An illegal Wallaceburg taxi driver has been convicted.
A municipal press release stated that Norman Micks of Wallaceburg was convicted at the Provincial Offences Court on Tuesday for failure to ensure that a licence is obtained under section 6.1 of the Municipality’s Taxi By-law 18-2013.
“It is unacceptable that individuals offer illegal services of a taxi ─ taking money for rides ─ to the public, and the licensing department together with the by-law enforcement office will continue to investigate these matters and prosecute offenders,” said Nancy Havens, manager of licensing services. “The people who are using these illegal taxi cabs are reminded how unsafe these vehicles can be ─ that insurance coverage might not be available in the event they are involved in an accident ─ and that the driver, who might appear harmless, could have a criminal record or no Ontario Driver’s Licence. Drivers of illegal taxis and their vehicles are not regulated or monitored by the municipality’s licensing division.”
The notion of illegal taxi services was brought up recently by the owner of Wallaceburg’s only licensed taxi service, Cadillac Cabs.
Ray Melhuish, owner of the taxi service, said he was forced to lay off six people – three dispatchers and three of his six drivers.
Melhuish told the Sydenahm Current that free rides being given by a local volunteer group and and “illegal taxi” services operating in Wallaceburg, were a couple of the factors leading to the layoffs.
