North Bay may have a revised taxi bylaw that includes rideshare perhaps sometime early in the New Year.
Earlier this year the North Bay Police Services Board hired a consultant to review the existing taxi bylaw and Police Chief Scott Tod says that review is now in the hands of the City of North Bay’s legal department.
“The city’s solicitor and assistant solicitor will look at it and provide feedback to the police board whether the bylaw meets the test required for prosecution and enforcement,” Tod said.
The Chief made the comment following a regular police board meeting on Tuesday where the issue of rideshare was raised.
In addition to enforcement and prosecution, Tod says the bylaw also needs to include a provision that lets the police audit and inspect both the taxi and rideshare industries.
Tod adds once the legal department has looked at the draft bylaw, it will make its way back to the police board for its approval.
However, he says until that happens the document remains confidential.
It’s expected that the police board could see the draft bylaw at its regular December meeting.
If there are no issues and the board members approve the draft, Tod says the document will then be shared with the taxi and rideshare industries for their input.
“Based on their feedback we’d review it again with the (police) board with what we think may be the final draft,” Tod said.
The Chief adds that would be followed by a public meeting with residents of North Bay for their feedback and comment.
Tod believes that public meeting could take place early in the New Year.
In the meantime, while the board awaits the final draft Tod says the police department has not received any negative comments from community members involving the rideshare platform.
Tod adds the department has also received many compliments over how the taxi industry operates in the community.
