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CITY OF VANCOUVER ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT |
Date: |
May 14, 2004 | |
Author: |
Karen Hoese | |
Phone No.: |
604.871.6403 | |
RTS No.: |
04215 | |
CC File No.: |
2801 | |
Meeting Date: |
June 8, 2004 |
TO: |
Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic |
FROM: |
Chief License Inspector in consultation with the Director of Legal Services |
SUBJECT: |
Taxicab Surcharge to Metered Fares for Installation of Digital Cameras |
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT Council endorse a surcharge of $0.15, to be added to taxicab meter fares until March 26, 2005, to offset costs associated with installation of digital cameras in taxicabs, resulting in the following rates (excluding GST):
POINT TO POINT ON METER:
For the first 77 meters or fraction thereof $2.39
For each additional 77 meters or fraction thereof $0.10
For each 15.53 seconds of stopping or waiting time $0.10
TIME OR DISTANCE:
For the first hour or fraction thereof $23.18
Or for each 77 meters, whichever is greater $00.10
For each succeeding quarter hour or fraction thereof $05.80
Or for each 77 meters, whichever is greater $00.10
B. THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to bring forward the necessary amendments to the Vehicles for Hire By-law to give affect to the proposed taxicab rate increases.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of A and B.
COUNCIL POLICY
Council regulates taxi companies in Vancouver through the Vehicles for Hire By-Law, No. 6066 (consolidated for convenience only to January 1, 2004), which governs the rates that taxi companies can charge when picking up fares in the City.
On May 20, 1993, Council approved advising the Motor Carrier Commission (MCC) that it supported a uniform schedule of rates for taxi companies in the Lower Mainland.
On December 9, 1997, Council approved advising the four licensed Vancouver taxi companies, as well as the MCC, that a fare increase would not be considered until after the MCC rules on the regional fare.
On September 15, 1998, Council approved changes in the City's taxicab fare rates, as per a ruling by the MCC, which provided an estimated 3% increase in taxi industry revenues. The changes included a 9.5% increase in the flag rate, a 1.7% increase in distance charge (per km) and a 19.4% increase in waiting time (per hr).
On March 13, 2001, Council approved an increase in the City's taxicab distance rates reflecting an MCC supplemental tariff to taxicab rates on December 18, 2000 allowing B.C. taxicabs an increase of 11% (minus any increases approved since 1992) to distance rates only. Because of the 1.7% increase in the taxicab distance charge approved by Council on September 15, 1998, Vancouver taxicab companies were permitted a maximum 9.3% increase in their distance rates further to Council's approval.
On January 14, 2003, Council endorsed a 3.34% rate increase in taxicab fares, approved by the MCC on October 21, 2002, to be applied uniformly throughout the Lower Mainland Region.
PURPOSE
This purpose of this report is to seek Council's endorsement of a surcharge of $0.15 on taxi flag rates, approved by the Motor Carrier Commission (MCC) on February 27, 2004, and to be effective until March 26, 2005. This surcharge is to offset costs associated with the installation of digital cameras in taxicabs. It is recommended that Council adopt the surcharge as approved by the MCC.
BACKGROUND
The taxi industry in the City of Vancouver is regulated by Council through the Vehicles for Hire By-Law No.6066 and by the provincial Motor Carrier Commission (MCC). The MCC has the superior role in the regulation of the taxi industry in the Lower Mainland. Any action by Council on taxi fares is subject to approval by the MCC, while taxicab rate increases approved by the MCC must be reflected in the City's Vehicles for Hire By-law.
In May 2000, the Commission's Taxi Advisory Committee (TAC) identified driver safety as one of three priorities of the Committee and a driver safety sub-committee was established comprised of industry, City of Vancouver, ICBC and WCB representatives.
The sub-committee identified the installation of cameras as the best security device for cabs.
It was found that a number of other jurisdictions including Toronto, Winnipeg, New York City, San Francisco and Perth, Australia have used cameras as part of their taxicab safety programs, and that they have been instrumental in decreasing and prosecuting crimes against taxi drivers as well as being less intrusive and more tourist friendly than taxi shields.
On February 27, 2004, the MCC approved the installation of digital cameras in all taxicabs in the Lower Mainland. The model adopted requires that a surcharge be applied to the flag rate for a specified time, with the revenue collected being applied to the cost of installing the cameras. As the majority of violence towards taxi drivers takes place in the City of Vancouver, this initiative is strongly supported by the Vancouver Taxi Association.
DISCUSSION
Surcharge Rate
To offset costs associated with the installation of digital cameras in taxi cabs, the MCC has approved a time-limited surcharge on flag rates in the Lower Mainland, until March 26, 2005. Digital cameras must be installed in all taxicabs in the Lower Mainland by February 28, 2005.
A surcharge of either $0.15 or $0.20 on flag rates will be applied to all taxi companies licensed to operate in the Lower Mainland Region. The difference in the rates is accounted for by a general difference in the volume of trips made in a day in the various municipalities. In the City of Vancouver the surcharge will be $0.15 and will be applied to all operators licensed to pick up fares in the City of Vancouver.
Privacy Issues
The intention of this initiative is to improve driver safety, not to infringe on public privacy. However, it is recognized that there are personal privacy issues associated with the installation and use of cameras in taxicabs. By setting the following specifications for the installation of cameras, the MCC believes that personal privacy issues will be minimized:
· Access to images will be incident-driven and restricted to authorized law enforcement officers;
· The system will be "tamper-proof" so that neither companies nor drivers can manipulate it;
· Retention of images will be restricted and imaging will be digital, not video, allowing images to be written over, unless a crime is committed;
· Notice will be posted advising passengers that they are on camera; and
· Cameras will be prohibited from having auditory capacity.
Consultation
The process has included consultation with the Information and Privacy Commissioner, the RCMP, the Vancouver Police, the Council of Tourism Associations of BC, Tourism Vancouver, the Vancouver Taxi Association and the BC Taxi Association. The City of Vancouver was extensively involved throughout the process and participated on the Taxi Advisory Committee that recommended the installation of taxi cameras.
CONCLUSION
On February 27, 2004, in response to concerns about the vulnerability of cab drivers and their susceptibility to violence while on duty, the MCC approved a temporary surcharge to taxi flag rates in the Lower Mainland to cover costs associated with installation of cameras in taxis to improve safety. In the City of Vancouver, this surcharge will be $0.15. The use of cameras in taxis has proven effective in other jurisdictions. Strict specifications to reduce privacy issues have been implemented. Extensive consultation has taken place in developing this initiative and has included participation by City of Vancouver staff. It is recommended that Council endorse the temporary surcharge to the flag rate approved by the MCC.
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