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Ex-cabbie loses bid for license reinstatement

A cab driver caught in a May 2002 police sting of the city's taxi industry will not have his license reinstated, North Bay Police Services Board chairman William Ferguson stated in a news release Wednesday.
A cab driver caught in a May 2002 police sting of the city's taxi industry will not have his license reinstated, North Bay Police Services Board chairman William Ferguson stated in a news release Wednesday.

Roy Bovay, 42, had pleaded guilty in 2003 to possession, trafficking 164 grams of marijuana and possessing the proceeds of crime, and received a three-month jail sentence.

He served two-thirds of it and asked the police services board for reconsideration last month.

He admitted what he had done was wrong, said his life was in "turmoil," and asked the board to give him a second chance "so I can get on with my life."

But during its meeting Tuesday the police services board discussed Bovay's application, and decided against it.

Ferguson said he had concerns about the safety of the public.

"Mr. Bovay was running a criminal enterprise by selling illicit drugs while employed as a taxi driver and the board has a duty to ensure this type of behaviour is not tolerated," Ferguson stated in the news release.

Bovay was originally charged after the two-week Operation Fareplay.

Const. Christi Lafrance went undercover as a taxi passenger during the operation, and was able to purchase marijuana from or through the taxi drivers who picked her up.

Four other taxi drivers involved in the sting have since had their licenses reinstated.