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THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF GODERICH
BY-LAW 33 OF 2017
BEING A BY-LAW TO LICENCE, REGULATE AND GOVERN TAXICABS, SHUTTLE
VEHICLES AND LIMOUSINES IN THE TOWN OF GODERICH
CONSOLIDATION
This document is a consolidation of the Town of Goderich Taxi By-Law No. 33 of 2017 and
subsequent amendments made thereto. This compilation is for convenience for administrative
purposes and does not represent true copies of the by-laws it contains. Any legal interpretation of
this document should be verified with the Town Clerk.
This Consolidated Taxi By-Law contains:
Taxi By-Law No. 33 of 2017
and the following amendments thereto:
By-Law No. 71 of 2017
Disclaimer: The following version is an electronic reproduction made available for information
only. It is not an official version of the by-law. The format may be different, and plans, pictures,
other graphics, or text may be missing or altered. The Town of Goderich does not warrant the
accuracy of this electronic version. This consolidation cannot be distributed or used for commercial
purposes. It may be used for other purposes only if you repeat this disclaimer and the notice of
copyright. Official versions of all by-laws can be obtained from the Clerk's Department by calling
519-514-8344.
Consolidated as of April 2026
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THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF GODERICH
BY-LAW NO. 33 OF 2017
BEING A BY-LAW TO LICENCE, REGULATE AND GOVERN TAXICABS, SHUTTLE
VEHICLES AND LIMOUSINES IN THE TOWN OF GODERICH AND TO REPEAL
BY-LAWS 100 OF 2009, 64 OF 2010,
49 AND 63 OF 2014
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Part IV of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, c. 25, as
amended, the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Goderich may pass by-laws for
licensing, regulating and governing business;
AND WHEREAS subsection 151 (1) of the Municipal Act, 2001 provides that, without limiting
sections 9, 10, and 11 of the Act, a municipality may: provide a system of licences with respect
to a business and may;
a) prohibit the carrying on or engaging in the business without a licence;
b) refuse to grant a licence or to revoke or suspend a licence;
c) impose conditions as a requirement of obtaining, continuing to hold or renewing a
licence;
d) impose special conditions on a business in a class that have not been imposed on all of
the business in that class in order to obtain, continue to hold or renew a licence;
e) impose conditions, including special conditions, as a requirement of continuing to hold a
licence at any time during the term of the licence;
f) licence, regulate or govern real and personal property used for the business and the
persons carrying it on or engaged in it; and
g) require a person, subject to such conditions as the municipality considers appropriate, to
pay an administrative penalty if the municipality is satisfied that the person has failed to
comply with any part of a system of licences established by the municipality;
AND WHEREAS Section 156 (1) of the Municipal Act, 2001 gives authority for municipalities
to pass by-laws to establish rates to be charged for the conveyance of passengers; provide for the
collection of the rates charged for the conveyance; and limit the number of taxicabs licensed
within the municipality;
AND WHEREAS pursuant to Section 11 (2) and (3) of the Municipal Act, 2001 allows a
municipality to pass by-laws for one or more of the following purposes:
Health and safety and well-being of persons; and
Protection of persons and property, including consumer protection; and
Business licensing.
AND WHEREAS the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Goderich considers it
necessary and desirable to licence, regulate and govern taxicabs, shuttle vehicles and limousines
in the Town of Goderich;
AND WHEREAS Council deems it necessary and advisable to create set fines for violations at
$125.00;
AND WHEREAS for the purpose of proceedings under Part I of the Provincial Offences Act,
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the amount of fine set by the court for an offence is such amount as may be set by the Chief
Judge of the Ontario Court (Provincial Division);
AND WHEREAS a copy of the Judge's approved set fine schedule will be attached to this By-
Law;
NOW THEREFORE THE COUNCIL OF THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF
GODERICH ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
PART I - SHORT TITLE
1. This by-law may be cited as the "Taxi By-Law". In the text of the by-law, it is referred to
as "this by-law".
PART II - DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
1. Definitions
"Cab" shall include taxicabs.
"Clerk" shall mean the Clerk of the Town of Goderich or designate.
"Corporation" shall mean the Council of the Corporation for the Town of Goderich.
"Driver" shall mean the individual who has care and control of a taxicab.
"Limousine" shall mean an executive or stretch luxury motor vehicle that carries up to fourteen
passengers which is kept or used for hire for the conveyance of passengers on an hourly basis or
for a fixed fee between given locations, and which is not equipped with a taxi meter.
"Limousine Licence" see "taxicab licence".
"Municipal Law Enforcement Officer" shall mean the Municipal Law Enforcement Officer of
the Town of Goderich
"Police or Police Officers" shall mean a member of the Ontario Provincial Police
"Shuttle Vehicle" shall mean a motor vehicle for carrying eight or more persons, exclusive of the
driver, that is available for or providing a conveyance service, on an hourly basis or for fixed fee
between given locations, and which is not equipped with a taxi meter.
"Shuttle Vehicle Licence" See "taxicab licence"
"Taxicab" means a motor vehicle, other than a car pool vehicle, having a seating capacity of not
more than seven persons, exclusive of the driver, hired for one specific trip for the transportation
exclusively of one person or group of persons or goods, one fare or charge only being collected
or made for the trip.
"Taxicab Licence" means a licence obtained from the Corporation under the authority of this by-
law for a taxicab, shuttle vehicle and a limousine.
"Taxi Driver's Licence" means a licence issued under the authority of this by-law to a person for
the operation of a taxicab, shuttle vehicle and a limousine.
"Taxi meter" means any device installed in a taxicab accurately registering the kilometres
traveled by a taxicab and is approved by a recognized manufacturer.
2.
Interpretation
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For the purposes of this by-law:
a) The term "vehicle" shall mean a taxicab, a limousine or a shuttle vehicle, as defined by
the by-law.
b) The term "taxi" shall have the same meaning as "taxicab."
PART III - EXEMPTIONS
1. This by-law shall not apply to:
a) Pursuant to Section 156 (2) of the Municipal Act, a taxicab that meets both of the
following criteria:
i.
The purpose of conveyance is to transport persons with physical,
emotional or mental disabilities from any point in the municipality to any
point outside the municipality; and
ii.
The conveyance is made pursuant to a written contract for the use of a
taxicab which can legally operate in the municipality in which the
conveyance begins or ends.
b) An ambulance or funeral hearse;
c) A commercial bus contracted from a local travel agency or local travel excursion
company and used for the purposes of a travel excursion relating to leisure or
education;
d) A school bus as defined under the Highway Traffic Act that is licensed under the
Public Vehicles Act;
e) A motor vehicle used by not for profit organizations registered in the province of
Ontario for the purposes of transporting senior citizens or persons with
disabilities;
f) A motor vehicle used by local churches, local schools, local non-profit health
agencies and local service club events for the purposes of transporting passengers
free of charge;
g) A motor vehicle used as courtesy -shuttle transportation for a local car dealership
for the purposes of transporting one of their customers who is having a vehicle
serviced.
PART IV - ADMINISTRATION
1. The Clerk shall oversee the administration of this by-law on behalf of Council.
2. The Clerk is hereby authorized to issue taxicab licences and taxi driver's licences.
3. Any licence issued pursuant to the provisions of this by-law may be revoked or cancelled
with cause at any time by the Clerk.
4. Written notice of and reasons for the revocation of any licence issued pursuant to the
provisions of this by-law shall be hand delivered to the holder thereof or sent by
registered mail.
5. The Clerk shall refuse to grant a licence or renew a licence if the applicant has not
satisfied all of the requirements of this by-law and the Clerk shall provide notice of
refusal in writing.
6. Any act done by, or by authority of the Clerk under any provisions of this by-law is
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subject to an appeal to the Council in writing by any person aggrieved thereby.
PART V - LICENCES FOR DRIVERS OF TAXICABS, SHUTTLE VEHICLES AND
LIMOUSINES
1. No person shall operate or permit the use or operation of any taxicab, shuttle vehicle or
limousine within the Town of Goderich unless such person holds a valid Taxi Driver's
Licence issued by the Corporation for the current year and shall produce it upon demand
to the police, Municipal Law Enforcement Officer or passenger of the taxicab.
2. Prior to being licensed as a taxicab, shuttle vehicle or limousine driver, every applicant
shall:
a) Complete and submit to the Clerk an application in the form as provided by the
Town;
b) Provide the licence fee as per the Town's Fee By-law;
c) Provide his or her original criminal records check by the Ontario Provincial Police
dated within thirty (30) days of the application for a licence;
d) Provide his or her original 3-Year Driving Abstract from the Ministry of
Transportation dated within thirty (30) days of the date of application for a licence;
e) Have reached the age of nineteen (19) years;
f) Hold a valid Ontario's driver's licence issued by the Province of Ontario designated a
Class "G";
g) The following eligibility criteria must be satisfied at the time of application:
i.
The applicant shall not have accumulated more than four (4) demerit points in
his or her driving record at the time of application.
ii.
The person shall not have been convicted or found guilty within the preceding
twelve months of an offence under the Highway Traffic Act in regards to
moving violations.
iii.
The person shall not have been convicted or found guilty within the preceding
three (3) years of more than two (2) offences committed on different dates
under the Highway Traffic Act in regards to moving violations.
iv.
The applicant shall not have been convicted or found guilty within the
preceding five (5) years of an offence under the Criminal Code (Canada) or of
the Narcotics Control Act (Canada) or Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
v.
The applicant shall not have been convicted or found guilty within the
preceding ten (10) years of more than two (2) offences under the Criminal
Code (Canada), Narcotics Control Act (Canada), Controlled Drugs and
Substances Act.
vi.
An applicant for a taxi driver's licence must not have been convicted or found
guilty of an offence for conduct against minors or that in the opinion of the
Clerk affords reasonable grounds for believing that the person will not
properly perform his or her duties with passengers under the legal age
(minors) while having control of a taxi.
vii.
The applicant shall not have been convicted or found guilty of an offence
under the Liquor Licence Act of Ontario pertaining to the illegal sale or
purchase of liquor within the preceding three years.
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3. Any violation by the licensee of any of the requirements outlined in Part V (2) during the
period after a licence is issued may result in a revocation or cancellation of licence.
4. No person licensed under this by-law shall transfer from one taxi operator or company to
another without first having successfully completed a new licence application to the
Clerk;
5. Every person licensed under this by-law shall notify the Clerk within ten (10) business
days of any change of personal contact information;
6. Every taxi driver's licence, unless sooner revoked or cancelled, shall expire on April 30th
in each year. It is the taxi driver's responsibility to ensure that he or she has valid taxi
driver's licence.
PART VI - LICENCES FOR TAXICABS, SHUTTLE VEHICLES, AND LIMOUSINES
1. The owner of any taxi, shuttle vehicle or limousine shall not use or operate the same or
allow the same to be used or operated without a valid vehicle licence issued by the
Corporation.
2. Prior to being granted a licence for a taxicab, shuttle vehicle or limousine every applicant
shall:
a) Complete and submit to the Clerk an application in the form provided from the Town.
b) Provide a valid Safety Standards Certificate for the vehicle.
c) Provide the licence fee as per the Town's Fee By-law;
d) policy shall insure in respect of any one accident to a minimum of one million dollars
($1,000,000.00), exclusive of interest and costs, against loss or damage resulting from
bodily injury to, or death, of one or more persons and loss of or damage to property;
and said policy shall make provision for passenger hazard in an amount not less than
the foregoing;
e) The Town of Goderich shall be given at least ten (10) days prior written notice of any
cancellation, expiration or change in the amount of the insurance policy.
f) In the case of a leased motor vehicle, provide the Clerk with a true copy of the lease
agreement and advise the Clerk of any change, extension, or cancellation of the lease
agreement prior to such change, extension or cancellation.
3. Every taxicab, shuttle vehicle or limousine licence, unless sooner revoked or cancelled,
shall expire on April 30th in each year. It is the owner's responsibility to ensure he or she
has a valid vehicle licence.
4. No person shall operate or cause to be operated a taxicab unless there is installed therein
a properly operating taxi meter that is registering the correct kilometres traveled.
5. Every owner of a taxicab shall ensure that every taxi meter is inspected once every two
(2) years by a recognized manufacturer and/or calibration service company to ensure that
it is registering correctly, and an appropriate seal be attached thereto. The taxi company
shall provide proof of calibration to the Clerk on or before April 30th in each calibration
year. This proof of calibration may be dated within thirty (30) day period preceding the
aforenoted due date.
6. The taxi company shall retain all records of repairs and certifications and provide them to
the police or Municipal Law Enforcement Officer or Clerk upon demand.
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7. Every taxicab, shuttle vehicle, or limousine owner shall provide the Clerk with a valid
Safety Standards Certificate on or before April 30th and October 31st in each year.
8. A taxicab, shuttle vehicle, and limousine shall not be operated in the absence of a current
Safety Standards Certificate and the licence shall be deemed to be revoked should the
owner of the taxicab, shuttle vehicle and limousine fail to file in accordance with the
dates set out in Part VI (7).
9. Safety Standard Certificates required under Part VI (7) may be dated within the thirty
(30) day period preceding the aforenoted due dates.
10. The owner of a taxicab, limousine or shuttle vehicle shall ensure that the requirements of
the Highway Traffic Act for such vehicle are met.
11. A copy of the vehicle licence shall be retained in each individual vehicle and shall be
presented to the police, Municipal Law Enforcement Officer or passenger upon demand.
12. Every taxicab, shuttle vehicle and limousine shall be available at all times for inspection
by a police officer or a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer.
13. Every owner of more than one taxi, shuttle vehicle or limousine required to be licensed
under this by-law shall take out a licence for each individual taxi, shuttle vehicle or
limousine.
14. A taxi company shall obtain a licence for the delivery of liquor in accordance with the
Liquor Licence Act. The taxi company shall abide by the terms and conditions and shall
retain a copy of every current licence. No taxicab driver shall deliver liquour without the
appropriate licence.
15. No vehicle licensed under this by-law shall be transfered from one company to another
without first having submitted a new licence application to the Clerk and satisfying the
requirements of this By-Law;
16. The person in whose name a vehicle licence is taken out for a vehicle shall be considered
as the owner of the same for the purpose of this by-law and shall be liable for the
penalties therein described.
PART VII - ACCESSIBILITY
1. No taxi owner or driver shall charge a higher fare or an additional fee than the rates set
out in Schedule 'A' of this by-law for persons with disabilities than a person without
disabilities for the same trip.
2. No taxi owner or driver shall charge a fee for the storage of mobility aids or mobility
assistive devices, such as, but not limited to, wheelchairs, canes or walkers.
3. If a person with a disability is accompanied by a service animal, the taxi owner or driver
shall permit the person to use the taxicab and to keep the service animal with him or her.
4. All taxicabs must have vehicle registration and identification information displayed on
the rear bumper and available in an accessible format to passengers.
PART VIII - GENERAL PROVISIONS
1. No licensed owner shall employ any person other than a licensed driver to drive his/her
taxi, shuttle vehicle or limousine.
2. The driver of any licensed vehicle shall, upon request of any passenger, give in writing
his name, taxi driver's licence number, and the licence number of his/her vehicle together
with the name and address of the owner of the said vehicle.
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3. Every licensed owner or driver shall, to the best of their knowledge and ability, give full
information to any police officer or Municipal Law Enforcement Officer on being
requested to do so with respect to the address of the house or place to or from which any
passenger was driven, with the description, name and address of any such passenger.
4. Every person licensed under this by-law shall, while on duty, unless the taxicab, shuttle
vehicle or limousine has been previously engaged, serve at any specified time any person
who may require a taxicab, shuttle vehicle or limousine and shall not purposely neglect or
refuse to fulfill any lawful appointment or engagement.
5. No person licensed under this by-law shall take, consume, have in his or her possession
or be under the influence of any illegal drug while operating a taxicab, shuttle vehicle or
limousine.
6. No person licensed under this by-law shall take, consume or be under the influence of
any alcohol while operating a taxicab.
7. No owner or driver licensed under this by-law shall knowingly permit a licensed vehicle
to be used by any person in the commission of or in aid of the commission of any offence
under the Criminal Code of Canada, any Provincial statute or Municipal by-law.
8. The tariff card (Schedule "A") furnished by the Corporation shall be placed and kept by
the person licensed in or upon his/her taxi in plain view of all passengers and no person
so licensed shall use any other tariff card.
9. No owner or driver shall demand or request any greater sum than the rate permitted by
Schedule "A" of this by-law.
10. Every licensed person operating a taxi shall be permitted to operate on an hourly basis at
the request of the passengers and then only at the rate therefore fixed by Schedule "A" of
this by-law.
11. It shall be lawful for the owner or driver of any licensed vehicle for carrying passengers
for hire to demand prompt payment of his/her lawful fare or hire from the person or
persons using the same.
12. The owner or driver of any licensed vehicle for carrying passengers for hire outside the
Town of Goderich may require pre-payment of his/her lawful fare.
13. No person licensed under this by-law shall carry in any taxi, shuttle vehicle or limousine
used for hire a greater number of occupants or persons than the manufacturer's seatbelt
capacity of such vehicle.
14. The owner or driver of any vehicle licensed under this by-law shall keep the interior and
exterior of such vehicle clean and dry and in good repair and when such owner of such
vehicle has received notice (either given to him/her or to his/her driver) and signed by the
police or Clerk, that such vehicle is not in fit and proper condition for use, stating briefly
the items complained of, such owner shall within the time mentioned in such notice, put
the same in a fit and proper condition.
15. Every person licensed under this by-law shall take due care of all property delivered, or
entrusted to and accepted by them for conveyance or safekeeping. All property left in the
taxicab shall be delivered over to the person owning same, or, if the person cannot be
found at once, shall be taken and placed in the company office. Notwithstanding the
above, should money, a purse or wallet containing personal identification or important
papers be found, the same shall be forthwith taken to the nearest police station.
PART IX - SCOPE
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1. This By-Law shall apply to all land within the geographic limits of the Town of
Goderich.
PART X - ENFORCEMENT
1. The provisions of this by-law may be enforced by any police officer and/or the Town's
Municipal Law Enforcement Officer.
PART XI - OFFENCE AND PENALTIES
1. Every person who contravenes any of the provisions of this By-Law is guilty of an
offence.
2. Every person who is convicted of an offence under this By-Law is liable to a fine as
provided for in the Provincial Offences Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.33, as amended, or as
otherwise imposed by the presiding Justice.
PART XII - SEVERABILITY:
1. Should any section of this By-Law be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
ultra vires or illegal for any reason, the remaining part shall be nevertheless remain valid
and binding, and shall be read as if the offending section or part had been struck out.
PART XIII - ENACTMENT
1. Any licence that was issued under the provisions of By-Law 100 of 2009 as amended and
that is valid on April 30th, 2017 shall be deemed to have been issued under this By-Law
and will be valid until such licence is revoked or until it expires on April 30th, 2017,
whichever occurs first.
2. By-laws 100 of 2009, 64 of 2010, 49 of 2014 and 63 of 2014 are hereby repealed.
3. Any existing investigation, legal proceeding or remedy under By-Law 100 of 2009 as
amended shall be continued as if By-Law 100 of 2009 as amended had not been repealed.
4. The set fines for violations not otherwise provided by provincial statute shall be $125.00.
5. This By-Law shall not come into force and effect until it is filed and approved by the
Regional Senior Justice, Ontario Court of Justice.
6. The Mayor and Clerk are hereby authorized to execute and affix the Corporate Seal.
READ A FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD TIME AND FINALLY PASSED THIS 20th DAY
OF MARCH, 2017.
MAYOR, Kevin Morrison
CLERK, Dwayne Evans
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SCHEDULE "A"
CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF GODERICH
TAXI, SHUTTLE VEHICLE AND LIMOUSINE FEES
TAXI:
Part A
Conveyance of goods and passengers within the municipality or to any point not more than five
kilometres beyond the municipal limits:
1.
Meter Drop
$3.85
For each .10 kilometre and any part thereof
$0.25
2.
Taxi Cabs engaged on an hourly basis (where vehicle is standing), per hour within the
coverage area (3.2 kilometres or 2 mile radius)
$39.00
3.
Delivery of groceries, parcels, etc
$10.00
and for every subsequent stop for same customer
$4.00
4.
Every taxicab operated in the Town of Goderich shall be equipped with taxi meter of a
standard type approved by a recognized manufacturer and so placed in the taxicab as to
be conveniently seen at all times by any passenger or passengers therein.
5.
Every such taxi meter shall be set to register the rates in conformity with the tariff set out
in Schedule "A" to this bylaw and shall be the only rates charged for transportation from
one point to another in the Town of Goderich or from a point in the Town of Goderich to
any point within a distance of five (5) kilometres of the limits of the Town of Goderich.
6.
No person shall operate or cause to be operated a taxicab unless there is installed therein a
properly operating taxi meter that is registering the correct kilometres traveled.
7.
Every taxi meter shall be inspected once every two (2) years by a recognized
manufacturer and/or calibration service company to ensure that it is registering correctly,
and an appropriate seal be attached thereto. The taxi company shall provide proof of
calibration to the Clerk on or before April 30th in each calibration year. This proof of
calibration may be dated within thirty (30) day period preceding the aforenoted due date.
8.
The taxi company shall retain all records of repairs and certifications and provide them to
the police or Municipal Law Enforcement Officer or Clerk upon demand.
9.
While every taxi meter should be accurate, the tolerances thereon shall not exceed the
following:
a) On kilometre tests (road test) with respect to computed distance actually traveled, a
tolerance of twenty-eight (28) metres short of one point six (1.6) kilometres and nine (9)
metres for each additional five hundred and thirty-three (533) metres or fifty-five (55)
metres over one point six (1.6) kilometres.
b) Certification of compliance with the above tolerances is retained by the taxi company.
Part B
Conveyance of goods and passengers from any point within the municipality to any point greater
than five kilometres outside the municipality.
As determined by the owner.
LIMOUSINE:
As determined by the owner.
SHUTTLE VEHICLE:
As determined by the owner.