New regional taxi bylaw is almost in place

Regional politicians are closer to passing a new set of taxi bylaws, but those bylaws won't be in place until at least September.

• Waterloo region taxi bylaw debate faces final issues Wednesday

• Uber, other ride-sharing services bylaw set for vote in Waterloo Region

At aWednesday eveningcouncil meeting, councillorsagreed to change fees and not require in-vehicle cameras,but they deferred their decision on thesize of vehicle identification stickers.

Councillorsgave two options for paying licensing fees:traditional taxidrivers will pay a quarterly driver fee, as well as a car fee,while Uber and RideCodrivers will pay a small fee per trip taken.

GPS instead of cameras

While they did consider the value of having camerasin all vehicles as a safety option, councilinstead voted to have all vehicles include a GPS, which can document trips taken.

"Every vehicle has to have a GPS," Coun.Jane Mitchell Craig Norris onThe Morning Edition.

"So that if police need to, they can go back [and] see where the car stopped. Regular taxis, Uber and RideCo[need to]keep records of who is driving."

One sticking point

When it came to choosing a size for the stickers that would identify taxis and taxi alternatives, limousine companies took issue with the size of the proposed decals.

"Limos don't like signs plastered on the side of the limowhen they're carrying people from a wedding party around," Mitchell said.

The issue goes before council on Sept. 21.

If approved, the bylaw would then go into effect as early as Nov. 1.