Law enforcement and public safety authorities recently conducted inspections on Saint John taxi operators to verify their compliance with regulations and safety standards. Out of 31 vehicles inspected, 18 failed the spot checks and were immediately taken out of service for necessary repairs, as per a statement from the Saint John Police Force. Kevin Loughery, the city’s interim chief operating officer, emphasized the importance of these inspections in building trust and ensuring road safety for transportation users.
During the inspections, two drivers were found operating without valid licenses, and eight vehicles were towed due to safety concerns. The specific reasons for the inspections were not disclosed by the police, nor were the names of the companies involved. The Saint John Transit Commission is responsible for overseeing the enforcement of bylaws governing taxis in the city.
Loughery explained that the commission inspector examines various aspects such as lights, tires, meters, cleanliness, and the validity of licenses and vehicle inspections. While the city inspectors do not perform detailed mechanical inspections, they rely on the provincial system for vehicle inspections. Taxi operators are required to display inspection dates on their vehicles, and operators must renew their licenses annually.
Expired licenses for taxi drivers can result in fines of approximately $140. Despite efforts to reach out to the public safety department for comments, no response was received at the time of publication.