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Shine on

It’s a practice that dumbfounds newcomers to Halifax: why do taxis in Halifax leave the roof lights on when there’s a passenger inside?

The answer has its roots in one of the oldest cases on Halifax’s major unsolved crimes list.  “The body of Mr. [Michael Leo] Resk was found inside a Chevrolet delivery truck at the corner of Roome and Acadia Street in Halifax,” says the Halifax Regional Police’s website. “The victim was last seen during the evening on December 8, 1955 at approximately [sic] 11:45 p.m. Mr. Resk died of gun shot [sic] wounds.”

A witness spotted a taxi near the crime scene. Because the roof light wasn’t illuminated, it couldn’t be identified. As a result, it became mandatory for the roof lights to be on. Councillor Steve Adams fails to see the logic, especially given today’s technology. “If somebody is going to be involved in something illegal, they’re not going to have the light on anyway,” he says.

Taxi drivers are also not fans. “We’ve been fighting that [rule] for a long time,” says Doug Brine, president of the Halifax Taxi Drivers Association. “It’s dangerous for us [drivers], it’s dangerous for the people.”

Adams says one solution that’s been floated is having an orange light on the right dashboard, located in the same position as the safety sticker on the opposite side. If the light was on, it would indicate the taxi was available.

HRM is trying to come up with a solution. “It is definitely on our agenda and on our radar to look at,” says Kevin Hindle, the regional coordinator of Taxi and Limousine Services.

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