Details emerge of changes to Uber regulations

StCatherinesStandard.ca
June 9, 2016
Bill Sawchuk

The Niagara Police Sevices Board’s new regulations to deal with ride-hailing giant Uber and the taxi industry are starting to take shape.

The board’s licensing committee received a confidential report from its solicitor and is moving toward enacting a new bylaw at its next full meeting June 23.

“We could changes this down the road,” said Bob Gale, the Niagara Police Services Board chair. “We are moving forward, but there are a lot of different opinions on this within the board itself.

“To say we are having a debate is an understatement. There is a lot of back and forth, and we are leaving the option open to change things down the way. We know we can’t keep everybody happy.

“We have had letters from politicians all over the region about this. MPP Tim Hudak sent a letter. Everybody is adding their two bits. We have also received some letters that were irate, but I don’t want to go into that right now.”

Uber has been operating illegally in Niagara since November, and 20 Uber drivers were charged with offenses under the Highway Traffic Act back in April.

The police board released some of the details after their committee meetings Thursday.

The company is referred to as a Transportation Network Company, or TNC, throughout in the proposed regulations.

The new rules will be contingent on all TNC drivers and vehicles having their insurance plan approved by the province, Gale said.

The province is in the process of reviewing Uber’s liability policies. That analysis is expected early in July.

Among Niagara’s new regulations are the following:

TNC drivers would have to undergo background checks and vehicle safety requirements identical to those applied to taxi drivers and taxi cabs.

The would be no quotas on TNC drivers or vehicles.

There would be a minimum fare restrictions of $3.75 per trip for TNC arranged rides.

TNC vehicles would be required to have identification as a TNC vehicle, and the vehicles would be subject to extensive record maintenance and production requirements

The licensing fees charged to TNCs would include a flat fee, and a per trip charge, all with a view of making the administration and enforcement of the provisions operate on a cost recovery basis.

In addition, there are some changes which the licensing committee has recommended for the existing taxi industry.

They include the maintenance of taxi cab quotas, with the provision that the issue of quotas is to be reviewed in one year.

Taxi licenses, although granted on a per area municipality basis, may be able to be utilized region-wide.

The goal of the board remains to have the bylaw take effect July 1.

Hanif Patni, the CEO of Conventry Connections, one of the main players in the Niagara taxi industry, said he appreciated the time and effort the police board has given to carefully review and assess its bylaws.

“It is clear that the Region is addressing issues related to safety and insurance and ensuring adequate consumer protection and preventing nuisances,” Patni said. “We hope the board carefully monitors service levels of all transportation companies and provides adequate enforcement where appropriate.”

Efforts to reach an Uber spokesperson were not successful by deadline.

The board has said the overriding objective of the new regulations in Niagara will be to promote public safety and consumer protection by ensuring drivers and vehicles in both industries are safe and adequately insured.

Niagara’s police board is responsible for local bylaws that regulate business operators and drivers of various vehicles-for-hire, such as cabs, tow trucks, limousines, sightseeing and shuttle vehicles, as well as horse-drawn buggies.