City looks to tighten rules banning taxi, Uber drivers guilty of serious crimes

The City of Edmonton is looking to tightenbylaw restrictions that deny licences to vehicle-for-hire drivers convicted of serious crimes.

Several drivers convicted of crimes were denied licences by the city last year only to win themback on appeal.

That's becausecouncillors disagree over the interpretation of the vehicle-for-hire bylaw.

The bylaw denies vehicle-for-hire licences toanyone convicted in the preceding10 years of violent crimes, including assault and sexual assault, fraud or offences related to the unlawful operation of a vehicle.

Applicants denied a licence can appeal the decision beforea tribunal of three city councillors who sit on theCommunity Standards and Licence Appeal Committee.

Some appeals have been upheldbecause some councillors interpretthe bylaw to mean the offence must be related to an applicant'sjob as a professional driver.

• Uberand taxis in Edmonton followed the rules better in 2017, city says
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In 2018, two driversconvicted of impaired driving and three convicted ofdomestic assaultwere reissuedlicencesby the committee.

At aJuly 12 hearing, the committee granted a licenseto a driver convicted ofdomestic assault.

In written arguments, the driver's lawyer argued the convictions "do not relate to his employment as a taxi driver," adding that his client had a 12-year track record without incident as a professional driver.

CouncillorsTony Caterinaand Moe Bangaagreed with the lawyer's interpretation.

"A contextual reading of the bylaw suggests that there still must be a connection between the criminal activity and the vehicle-for-hire industry before a licence should be cancelled," the decision read.

The third committee member,Coun. JonDziadyk, disagreed.

"Given the recent nature of the offence and the violence involved, there is simply too great a risk to the public to do otherwise," he wrote.

But all threecouncillorsagreedan amendment to the bylaw could helpavoid ambiguity.

On Wednesday,the Community and Public Services Committee willreview an amended bylaw, which states more clearly that drivers with criminal records cannot obtain vehicle-for-hire licences.

With files from Natasha Riebe