The results of a city-wide taxi inspection may give cab-hailing Yellowknifers some reassurance next time they’re on the road.
Of the 104 licensed taxi cabs on the streets of Yellowknife, all vehicles passed a mechanical and basic requirement inspection conducted last month, the city’s communications director Richard McIntosh stated in an email.
The annual check-up, carried out by a journeyman mechanic and a Municipal Enforcement Division (MED) officer, aimed to ensure the mechanical and safety standards of all cab cars and vans were up to par.
Along with an inspection of vehicles’ overall mechanical condition, each taxi was subjected to a visual evaluation from the MED officer.
Basic motor vehicle equipment regulations, including the condition of tires, headlights, signal lights, windshields, wipers and horns are assessed by the officer, stated McIntosh, adding the cleanliness of all taxi cabs are looked at, too.
Taxi drivers must provide proper, required paperwork related to their vehicle, including up-to-date registration and insurance and a contract with a licensed taxi company.
Taxis cash collecting calculators are also tested.
“The MED officer accompanies the taxi driver on a drive to test the taxi meter to ensure it is charging the correct amount,” wrote McIntosh. “All taxi meters are sealed so they cannot be tampered with.”
While all vehicles met the standards needed to get back on the road, not all drove into the shop for testing in tip-top shape.
“All 104 eventually passed inspection, meaning that if there was a deficiency noted, it was corrected,” stated McIntosh.
The most common “deficiency” observed, McIntosh wrote, were cracked windshields and burnt out lights.
While McIntosh couldn’t relay the exact number of licensed taxi cabs in the city tallied during last year’s inspection, the figure noted in April - 104 vehicles - “remains fairly consistent,” he stated.
All vehicles currently on the road in Yellowknife are licensed to the only two cab companies that operate in in the city – City Cabs and Aurora Cabs.
For a third company to park its business in Yellowknife, under the Livery Licence By-law, the would-be owner must have a minimum of 10 licensed taxis and 10 licensed taxi drivers who are able to offer 24-hour service.
Under the same by-law, lone taxi operators are not permitted in the city.