The City of Thunder Bay has introduced a new by-law regulating vehicles for hire and designated driver services to improve public health and safety, and to provide consumer protection.

“The new by-law introduces a new type of licence – a designated driver business licence,” said James Coady, Manager – Licensing and Enforcement Division. “This process captures existing taxi and limousine-type services, and also new application-based services like Uber and designated driver services.”

The new by-law replaces previous Police Services Board by-laws, under which police approved drivers and vehicles before the City issued appropriate licences. The by-law still requires drivers to get vulnerable sector police records check, but they must also now obtain their own proof of a valid driver’s licence, with two years of driving experience, and a Ministry of Transportation (MTO) driver’s abstract directly from the MTO. Applicants must also provide proof that they are legally allowed to work in Canada. 

All information needs to be brought to the City’s Licensing and Enforcement Division office for a driver’s licence to be issued, once a Vehicle for Hire Business Licence application is approved.

The new by-law also requires vehicle safety checks, ages and odometer readings. Drivers must bring Safety Standards Certificates to the City’s Licensing and Enforcement office, along with insurance information, for a licence to be issued. Under the previous by-law, police would conduct safety checks, approve vehicles to be licensed, and the City would issue the licences.

Police will no longer handle complaints about transportation services covered under the by-law, unless incidents are criminal in nature. Residents will instead be encouraged to contact the City’s Licensing and Enforcement.

The by-law also regulates vehicle-for-hire brokers, requiring them to get Vehicle for Hire Brokers Licences. Those found in contravention of the by-law may face fines of up to $100,000.

The southern Ontario City of Barrie updated its Transportation Industry By-law in 2017, reducing taxicab regulations and creating two new licensing categories to address rideshare and drivers for hire. 

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Contact: James Coady, Manager – Licensing and Enforcement Division, 625-2644 or jcoady@thunderbay.ca