Saskatoon police inspect cabs

SGI and Saskatoon police were checking taxis this week.

The two agencies collaborated on a voluntary program which allowed taxis to come in for a quick once-over to make sure they were up to code.

Of 155 vehicles checked, 73 had no issues and 75 had minor problems. Seven cars had to be sent back to their shops for repairs before they could continue working.

Carlo Triolo, general manager of the United Group, said his company had three cars that needed to go back in for things like a cracked windshield or a faulty seatbelt latch.

Even so, he said the voluntary check-up was no replacement for more stringent inspections mandated once-a-year for all companies.  He said United actually does two more thorough inspections every year.

”(SGI) allow something like 1.8 hours for an inspection. And (the cars) have to be up on a hoist. These random inspections aren’t being done that way,” he said.

Triolo said that an average cab racks up about 100,000 kilometres per year.