Throwing more licensed taxis into the mix won’t necessarily alleviate long wait times experienced during peak hours, say officials long involved in talks surrounding appropriate service levels.

As some members of the taxi industry worry new impaired-driving laws in Alberta will push both passengers and drivers past the breaking point, a Calgary alderman says it’s hard to convince cabbies to work the shifts when they are typically needed most.

“The problem is these guys want to work a 9-5 job like everybody else,” said Ray Jones, who previously served on the city’s taxi appeal board for 13 years. “They don’t want to deal with the drunks, the people that are going to throw up in their cabs or do a dine-and-dash…. You can’t blame them for that.”

Jones pointed out that many establishments have taken it upon themselves to offer ride-home services for patrons, but many hospitality-industry representatives contend all of that responsibility shouldn’t fall on their shoulders.

Hudsons Canadian president Mike Yasinski, who owns seven Alberta locations, said smaller establishments are sometimes able to offer alternative transportation to patrons but that it wouldn’t be feasible for larger-scale venues like his.

“It would be impossible to do…. There would be no economic sense around that,” he said.

Despite Jones’ contentions with increasing taxi licences, the volunteer-run taxi and limousine advisory committee is slated to evaluate service levels and report to a city committee in February.

“You to have to give it (the new law) some time,” said committee chair Stephanie Ho Lem. “It’s out there and is something we will have to look at.”

Provincial representatives said yesterday the new impaired-driving laws will come into effect within seven months.