Cars operated by Vicksburg’s three cab companies will undergo tougher inspections under new regulations approved Tuesday by the city’s Public Transportation Board.

Under the new regulations which take effect immediately, mechanics at the city’s vehicle maintenance building will do a visual inspection to check the condition of the car’s brakes, exhaust system and tires, and look for fluid leaks. The mechanics will also road test the cars to check the speedometer, transmission action, steering, brakes and the parking brake.

The board voted 2-0 for the new regulation. Board chairman Jim Stirgus Jr. was not at the meeting.

The City’s vehicle-for-hire-ordinance requires cab owners to have the vehicles inspected every year.

No cab owners attended the meeting. In a previous meeting the taxi owners said they did not object to the inspection.

Under the previous regulations, the cabs were inspected annually by the Vicksburg Police Department to ensure the vehicle’s lights, turn and emergency signals, horn and speedometer worked, and the body, windshield and rear and side mirrors were in good condition, the seat belts worked, the taximeter was calibrated and the vehicle had the proper identification on both sides.

There was no inspection of the taxi’s mechanical operations.

“What this does, is it not only ensures the public, but it ensures everybody around that we are doing the best we can for our community, for our citizens and our tourists in this community,” board member Stan Collins said. “By taking these steps here, we’re showing there’s no buddy-buddy system or picking on this person or this person. This is a level field for everybody.”

Collins, who pushed for the stricter inspections, said the new regulations would ensure the vehicles are safer because they will be checked by the city’s professional mechanics.

Deputy city clerk John Carroll said the inspections are set for Jan. 27, 28 and 29, adding each company has been assigned a day for inspections. The inspections are set for 10 a.m.

In a related matter, Carroll said drivers and companies also have to renew their licenses when they get the vehicles inspected.

He said the cabs would receive new decals for 2015, which show the vehicles have been inspected by the city. “At the same time, the drivers have had their driver’s permit and license renewed,” he said.

He said residents using a car for hire need to look for the city’s decal in the lower left hand side of the rear window.

“If you don’t see it, it means it has not been inspected (by the city) and you’re riding at your own risk,” he said.