By Dominic Abassi

Nanaimo RCMP asks City to explore implementing cameras in taxis

Jan 30, 2018 | 4:46 PM

Nanaimo RCMP believe it’s only a matter of time before cameras are installed in local taxicabs.

City staff are preparing a report for Council on options to implement cameras in cabs in Nanaimo. The direction from Council followed a request from the superintendent of Nanaimo RCMP at a recent Public Safety Committee meeting.

Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW they have responded to various complaints in the past from both passengers and taxi drivers.

“It would really increase public confidence. Knowing that if something happens, there’s a camera and you can always go back and check the video. Secondly, there’s files we work on like missing persons, assaults or establishing timelines where a camera would be essential in moving things forward,” O’Brien said.

There have been two relatively high-profile incidents involving cabs recently.

free repairs

'All around win-win situation:' have your items fixed by neighbours at Oceanside repair cafe

25m ago

time served

Nanaimo man caught with over 30g of illicit drugs avoids additional jail time

14h ago

big return

Senior women's box lacrosse returns to Nanaimo after 10+ year absence

14h ago

A Yellow Cab driver was ticketed for distracted driving after hitting a woman in a crosswalk while allegedly being on his phone. In November of last year, a woman was allegedly assaulted by a cab driver in Bowen Park.

O’Brien said the request is not specifically related to those incidents.

“Public confidence and public safety are key factors. We’re always advocating for that…In this day and age, you hear of the incidents of taxi drivers being attacked, you hear stories of people allegedly being attacked in taxis. So cameras would be the next logical step to keep both parties safe.”

Coun. Sheryl Armstrong, chair of the Public Safety Committee and a former RCMP officer, said the committee was “very much in favour” of the idea.

“We think it’s a great initiative. It’s not only something that benefits the public but also cab drivers.”

Armstrong was stationed in North Vancouver when cameras were installed in taxis there and she said it was incredibly beneficial in numerous investigations and well received by both the public and taxi operators.

Anup Kang, managing director for Yellow Cab Nanaimo said he hasn’t seen very many issues in his 18 years in the business locally. He said it would cost roughly $150,000 to outfit all Nanaimo cabs with cameras, a cost operators would have to bear. He noted all of their cabs currently have GPS tracking installed.

“It’s something we feel strongly is not necessary. We really haven’t had any issues. You get the odd one, but not on a consistent basis,” Kang said, adding Nanaimo is a safe city for drivers.

Kang said he has yet to hear from either RCMP or the City on the issue. “We want to know exactly what their thinking is and we’ll go from there.”

The City said key stakeholders will be consulted as a report is crafted.

The Passenger Transportation Board, which approves licences and sets rules for taxis in B.C., has a set of guidelines and requirements overseeing the use of cameras in cabs.

Programs exist in the Lower Mainland, Capital Regional District, Prince George and Williams Lake.

The Board said typically the camera programs are voluntary and often spearheaded by cab companies to protect their drivers from attacks. It said a main feature of their guidelines focused on protecting the footage collected and the privacy of people in the cab.

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi

Note to readers: This is an updated story. Updated to include comment from Yellow Cab’s Anup Kang.