City council accepts Richmond cabbie’s appeal for permit
Civic politicians have sided with a local cabbie who appealed to the city after Richmond RCMP denied him a chauffeur’s permit.
Parmjit Singh Atwal made the rare appeal Tuesday after Richmond RCMP rejected his application for a permit, citing two “instances involving violence” within the past year.
Atwal has worked the night shift as a Richmond Taxi driver since 2004. Both incidents stem from transporting passengers to and from local pubs.
Coun. Harold Steves said in each case, it wasn’t clear who was at fault, and may well have been the passenger’s.
Atwal wasn’t charged in either incident.
“Without having been at the courts, the council felt unanimously we shouldn’t be taking away the licence of a person without adequate evidence that the altercations actually occurred,” said Steves.
Chauffeur’s permits are granted by local police, and are necessary to operate a motor vehicle carrying passengers for hire.
Under the Motor Vehicle Act, city councils have the power to overturn a decision from police officials.
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