OSHAWA – The City of Oshawa is undertaking an industry and public consultation to receive feedback on three proposed regulatory options for the Vehicle-for-Hire Industry in Oshawa.
The Vehicle-for-Hire Industry is a term used to refer to the broader private transportation industry, which includes Taxis, Transportation Network Companies (T.N.C.) e.g. Uber, Lyft, etc., Designated Driving (D.D.) Services, and Limousines.
The three proposed regulatory options being considered for the Vehicle-for-Hire (V.F.H.) Industry are:
- Option A – Establish a New V.F.H. By-law: Harmonizes all V.F.H. standards in an equitable and industry-appropriate manner.
Key proposals applicable to Option A:
· Streamlines Driver Screening Process – all V.F.H. drivers only required to submit “Level 2” Police Record Check and Drivers Abstract on annual basis
· T.N.C. permitted to screen its Drivers based on City criteria; Driver screening are subject to City audits.
· Brokers/Companies are responsible for driver training
· All Vehicles (except D.D.s) subject to annual mechanical safety checks and appropriate insurance requirements
· T.N.C.s prohibited from picking up street hails and from Taxi Stands
- Option B – Regulate T.N.C.s under a Taxi and D.D. Licensing Framework: Essentially prevents T.N.C.s from operating in their current form in Oshawa by regulating T.N.C.s using existing standards in the Taxicab Licensing By-law specific to the Taxi Industry.
Key proposals applicable to Option B:
· Regulates T.N.C.s as Taxis and effectively prevents T.N.C.s from operating in the City of Oshawa by maintaining existing limits on the number of Taxicabs in the City.
· Removes Taxicab Refresher Driver Training Requirement
· Permits Taxicab Drivers to Offer Discounts off the Metered rate subject to conditions
· Establishes Administrative Monetary Penalties
· Permits any individual/Broker to apply for an Accessible Taxicab Plate
· Implements other technical amendments related to Taxi Industry
- Option C – Limited Regulatory Role: Limits standards to those that are critical to addressing health and safety and consumer protection and legislative requirements.
Key proposals applicable to Option C:
· Streamlines Driver Screening Process – all V.F.H. drivers only required to submit “Level 2” Police Record Check and Drivers Abstract on annual basis
· T.N.C. permitted to screen its Drivers based on City criteria; Driver screening are subject to City audits.
· All Vehicles (except D.D.s) subject to annual mechanical safety checks and appropriate insurance requirements
· T.N.C.s prohibited from picking up street hails and from Taxi Stands.
· Removes standards related to:
o Driver training requirements
o City-regulated fares/tariffs for Taxicabs
o Limits on the number of Taxicabs in the City
o Licensing for Taxicab Brokers
Community members are invited to complete a feedback form online on Connect Oshawa at www.connectoshawa.ca/vehicle-for-hire. Community members who prefer to complete the feedback form in another format, are asked to call Service Oshawa at 905-436-3311 during regular business hours to make arrangements to submit feedback via mail.
Feedback will be received until 4:00 p.m. on Monday, July 6, 2020 and will be considered in a future report to a Special Meeting of the Corporate Services Committee.
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