Licence rechecks a 'physical impossibility,' says taxi official

An official with a St. John's taxi company is defending what the industry does to ensure cabbies have valid drivers' licences.

Ataxi driver who hit a pedestrian last week was charged for driving with a suspended licence.

Doug McCarthy, who speaks forRed and Yellow Cabs,said drivers are checked out before they are hired and employers trust them to report anychanges.

"When you apply to become an owner-operator or a driver with a company you are required to produce a valid licence a driver'sabstract and an RNC record of conduct," he said.

"After that, we depend on the integrity and the honesty of the drivers to inform us of any violations that they may incur through driving."

Unreasonable expectation

McCarthy's comments come after St. John's Deputy Mayor Ron Ellsworth said it's the employer's responsibility to ensure all their drivers have valid drivers' licences.

• Taxi driver without licence an isolated case, Ron Ellsworth says

McCarthy said it's too much to ask cab companies to periodically check if their employees still have valid licences.

"It's a physical impossibility. You take companies with 110 or 120 cars, you're talking a minimum, if they do two shifts, of 240 drivers per day," he said.

"Who has the time to go around and check that to see make sure that everybody has a driver's licence."