Council interested in new taxi rules for Iowa City

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - The City Council has expressed interest in formulating new rules to govern the taxi business in Iowa City.

The Iowa City Press-Citizen says (https://icp-c.com/VFfwTF ) a council majority expressed during Tuesday’s work session a desire to pursue recommendations from Police Chief Sam Hargadine. A sexual assault investigation last year was slowed because officers spent hundreds of hours trying to track down local cab driver information to build a case.

Hargadine said Tuesday that he will begin drafting an ordinance. The proposal could include a requirement that companies hire drivers as employees rather than as independent contractors, city-issued IDs and 24-hour dispatch centers.

Cab company officials have said they’ll oppose some of the measures.

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Information from: Iowa City Press-Citizen, https://www.press-citizen.com/