As the City of Owen Sound considers an increase in taxi fares, Hanover is getting tougher with its cab companies.
Hanover Police now have more control over taxi drivers and their vehicles.
The updated bylaw allows police to conduct background checks on all drivers and ensure all cab vehicles are up to public safety code.
Police Inspector Chris Knoll says the bylaw also includes a cap on in-town taxi rates at $8.
The current price charged by Hanover cab companies in town is $7.
Knoll says all drivers will be subject to ‘vulnerable sector’ screening that may result in having them fingerprinted in accordance with RCMP guidelines.
Licensing fees for cab owners will also go up.
Knoll says that will offset the cost of producing individual photo taxi licenses for drivers as well as maintaining police records.
Taxi Cab companies have until January 6th to comply with the updated by-law.
Knoll says the new and revised by-law will create a consistency in the industry within the Town of Hanover.
Hanover’s old taxi-bylaw was vehicle oriented rather than driver oriented.
The new bylaw places a much heavier emphasis on the taxi cab driver.
Hanover currently has three taxi cab companies.
But there has been interest expressed by other persons in starting new cab companies.
The Owen Sound Police Services Board is considering a request to increase the maximum cab fare to $9 as well as a cap on the number of cab companies in the City.
