by P.J. Harston
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 29/97) - Sunshine Cabs won a reprieve from City Council Monday night when aldermen ordered its owners to hire two more drivers in 14 days or lose its operating licence.

The fledgling company won't be subjected to it is fifth inspection in just over a year until March -- a council committee had recommended all cabs be inspected within the two-week period.

Company president Nancy Howden unsuccessfully argued that the city's taxi bylaw requires a cab company to have 10 licensed cabs, but not 10 licensed drivers.

"I fought every point in the bylaw and provided written proof that I didn't break it," Howden told council about a meeting with a city bylaw constable.

"We're a new company and drivers are still testing us out."

The city's bylaw department began investigating the company earlier this year after receiving complaints that it wasn't providing 24-hour coverage, as required under the bylaw.

Municipal enforcement manager Gill Cox told council that his department also believes some of the 10 cabs registered to Sunshine may not be drivable.

Howden said that keeping all 10 cars thawed and plugged in would be silly if the company had fewer drivers. The company now has 10 cabs registered to be on the road but just eight drivers.

She said the bylaw, as she interpreted it, allows for fewer drivers if the company "intends" to hire 10. "And we've proved that because we've had as many as 12 drivers working for us at one time."

The company began operating in Oct. 1995, with just five drivers. Two months later it had 12, but last December it had just five drivers. Since then the number has risen to eight.

Aldermen were divided over the bylaw, which they said didn't seem clear. But clerk Brian Chambers said the city has previously interpreted the bylaw to mean 10 cabs must be registered to be on the road and 10 drivers must be signed on with the company.

Alderman Dick Peplow said that interpretation wasn't fair to local businesses.

"It's unrealistic to expect anyone to run a business and not have employees coming and going, I just can't see it," he said.

However, Mayor Dave Lovell suggested a compromise.

"I would suggest that you have two weeks to get two more drivers," he said. "However, if you hire two more and lose one, I think council would take that into consideration."

Alderman Ruth Spence recommended that council go along with the two-week hiring and inspection deadline until Chambers suggested an amendment to the recommendation.

He suggested council drop the inspection provision, noting that the regular annual cab inspection takes place in March, which council -- minus absent alderman Blake Lyons -- unanimously approved.