After receiving complaints on social media, Greater Sudbury is working with local taxi companies in the city to ensure accessible cabs are available to those who need them.
Communications officer Shannon Dowling said Friday that under the city's taxi bylaw, companies with accessible cabs are supposed to have them on the road at all times.
Those companies receive an incentive for offering the service, specifically the city waives the $200 annual fee they pay for their taxi license.
Under the bylaw, those companies are required to "ensure the accessible taxi is operating and available for dispatch 24 hours a day, seven days a week by the owner."
However, the city investigated a complaint and found out at least one company wasn't following the rules. They have been contacted, she said.
"We are working with the taxi companies to address these concerns,” Dowling said.
Brendan Adair, the city's manager of security and bylaw services, said Friday the city has been made aware of the issue and is working to ensure the companies know their obligations.
"When we receive complaints, we first try and educate the company to ensure they understand what they are obligated to do," Adair said. "We want to ensure we understand what may have prompted this on their part.”
“If there's any level of persistence, we generally would go the route of enforcement, similar to how we approach any bylaw. (Because) we don't want this to happen, period."
Fines for breaking the taxi bylaw are $300. And an accessible taxi owner that fails to ensure persons requiring an accessible taxi are first priority can also be fined $300. Both fines would have a $65 victim fine surcharge (VFS) added as is normal process for all POA fines.
