Quote:
Originally Posted by transplant99
If a guy can drive a car, a guy can drive a car. Does it really matter what class is stamped on the license? I understand and agree that in some cases and with certain vehicles, special training and/or abilities are required.
I drove cabs in Calgary in the mid to late 90's in November and December part time. I too was required to get a class 4 and it was truly the most ridiculous money grab going. The cost associated with that license above a class 5 was significant but was I any different of a driver? not in the slightest.
But more to the point of the "safety" bunk the city is espousing, is that they are supposedly concerned with "lack of vehicle inspections"....which is the biggest joke of it all. They don't care, because if they did that would apply to ALL vehicles (commercial or otherwise) and they don't. But its a panic when joe schmoe decides to drive his car for a few hours a week to make a few bucks? Its so transparent what the city is truly concerned with.
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There's more to it than getting a class 4. You also need to take the cities Taxi course and pass it's test (city knowledge for one). Other requirements are a defensive driving certificate, etc.
http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/ABS/Pages...uidelines.aspx
Another thing when I was involved in taxi business (owned a couple of cabs) you needed to get a mechanical safety check from an authorized garage every 6 months along with a taxi inspection where they'd check your meter and the inside of your cab, so don't say it's a joke.
The city and the taxi industry did open a can of worms when they put a freeze on Taxi vehicle licenses instead of leaving them open and this has caused some of the problems.
Having said that some of the problems need to be laid on the public as an example of what that Uber driver ran into. This kind of situation has become far too common and probably a reason taxi drivers don't want to be picking up drunks late at night. Right now the Uber drivers are probably getting the more responsible passengers so they are having a good experience but that won't last.