aclih

SUNSHINE Cabs Ltd. has been ordered to appear before
the Motor Carrier Commission Oct. 22 to show cause why
the North Vancouver company’s Motor Carrier licence

should not be revoked.

The order follows the company’s
alleged defiance of taxi regulations
that prevent Lower Mainland taxi
companies from picking up fares
in municipalities outside their
licensed home base.

Along with the 11 other subur-
ban taxi companies that make up
the Taxi Owners Association of
B.C. {TOABC), Sunshine began
picking up fares in other
municipalities in late June.

Sunshine president Richard
Hughes, who is 2iso vice-president

By TIMOTHY RENSHAW
News Reporter

of the TOABC, said at the time
that TOABC members defied regu-
lations in order to provide better
service to the public.

The practice, he said, had long
been carried out on a ‘‘nod-nod,
wink-wink basis’’.

Violation of the regulations by
soeburban taxi companies, he said,
had occurred regularly for some
time and with the full knowledge
of the taxi industry.

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He said open defiance of the
regulations was both an attempt to
provide better service and an at-
tempt to increase public awareness
of regulations the TOABC con-
siders archaic.

The TOABC vice-president has
estimated that suburban cab com-
panies provide 50 per cent of the
taxi service in downtown Van-
couver, 60 per cent of the taxi ser-
vice to Expo and 90 per cent of the
service at the Vancouver airport.

But Vancouver cab company
representatives have disputed
Hughes’ figures and complained
that their suburban counterparts
have been issued too many
licences.

Under current regulations Lower
Mainiand taxis are permitted to
transport fares from their com-

PIS UEw eaner mt wees

pany’s home base to any point in
B.C. Fares can be picked up out-
side that base only if firm prior ar-
rangements have been made.

Drivers face fines of between
$50 and $100 if they pick up ran-
dom fares in other zones.

Hughes said Friday that the
show cause hearing should be
taken seriously, but added that he

in due course.”*

He said the MCC had the power
to suspend or cancel a taxi com-
pany’s Motor Carrier licence
depending on the circumstances
involved and evidence presented at
show cause hearings.

Changes to existing regulations,
he said, could be made by an order
in council and with the approval of

SUNSHINE CAB PAY SYSTEM CHANGED: PAGE 2

thought it may really be a call

from the MCC to have some polit-
ical light shed on the probiem.

“Maybe this is the end of the
road in this battle.”

Secretary to the MCC John
Kosowick said Tuesday the com-
mission ‘‘has indicated regional
licensing will be looked at closety

the provincial government.

North Shore Taxi General Man-
ager Masoud Fanai said the actions
of Hughes and the TOABC were
“jeopardizing the whole industry.
He is showing no respect for other
companies.”’

Fanai’s company does
belong to the TOABC.

not

NEWS photos Tom Burley

WV catches coho fever

MAYA BECKERSMITH, age 2, takes a break during the Coho Festival Sunday to bite into a cob of

corn, left. Part of the festivities included a salmon Db:
ners in the seven km. Coho Run earlier in the day. G

his expertise in mixing the batter at Ambieside Beach.

arbecue, and pancakes which were served to run-
eorge Sim, from Tiddleycove Lions Club, shows