Police shut down local cab company for a week over accessibility concerns

Police Chief Bob Keetch says he is in a no-win situation, forced to suspend the license of Union Cab due to non-compliance with taxi bylaws.

"There is no other option within the bylaw. Either I turn a blind eye to these issues or I suspend. There [are] no fines associated with violations within the bylaw, nor is there any process to get the licensee before some kind of court proceeding to address it in any other matter,” said Keetch by phone today.

Keetch said complaints have been forwarded to him from the mayor’s office and the Accessibility Committee.

The chief cited non-compliance with the bylaw requiring a wheelchair-accessible cab be available 24 hours for basic wheelchair or ambulatory service as the primary concern leading to the suspension.

“There were a number of issues, but that was one of the prominent issues that brought it to a head,” said Keetch.

A letter was recently sent to Union Cab owner Oliver Wilson, informing him the license would be suspended between February 14 and 19.

Complaints continued after a personal meeting between the chief and Wilson last November.

Wilson has been asked to appear before the Police Services Board on February 19 to answer questions before a reinstatement will be considered.

“My recommendation as result of those discussions — dependant on those discussions — the potential outcome is they will receive their license back and there will be ongoing discussions with them, monitoring and discussions to ensure compliance with the bylaw,” said Keetch.

The chief said suspending the license was not a decision he took lightly.

“It has the potential impacting a number of individuals. First and foremost people who rely on the service. There are people who rely on it for dialysis, students that rely on it to get to school and also the impact it has on the drivers as well,” said Keetch.

He has been assured people will be able to get to their dialysis appointments.

“From the city’s perspective, they are aware of the suspension. It’s my understanding the city has a couple of Parabuses and additional busses will be put on to cover those days the license will be suspension,” said Keetch.

He added, “as far as Union Cab, that was a concern of theirs as well and I certainly appreciate that.”

In April, the city passed a bylaw requiring one accessible cab be made available for any cab company with less than 35 cabs, companies with more than that are required to have two accessible cabs.

The three cab companies in town were given until July 1, 2015 to comply with the bylaw.

Union Cab maintains a fleet of 22 of the 61 total licensed taxis in the city.

A call to Union Cab owner Oliver Wilson was not immediately returned.