The first stage of a bill that would make global positioning systems (GPS) mandatory for taxis was tabled in the House of Assembly yesterday.

The Motor Car Amendment (No. 2) Act 2004 was read for the first time in the Lower House by Transport Minister Ewart Brown.

If passed, the Act will make mandatory, in addition to two-way radio sets, the installation of a mobile data terminal, a global positioning device and an alarm device.

?The global positioning device means a device which enables a taxi despatching service to monitor the location of a motor taxi which is registered with that taxi despatching service,? the bill states.

The bill also includes the mandatory implementation of a security device that would be used if a driver is in need of assistance. While the mobile data terminal is a device capable of receiving text messages.

GPS has come under fire by many taxi owners who say they will not support the legislation.

Bermuda Taxi Owners Association (BTOA) spokesman Lee Tucker said he was disappointed the bill was tabled already.

?We were told it would not be tabled until we had further discussions. We spoke with the Government and they promised it would not be tabled until their were further talks,? said Mr. Tucker.

A meeting of the executive board of the BTOA is scheduled to go ahead some time next week while the governing body would then later meet to decide ?what action will be taken?, said Mr. Tucker.

He said he could not comment whether the governing body would consider strike action.