Licence Application Decision

Transcription

1 Licence Application Decision (Taxi - New) Application # Applicant COPEMAN, Ida & COPEMAN, Jeffrey Trade Name (s) JC Taxi Address Box 557, Enderby BC V0E 1V8 Current Licence None Application Summary Special Authorization: Passenger Directed Vehicles New taxi service in Enderby area with 1 conventional vehicle. Rates Date Published in Weekly Bulletin Submitters (and representatives) Board Decision Metered rates May 7, 2014 None The special authorization is approved Terms and conditions of licence are approved as set out in the application summary published June 11, 2014 Rates sought by the applicant are approved as set out in the application summary Decision Date June 20, 2014 Panel Chair William (Bill) Bell I. Introduction This is an application for a new passenger transportation licence with Special Authorization: Passenger Directed Vehicles. The applicant proposes to provide a taxi service in Enderby, B.C. with a fleet of 1 vehicle that accommodates a driver and not more than 7 passengers. The applicant, Ida and Jeffrey Copeman dba J.C. Taxi are also requesting reverse trip authority. If approved the applicant would charge metered rates. II. Background The City of Enderby is located between Armstrong and Salmon Arm and is in the North Okanagan. The rural area within a 30 kilometer radius of Enderby is made up of the smaller communities such as Ashton Creek, Grindrod and Mabel Lake. The applicant has requested Enderby and its surrounding areas as its originating area with a destination area of any point in B.C. Page 1 Passenger Transportation Board Decision

2 The applicant proposes to operate a year round taxi service 7 days a week, as and when needed by users. The applicant operated J.C. Taxi in Enderby until 2007 when it transferred the business to Enderby Taxi (2007) Ltd. (Licence 70451). This licence expired at the end of 2013 and was cancelled in January Material submitted in support of the application included the following: PDV Vehicle Proposal PDV Proposed Terms and Conditions of Licence Metered Taxi Rates Condensed Operating and Public Need Indicators Disclosures of Unlawful Activity and Bankruptcy Disclosures of Passenger Transportation Ownership. Business Plans Financial Information III. Procedural Matter: Due to an error in the destination area in the original publication, the application was republished on June 11, 2014 with a submission deadline effective June 18, IV. Relevant Legislation Division 3 of the Passenger Transportation Act (the Act ) applies to this application. The Act requires the Registrar of Passenger Transportation to forward applications for Special Authorization licences to the Passenger Transportation Board (Board). Section 28(1) of the Act says that the Board may approve the application, if the Board considers that: (a) there is a public need for the service the applicant proposed to provide under any special authorization. Page 2 Taxi Decision Passenger Transportation Board

3 (b) the applicant is a fit and proper person to provide that service and is capable of providing that service, and (c) the application, if granted, would promote sound economic conditions in the passenger transportation business in British Columbia. I will consider each of these points in making my decision. V. Rationale and Submissions (a) Applicant s Rationale The applicant reports there is no local taxi service. The taxi service proposed is needed as there is no local bus or transit service in the area and people in the area, particularly the elderly would use the service for doctor s appointments, meetings, shopping etc. (b) Submissions No submissions were received. VI. Reasons for the Board s Decision (a) Is there a public need for the service that the applicant proposes to provide under special authorization? Applicants should supply information that is factual and objective to demonstrate public need. They should demonstrate that there are people who would use the service. Applicants should explain why they are applying for a specific number of vehicles. The Board wants to be satisfied that there is a reasonable connection between the number and types of vehicles requested and public need. The applicant provided 6 letters of support from various sources in the area including: The Corporation of the City of Enderby; the Enderby Legion Branch; and local residents. All the letters attest to the need for a local taxi service. In particular, several note the need for a safe ride home option from local bars, the large number of seniors that do not drive and the general inconvenience with no public transportation, transit or taxi service locally available. In addition, the letters point out the closest taxi service available is in Salmon Page 3 Taxi Decision Passenger Transportation Board

4 Arm which is approximately 25 kilometers away or in Vernon which is approximately 35 kilometers away. One letter from a resident indicates she attends appointments with her doctor in Salmon Arm and a medical specialist in Vernon. In either circumstance using taxi services from these areas is not economical and, often in the summer months, not available. At my request, Board staff confirmed that BC Transit offers service to and from Salmon Arm on Wednesdays only. It also operates service between Enderby and Vernon on a limited basis in the morning and afternoons Monday to Friday. There is no competing service in the area and a taxi service had been present for many years up to I find the applicant has provided sufficient documentation that demonstrates Enderby requires a re-instated taxi service and that people in the area want access to such as service. I find that the applicant has proven that there is a public need for the proposed service. (b) Is the applicant a fit and proper person to provide that service and is the applicant capable of providing that service? The Board looks at fitness in two parts: (i) is the applicant a fit and proper person to provide the proposed service; and (ii) is the applicant capable of providing that service? The applicant, Ms. Ida Copeman provided the taxi service previously in Enderby up until November 2007 when the business was approved for transfer to Enderby Taxi (2007) Ltd. Ms. Copeman in this application is a co-applicant with her husband Jeffrey Copeman. Mr. Copeman, who has driven taxis for 35 years, will drive the taxi and provide most of the vehicle maintenance except for major work. Ms. Copeman indicates she will undertake the dispatch and bookkeeping work associated with the business. The financial information provided did not include revenue projections, which it indicates is dependent on the take up of the service. The applicant, however, indicates it has a car set up as a taxi that will be inspected to ensure it is in safe running order. The applicant provided other information concerning insurance, maintaining trip sheets, the screening and hiring of drivers that indicates the applicant has an understanding of operating the contemplated service. Also provided was personal net worth information that suggests the Page 4 Taxi Decision Passenger Transportation Board

5 applicant overall is able to finance the initial and ongoing operation of the complexity of the service proposed. The applicant s current National Safety Certificate (NSC) indicates a satisfactory unaudited status. Finally, the applicant has experience in the taxi business and is knowledgeable of the area and appears knowledgeable and capable of operating the taxi business. I find that the applicant is fit, proper and capable of providing the proposed service. (c) Would the application, if granted, promote sound economic conditions in the passenger transportation business in British Columbia? The Board looks at economic conditions from a wide-ranging view. The economic conditions of the transportation business in British Columbia are considered ahead of the economic and financial interests of an individual applicant or operator. The Board supports healthy competition. The Board discourages competition that could unduly harm existing service providers. There are no competing licensees in the originating area proposed by the applicant. The applicant seeks to fill the service vacuum. The applicant is a local and knowledgeable with past business experience. There were no submitters to the application. I find the residents of Enderby and surrounding area would benefit from a local taxi service. I find that the application, if granted, would promote sound economic conditions in the passenger transportation business in British Columbia. VII. Rates The metered taxi rates proposed fall with the norms for British Columbia for the taxi service and are reasonable. The rates are approved as set out in the application summary. Page 5 Taxi Decision Passenger Transportation Board

6 VIII. Conclusion For the reasons above, this application is approved in whole. I establish the activation requirements and the terms and conditions of licence that are attached to this decision as Appendix I. I establish the rates that are attached to this decision as Appendix II. These form an integral part of the decision. Page 6 Taxi Decision Passenger Transportation Board

7 COPEMAN, Ida Clara dba JC Taxi Appendix I Licence Required to Operate Vehicles Approval of application may expire The Registrar of Passenger Transportation must issue the applicant a licence before the applicant can operate any vehicles approved in this decision. 1. The applicant must activate the vehicle within 6 months of the date of this decision. 2. If the applicant does not meet the requirements set out in 1 above, this Special Authorization expires. 3. The Passenger Transportation Board may vary the requirements set out in 1 above, if circumstances warrant it. 4. If an applicant needs more time to activate its vehicles, then the applicant must make a request to the Board before the end of the 6 month activation period. (Note: activate means that the applicant has submitted the documents required to obtain a Special Authorization Vehicle Identifier to the Registrar of Passenger Transportation.) Notice to Registrar The Registrar must not, without direction from the Board, issue the applicant a licence or any Special Authorization Vehicle Identifiers if the applicant has not activated the vehicle within 6 months of the date of this decision. (Note: activated means that the applicant has submitted to the Registrar of Passenger Transportation the documents required to obtain a Special Authorization Vehicle Identifier.) Special Authorization Maximum Fleet Size: Vehicle Capacity (T): Service 1 Originating Area: Destination Area: Passenger Directed Vehicle (PDV) 1 vehicle Terms & Conditions of Licence Vehicles A driver and not less than 2 and not more than 7 passengers. Services Transportation of passengers may only originate from points along the Highway 97A corridor from Enderby to Grindrod, and points along Mabel Lake Road to Mabel Lake. Transportation of passengers may terminate at any point in British Columbia. Page 7 Taxi Decision Passenger Transportation Board

8 Reverse Trips Transportation of passengers may only originate in the destination area if the transportation terminates in the originating area. Other Express authorizations: (i) Vehicles may be equipped with a meter that calculates fares on a time and distance basis. Taxi Cameras: (ii) Vehicles may be equipped with a top light. (iii) Vehicles may, from within the originating areas only, pick up passengers who hail or flag the motor vehicle from the street. Taxi camera equipment may only be installed and operated in vehicles when the licensee is in compliance with applicable taxi camera rules, standards and orders of the Passenger Transportation Board. Transfer of a licence: This special authorization may not be assigned or transferred except with the approval of the Board pursuant to section 30 of the Passenger Transportation Act. Page 8 Taxi Decision Passenger Transportation Board

9 COPEMAN, Ida Clara dba JC Taxi Appendix II (Rates) Metered Rates Rates ($) Initial flag 2.75 Additional distance (per kilometre) 1.80 Waiting time (per hour) Page 9 Taxi Decision Passenger Transportation Board