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Clock clicking on taxicab service from bars

Want action to stop ticketing by police

By: Kevin Rollason

Posted: 09/5/2012 5:30 PM | Comments: 0

Unicity and Duffy’s Taxi are threatening to pull their night service to bars, nightclubs starting Friday at 7 p.m. (WAYNE.GLOWACKI@FREEPRESS.MB.CA )

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The clock is still ticking on whether bar patrons will be able to grab a cab outside a Winnipeg bar on Friday night.

Both Unicity Taxi and Duffy’s Taxi are threatening to pull their services to bars, nightclubs and hotels. They will start with bars or nightclubs Friday at 7 p.m., until 5 a.m., unless something is done to stop their drivers from being ticketed by police at these places.

Gurmail Mangat, president of Unicity’s board of directors and who wrote to Mayor Sam Katz on behalf of both taxi companies on Tuesday, said the deadline is still there, but "something is in the works.

"My feeling is they will meet us," Mangat said on Wednesday.

"We can sit and talk... but the deadline is still on for Friday. We will serve customers all across the city except for bars, nightclubs and hotels related to bars and nightclubs.

"Whatever we have to do we will do."

Rhea Yates, a spokeswoman for Katz, would not comment about the issue, only saying they are trying to schedule a meeting between Unicity and Winnipeg police chief Keith McCaskill.

Mangat said for the past few weeks police officers have been ticketing cabbies for various parking infractions while they pick up or drop off passengers at nightclubs and bars.

As well, he said in one case — which he has written to Katz about — a police officer approached a Unicity driver outside Whisky Dix on Saturday night "in a threatening manner." The officer handcuffed the driver, and the driver’s turban fell off, prompting the officer to laugh while telling the driver it would be up to the judge to assess a fine.

Mangat said the drivers are forced to stop in no-stopping zones and other areas because private vehicles are parked in what are loading zones only during the day.

Mangat said the simplest solution would be for the city to extend the hours of the loading zones so cabs could stop there.

"We are asking our politicians for help," he said.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

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