Red Deer cabbie George Cavic is getting his taxi licence back while the city revamps its bylaws.
Cavic complained earlier this month that his taxi licence had been suspended because of the colour of his new vehicle.
When he tried to transfer his taxi licence to his new car, Cavic was denied by the City of Red Deer’s licensing department on grounds his new vehicle is white — the same colour as the competition, the Associated Cabs fleet.
Cavic, an independent cab driver who operates under the banner Red Deer Taxi, argued that colour considerations should not apply, since cab company logos are distinctive enough.
He noted all city and police vehicles are also white, and both FedEx and Purolator have white delivery vehicles, the only difference being their logos.
Some city staff appeared to agree with him, because the appeal board that met Thursday to consider his case received a request in advance from city administrators asking that the matter be deferred to when the new taxi bylaw is approved by council.
The request states that colour may no longer be a consideration in the new taxi bylaw. If it continues to be, then Cavic’s appeal can be heard on Oct. 3.
In the meantime, his licence suspension is being lifted on grounds that keeping it in place until the new bylaw is approved would create financial hardship. Cavic was told he won’t have to repaint his car.
Cavic agrees with the city’s decision, and hopes the taxi bylaw will be changed to remove vehicle colour from consideration.
lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com
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