REGINA Drivers for Transportation Network Companies (TNC) like Uber in Regina will now need to get the appropriate background, criminal record and vulnerable sector checks through the police before they can start working. Drivers will be required to have the checks done no earlier than 90 days before they start driving. The change will take effect on April 1, 2021, with the intent of keeping drivers from offering their services until they get their background checks – essentially mirroring what taxi drivers must go through. Up until the change was made on Wednesday, Uber drivers in Regina were allowed to use a criminal record check performed by any law enforcement agency. A vulnerable sector check was not required.
(Julia Page/CBC - image credit) Regina city council will now require ride-hailing drivers to have yearly criminal record and vulnerable sector checks. The change comes after hearing from Regina's Capital Cabs and a representative from Uber on a review of ride-hailing in the city. In 2019, ride-hailing vehicles took up about 15 per cent of the transportation-for-hire business in Regina, with taxis taking up the other 85 per cent. In 2020, taxis took 79 per cent of the sharing in trips and ride-hailing took 21 per cent, according to administration. Council voted unanimously to require criminal record and vulnerable sector checks before drivers can start, then again on a yearly basis. Council also talked about requiring cameras in ride-hailing vehicles, but stopped short of voting on it and instead will review ride-hailing again in two years. Glen Sali, owner of Capital Cabs, spoke to council. He said he wanted a more level playing field, as taxi drivers are required to have cameras.
Vehicle for hire update, transit passes, efficiency review all set to be discussed by council regina.ctvnews.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from regina.ctvnews.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.