SEPTEMBER 21, 1997 Classifieds vee 43 Crosswort Fashion Health Trends Werth Shere Alert Sports Travel Vintage fears Canadian Publications Mat Saies Product Agreement No 0087238 see 42 56 Pages 9 NOX Hic Battle heating up as Sept. 29 meeting looms PIJHL drops the puck on its sixth season NEWS photo Terry Peters FORMER cabbie Barry Douch is one of the petition-signing drivers who have prompted North Vancouver District council to exam- ine the way taxis are regulated and the establishment and enforcement of taxi industry standards. North Shore drivers sign protest petition over taxi conditions By ian Noble News Reporter ian@nsnews.com BARRY Douch drove a taxi on the North Shore for eight years. But over time, he says he saw his pay and cab maintenance standards fall. He was also robbed at knife point and wasn't reimbursed for the losses. Then, when North Shore Taxi introduced a new system to pay cabbies in June, Douch quit. He said the system — under which cab drivers lease cabs from the com- pany and pay for gas and GST — rips off drivers. When he started driving, he grossed about $750 every two weeks. By the k, too many cabs on the road time he quit, those checks were down to $450 for a 40- to 50-hour work week, aon I was one of their better drivers. | knew what I was doing,” he said. Although North Shore Taxi rejects the assertions of Douch and 26 oth- ers experienced drivers who signed a petition, North Vancouver District council ordered staff Monday to prepare a report on the way tas rently regulated and the degree to which quality standards are established and enforced in the industry. A plea to council from former and current ta Vancouver outlined a number of cabbie complaints. Those drivers say cabbies are underpaid and asked the district to revoke at least 25% of taxi cab licences on the North Shore. drivers in North Sce Drivers’ page 3 oe . CHRYSLER Daring desi for fall and spring °98 Fashion (19 $1.00 Foul play feared By Anna Marie D’Angelo News Reporter dangelo@nsnews.com POLICE now suspect foul play in the disap- pearance of a North Vancouver man who was last heard from on Aug. 25. Lawrence (Larry) Thiessen, 49, is a licensed practical nurse at Lions Gate Haspital. North Vancouver RCMP Const. Tom Seaman said police are worried that Thiessen met with fou! play around Aug.25 in the West End or North ‘ancouver. Thiessen’s brother John said the dis- appearance is out of char- acter. The family has checked hos- pitals, shel- ters and put up posters. “We've done pretty much all thar we can,” said John Thiessen. He said his brother withdrew $100 at the Lower Lonsdale Bank of Montreal on Aug. 25. The family assumes Larry Thiessen got on the SeaBus to visit a friend in Vancouver before heading to Roberts Creek to visit friends. “He never showed at his friend’s place in downtown,” said John Thiessen. Constr. Seaman said Larry Thiessen was known to frequent bath houses in the the West End. Thiessen is 5°10” and162 Ibs. Cail 985-1311 with informa- tion. In the early 1980s, Thiessen was a disc jockey on the UBC radio station where he played alternative music during a night program. missing. - PLYMOUTH EAGLE HAISAMHD: aaa - “F10v3: HINOWATd..