It's official council passes new taxi rules for Charlottetown

There are now officiallynew rules for taxi cabs in Charlottetown. Amendments to the city's taxi bylaw passed final reading at a special council meetingThursday afternoon.

Among the changes is a new rulethat all taxis will now be required to accept debit and credit payment.There's also an update to clarify that drivers must display their operator licence at all times.

The tourist season is going to be on us here very soon, and we want to make sure that everything's in place.- Coun. Jason Coady

"I think that's a big piece, that's some of the feedback that we heard from the youth advisory committee when they went out and got some feedback," said Coun. Jason Coady, chair ofthe city's protective and emergency services committee

The city's youth retention advisory board flagged safety concerns and fare inconsistencies in a report released last fall.

Other new rules that will now come into effect include better training for drivers, as well ashigher insurance coverage requirements for taxi owners and taxi stand operators.

Typo delays process

The bylaw amendment originally passed first reading back in March. But, the process was delayed because of a typo in the amendment. Coadysaid due to the delay, he didn't want to wait until the next council meeting in May for second reading.

"For all intents and purposes, we would have had this enacted last month if we hadn't have found the typo. So we're just trying to get this in place as quickly as possible,"Coadysaid.

"The tourist season is going to be on us here very soon, and we want to make sure that everything's in place and up to speed, and everyone's aware of the changes."

Coady said he has heard positive feedback to the changes both from the public, and from the taxi industry.

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