Taking a cab in Bridgewater is about to cost a little more.
The six dollar flat rate for a single passenger is going up to eight dollars beginning March 8.
The increase brings rates in line with what similar municipalities across the province are charging.
Bridgewater’s six cab companies set their rates and town council made changes to the Taxi By-Law to allow the fees to be changed without having to be voted on by council.
Mayor David Mitchell says part of the changes also include stricter enforcement against unlicensed cabs.
“You will see a sticker in the front windshield of taxi-cabs, [with] the town of Bridgewater logo. We will educate the public on what that looks like. So you know that you’re getting into a licensed cab.”
Mitchell says licensed taxis need to undergo more stringent vehicle inspections, have a criminal record check and carry a minimum amount of insurance to protect their passengers.
“All these things to protect the public and to protect the legitimate cab company is not in place for those that are operating illegally.”
Under the new rules, the town’s by-law enforcement officer can penalize cabs operating without a permit.
Mitchell says better enforcement was needed to protect both the taxi operators and the public.
