Cab fare hikes proposed

LIHUE – The Kauai County Council is scheduled to meet today.

The agenda includes:

• A proposed bill to increase taxicab fare from $3 to $3.75, the rate of each piece of baggage other than wheelchairs, bicycles and surf boards handled by the driver in loading and unloading or both from 40 cents to $1 and rear passenger compartment or trunk of the taxicab from $4 to $5 is also on next week’s agenda.

• The Kauai Police Department will be asking to accept funds awarded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy to be used for technical communications and wireless equipment to be used in conjunction with the Hawaii High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

“This much needed equipment will be invaluable to the department by greatly enhancing our intelligence gathering capabilities such as Title III investigations and other electronic investigations involving digital and telephonic information gathering,” said KPD Chief Darryl Perry in a letter to Council Chair Mel Rapozo.

Having the communication system in place, he said, will save KPD and the County of Kauai costs associated with these types of investigations because these types of officers will no longer have to travel to Oahu in order to use their equipment.

The meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. in Council Chambers at the Historic County Building.