A new taxi bill of rights will be part of a crackdown on the taxi industry to be announced on Wednesday by Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon.
The bill will define the rights of passengers, including how to handle a driver who refuses a fare without legitimate reason, as well as some kind of a pre-pay system to prevent passengers from riding-and-dashing.
Falcon credits the new initiative to a CTV News investigation by Lisa Rossington.
"Frankly, this is in part due to the good work that CTV News has done to expose the problems for people riding taxis," Falcon said on Tuesday.
Last spring, that investigation found that taxi drivers in Vancouver were refusing fares and trying to negotiate flat rates.
"I said at the time that we were already looking into that issue and that we would come forward with, essentially, a passenger bill of rights," Falcon said.
"To ensure that passengers know that they have the right, and the obligation of taxi drivers, to take them where they need to go, with the ability to pay with credit cards if they wish, etcetera."
It is illegal in B.C. for taxi drivers to turn down fares or demand cash.
The investigation stems from reports of people who were unable to secure rides with taxi cabs, including those trying to leave the downtown area late at night. Police raised concerns that some people were driving home drunk.
Tony Bhullar of the Vancouver Taxi Association said the new rules would benefit drivers as well.
"I think there's security and safety for drivers that was absent in the past," he said. "I think overall everybody is going to be very, very pleased with it. I'm very excited."
Falcon said he had never received as many phone calls or e-mails on any other issue.
Cabs must also post a 1-800 number and a website where taxi riders can call to report complaints, Falcon said.
