Taxi Driver Online

After going largely unregulated, Peterborough limo operators face new rules, inspections

New rules are on the way for local taxi and limousine operators in the city, but the old rules still apply, too.

"It's never been legal to drink alcohol in a limo," said city police Chief Murray Rodd.

But that's part of the Highway Traffic Act, he said; the limousine industry has been largely unregulated until now. Under the new bylaw, which is at the draft stage, companies, cars and drivers will have to be inspected and display a placard that indicates they are operating legally.

Alcohol in a vehicle, Rodd said, has never been legal and never will be.

The city police services board approved a motion Tuesday that calls for the draft bylaw to be discussed with local limousine company operators.

“This isn’t negotiable. It’s a compliance issue.”

Chief Murray Rodd

In other business, the city passed a bylaw that ensures provincial accessibility laws are applied at the local level.

Mayor Daryl Bennett, who sits on the police board, declared a conflict of interest and stepped out of the meeting room at police headquarters for the discussion.

Bennett is an owner of the Liftlock Group of companies, which includes Capitol Taxi.

The new bylaw sets out rules that meet provincial accessibility standards, said board member Mary Smith, reeve of Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield.

Key among the new rules are mandatory accessible cabs and a ban on different rates for accessible cab use. Taxi companies cannot refuse to transport a passenger because of accessibility issues.

These elements are provincially mandated under the Accessibility for Ontarians Act.

"This isn't negotiable," Rodd told board members. "It's a compliance issue."


Smith said it makes good business sense for companies to embrace the regulations.

"There's a business case to it," she said, citing an aging population. "It makes your business accessible."

After the meeting, Rodd said taxi companies have no choice but to offer accessible cabs.

"It's provincial law," he said. "This bylaw brings us in line with it."

While the taxi bylaw is now in effect, the limousine bylaw has a ways to go before it's law. The police board agreed to gather input from operators before a final version is adopted.

Rodd said after the meeting that the limousine industry is growing and requires regulation.

The bylaw would allow officers to pull over a limousine that does not display its placard, he said.

"We will be able to know that the driver, the car and the company are in compliance," he said.

source: http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Are you Skippy in disguise?

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IDFIMH

Realy? Since when?

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Grandad,

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IDFIMH

Are you saying that Chief Murray Rod is correct then Sussex?

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Grandad,

Sussex missed the at the start of the post

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

As far as I am aware there is no law that prohibits the consumption of alcohol in any vehicle with 8 or less passenger seats. The law for vehicles with 9 or more passenger seats is different. Alcohol is banned on vehicles with 9 or more passenger seats going to certain sporting events such as football matches but that does not apply to vehicles with 8 or less seats. Of course if the alcohol is being supplied by the vehicle owner then all the usual alcohol licences need to be in place.

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Grandad,

I take it that's not in the Accessibility for Ontarians Act?

I assume this will be Peterborough in the USA or Canada?

Canadian law doesn't quite cover us. . . yet.

Doh! Missed that one.

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Grandad,

As I said.

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IDFIMH

There is in mine when a scrote tries to get in swigging from a can of lager. I'll politely ask them once lose the booze or I don't even unlock the doors, if they start kicking off I don't even begin engaging in an argument - they're left roadside.