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 (TNC) e.g. Uber, Lyft, etc., Designated Driving (DD) Services, and Limousines, said a city statement.
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 preventsT.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:
- Driver training requirements
- City-regulated fares/tariffs for Taxicabs
- Limits on the number of Taxicabs in the City
- 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.