Cab driver assaults warrant harsh sentences, says Tom Hann
A St. John's city councillor says despite continued assaults on taxi drivers, the local industry hasn't yet shown an interest in beefing up security in their cabs.
"What is the cost of taxi drivers getting attacked? And one of these days, it's going to be a lot more serious than what we've been seeing," Councillor Tom Hann told CBC News Monday.
Hann said incidents like Sunday's alleged assault on a City Wide Taxi driver have become common — and not just for cab drivers.
"We're talking about Metrobus drivers, we're talking about taxi drivers, we're talking about school bus drivers, ferry operators — anyone who operates a public transit system," he said.
While safety measures like dividers, onboard cameras and signaling devices offer added protection against potential attacks, Hann said the industry hasn't shown any interest in adopting such measures.
"There doesn't seem to be an appetite to go down that road. The industry doesn't want to do that and that's very unfortunate," he said.
"But I think the time is going to come when the industry is going to have to take a look at it."
Hann said the city has held public meetings between various local cab companies, but few drivers showed up to take part.
He believes a recent amendment to the Criminal Code which protects transit workers from attack could help cut the number of assaults.
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He said it's up to judges to follow through by delivering harsher sentences.
"I call on the courts that the next time a group of people are charged, or any person is charged, with assault on a public transit operator, to make sure that they look at Bill S-22, find out what can happen under the new legislation and hand down harsher sentences as a deterrent."
Driver left beaten and bloody
CBC News spoke with a dispatcher at City Wide Taxi who said that Sunday's alleged assault occurred after four men were picked up on Adelaide Street and asked to be taken to nearby Patrick Street — about 1.5 kilometres away.
When the passengers refused to pay for the ride, an argument ensued and the dispatcher said the driver was attacked from behind.
He said shortly after, another driver discovered the injured man lying on the ground outside his car on Patrick Street. He was beaten and bloody.
According to the dispatcher, the man was taken to hospital where x-rays were done of his face.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary have yet to release any further details.
It is asking anyone with information about the alleged attack to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
With files from Krissy Holmes