part of the sign is if the cabbie is being robbed/carjacked s/he can turn it on and alert someone for help.
Has this worked and why don’t other cities (at least not NYC) use this?
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### Author:  [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2002, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-911-on-top-of-taxi-cabs/123308/2 "2002-08-10T20:17:48Z")
NYC has this too, but it’s a retrofit system that was begun about 10 years ago. Barnacled on the back (usually on the trunk lip) of most NYC cabs is a round, amber light fixture (about the size of a tuna can). If the driver turns it on, the police will stop the car.