Honk if you hate City Hall

Oct. 5.

Last week, a new taxi bylaw was passed by Toronto City Council in regard to taxicabs in the city. It forces cab owners to purchase brand new cars and only use them for six years. Previously, drivers were able to purchase vehicles up to a year old.

This doesn't make sense. What is the difference if you buy a new zero-kilometre car or a one-year-old car?

By buying a used car, drivers avoid paying for the freight and other taxes they would have to pay if they bought a new car. Plus, drivers save between $4,000 and $6,000 if they buy a used one-year-old car.

If Mayor David Miller is so concerned about tourism and the taxi industry, instead of forcing the added cost onto drivers, he should make the city pay up to $5,000 to drivers in order to have new cars on the road. It's like making store owners change their stores' outside and inside looks in order to please tourists. They will not listen to City Hall.

It has nothing to do with the city's image. I think this is about making more money for the car dealers, financial institutions and insurance companies. They're the ones who are going to profit from this bylaw.

The implications are as follows: More expensive cars means longer hours to work. To sleep less and work more, you get tired and sleepy behind the wheel. You will become an unsafe driver, develop a bad attitude and even become a lethal weapon, killing and hurting other pedestrians and/or drivers.

I don't think city council has any idea about the state of business in the cab industry.

The introduction of Ambassador cabs has slowed down the earnings per driver per shift. These additional costs will drive most cab owners and fleets out of business, which in turn forces their drivers to lose their jobs and end up looking for another job or seeking government assistance.

Fahim Akram, Toronto