Passenger cleanup fee for Saskatoon taxis gets nod from cabbies, city administration

Saskatoon cab drivers and the union representing some of them welcome the prospect of a fee charged to customers who eject bodily fluids in the back of taxis.

The City of Saskatoon is recommending a new fee, capped at $100, for the perpetrators of costly backseat messes that force drivers to take their vehicles off the streets and into the car wash.

"It's reasonable for everyone," said Hasan Nawaz, a driver for United Cabs, of the proposed fee. "We're a service provider, so it's the condition we have to provide all the time to the customer: a very nice and clean taxi."

Mike Pulak, a Saskatoon staff representative for United Steelworkers Local 2014 which represents 200drivers in the city said if a spill takes a car out of commission on the weekend, the time lost can cost a driver as much as $600.

"We all know how expensive it is to clean your vehicle at a car wash," said Pulak."It takes a number of hours to clean it top to bottom. And then, of course, if it needs to be aired out or cleaned a second time, after things dry and the odour's gone ... itcould be as much as two days off the road."

Cabbies to decide on specific charges

The city's recommendationwill be formally presented on Monday.

• Saskatoon cab drivers want puking fine like Calgary's

"On occasion, taxi vehicles require immediate cleaning as a result of some action of a passenger," reads the recommendation penned by city staff."The fee would cover costs incurred and earnings lost while the vehicle is out of service."

William Kuchapski, the city'staxi bylaw manager, says the city will only start on the wording of an amendment to the taxi bylaw if the committee signals its approval of the new fee.

He added that it will be up to the cab drivers to charge the feethey think is appropriate.

One city councillor has questions about that aspect of the proposal.

"If it's discretionary, one might charge $10, another might charge $100. So I think there has to be some [consistency]," saidCoun.AnnIwanchuk, adding that she's inclined to support the idea of a flat fee.

City council will ultimately need tovote on whether to launch the fee.

Calgary approved a $100 cleaning fee in 2014. Other cities in the country charge anywhere from $25 to $100, according to the City of Saskatoon.