Curbside trade

As this is written, the City is getting set to impose a $150 fine on cars that stop in signed “No Stopping” zones during rush hours.

Back in 1978, then Metro Council at the urging of then Metro Councillor Joe Piccinnini, passed a by-law exempting taxicabs from No Stopping laws, as an initiative to provide good customer service.

It is very important to note, the exemption is only and specifically for the short periods of time when a cab is loading or discharging passengers. It is not to allow a cab driver to leave his cab in a No Stopping zone, or any variation of that theme.

At the January meeting of the Public Works committee, where upping the present fine from $60 to $150 for stopping in No Stopping zones during morning and afternoon rush hours was discussed and recommended, Committee Chair Denzil Minnan-Wong, apparently was not aware of the taxi exemption.

He assured Taxi News that the exemption will stand and taxicabs will not be subject to the new fines.

Here’s the problem: too many police are unaware of the existence of the exemption, and too many, if they do know of the exemption, simply don’t care, telling cab and limo drivers to fight the ticket in court.

Of course, while cab drivers should know of the exemption and what it allows and does not allow, many do not. If taxi drivers decide to contest these tickets, even if they win their case, the court appearance blows a minimum of half a day of work and the loss of that income.

With the state of the City’s finances these days, we have absolutely no doubt that the higher fines will result in a kind of police ticketing feeding frenzy, any taxi exemption be damned.

It is already happening at locations like the Kipling subway station, where as almost a daily occurrence, police ticket cabs for overcrowding taxicab stands. Spots like this are a veritable gold mine for the City, and we have no doubt No Stopping tickets will prove just as lucrative.

Perhaps we’re a bit cynical, but we also will not be surprised if some bright light on Council asks for a review of the taxi exemption with a view to taking it away. This is not a prediction - it is a fear.

That exemption for cabs is there for a good reason. People expect to be served, meaning they expect cab drivers to pick them up and drop them off where they want, not a block or two away.

This is particularly true of disabled people, both ambulatory and in wheelchairs, who need to be dropped as close as possible to their destinations, and sometimes need driver assistance. We already know of cases where cabs have been ticketed simply because they are serving disabled people as they deserve to be served.

We fearlessly predict that with the Accessibility of Ontarians With Disabilities Act now in force, we will see a host of complaints and charges come down the pipes directly related to service (or non-service) under this law. If police start ticketing cab drivers for stopping in No-Stopping zones during rush hours while they are serving disabled passengers, we can really see the legal stuff hit the fan.

The same goes for the apparent non-thinking about ground transportation for departing and arriving passengers in the plans for the newly configured Union Station. That is going to be one hideous mess if plans aren’t changed quickly.

So folks, be warned.

We suspect your working lives are going to be much more difficult and expensive, very quickly.

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As we go to press the word is that a schedule of further Taxi Review consultations is being developed, but won’t be released until mid-February, or later. The reality is many, if not most, City Hall minds are right now struggling with ongoing labor negotiations. Plus there is a new boss at MLS. We can only suggest patience is a virtue. We still believe it is better to do the review right, than do it quickly.