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Kincardine council is not pleased with the draft taxi bylaw
presented by clerk Donna MacDougall at the July meeting of council.
Two items of contention are the maximum vehicle age of 10 years, and
that vehicles over three years of age require a safety check every
six months.
"So, if I want to start a vintage taxi service, you're telling me
that I can't do it with this bylaw in place?" asked councillor
Kenneth Craig.
"That's right," said MacDougall.
Craig said that council is already asking the taxi companies for
safety certificates every six months so that should take care of any
concerns about the age of the vehicles. "I recommend an amendment to
eliminate the maximum age of a vehicle as long as a safety
certificate is provided," he said.
"Buses over 12 years old have to be taken off the road," countered
councillor Marsha Leggett. "Why are our children exempt while others
are not, when they're riding in a public vehicle?"
"I have no idea whatsoever," said Craig. "A bus is not a
municipally-controlled vehicle. I think our bylaw contradicts
itself."
Councillor Gordon Campbell said requiring two safety checks per year
puts too much strain on taxi owners. "I think one safety per year is
sufficient," he said, "and no maximum age for the vehicle."
Leggett said the taxi owners would be more than happy to have
further review of the maximum vehicle age issue. "We just don't want
to see taxis that the owners aren't taking care of," she said. "Most
of the taxis in town are well cared for." (next column)
28/07/2009 11:19 PM
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Council agreed to have a letter sent to the police services board,
asking for a review of the maximum vehicle age and the frequency of
safety checks, as outlined in the bylaw.
Other recommended changes and additions were:
*Insurance requirement increased to $2 million from $1 million;
*Drivers must turn over any goods found when checking vehicles (existing
bylaw requires them to search for alcoholic beverages, drugs or other
illegal goods, not turn them over);
*Taxicab driver or taxi company owner must now notify the clerk with in
six days of being charged with any criminal offence, the accumulation of
more than six demerit points and/or any driver's licence suspension
regardless of length.
The changes to the bylaw are to be considered at the Aug. 5 council
meeting.
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