Calgary Taxi Riders May Face Fare Evasion Penalties

A Calgary city council committee has approved a schedule of new penalties that may be applied to cab users who attempt to avoid paying their fares. Riders who do not pay their fare will be fined anywhere from $500 to $1000 if the Calgary City Council votes in favor of these fines.

Some council members feel that the $1000 fine is far too steep and does not fit the crime. Taxi fare evasion is not known to be a large problem in Calgary, so it’s not clear what situation the city council committee is attempting to remedy.

Currently fare evasion is dealt with through criminal charges against the accused. This process is thought by many in law enforcement to be too cumbersome. Charging and securing a conviction takes time and costs the city unnecessary expense.

Supporters of the new penalties want to deal with fare evaders quickly, levying a heavy fine against them to decrease the chances they will attempt fare evasion again.

Riders aren’t the only ones who will be affected by the proposed penalties. Cab drivers will also face fines for refusing riders whose trips are too short in favor of those who are travelling farther and will be more profitable. Customers can report such incidents to the city’s 311 line, and the driver could be fined up to $1,000.

Calgary City Council will vote on these new penalties at the end of July. Even if they are approved it will take time for them to be implemented.