Waterloo region taxi bylaw debate faces final issues Wednesday

The meter may finally stop ticking on Waterloo Region's revised taxi bylaw, under debate at regional councilWednesday, more than a year after Uber and other ride-sharing services began challenging the industry.

Two issues are still up for discussion at tonight's Licensing and Hearings committee meeting:in-vehicle cameras and the fee structure.

"Should there be cameras in all cars, or only cameras in taxicabs or only GPS in all the cars," explained Jane Mitchell, the Chair of Licensing and Hearing Committee, outlining the discussion parameters.

"The other issue is, how are we going to do fees? Will we have fee-per-trip or just fee for the driver and the car, or a combination of the two?"

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Privacy issues with cameras

The taxi industry has put cameras into many of its cars, as they feel it helps protect thedrivers.

But the limousine industry is concerned that some of their business customers could be recorded unnecessarily.

"Business people are concerned because they do a lot of business in the back of the limousineso they don't want any of that recorded," said Mitchell.

"They're talking about ...patents in the back of a limo or taxi. Where does that [video] go?"

Mitchell saidif Wednesday's agenda issues get pastthe committee level and the subsequent council meetingscheduled later in the evening, the bylaw would come into force forNovember 1st.