The Thunder Bay Police Services Board hopes to meet with city administration and discuss the future of the cab bylaw after receiving a 189 page report from the International Association of Transportation Regulators.
Currently city taxi regulations and enforcement are the responsibility Thunder Bay Police Service. Officers handle everything from inspections to licensing, which eats up resources and time.
The police board wants to delegate enforcement away from the police services, but who can handle the enforcement if the police don’t is a question that doesn’t seem to have an answer just yet.
Board chair Coun. Joe Virdiramo said he’s hoping that police and the city can figure out a way to share responsibility.
“I don’t think it should be left entirely up to the police services board we’re providing a service for the entire community,” Virdiramo said Tuesday morning.
Deputy chief Andy Hay said the complexity of enforcing the bylaw means the system isn’t as efficient as it should be.
“To be honest we don’t do as good of a job we’d like to be able to do on it based on the resources that are available,” Hay said.
The report makes more than 30 recommendations. It also found that wait times and fares for taxis are among the highest in the province. The board is hoping to have a draft report on how to move forward with the city by September.
“I don’t want this to drag on.” Virdiramo said.
