Some taxis will no longer be dispatched by radio and medallion owners will be able to buy used cars as Boston police relax some rules this week — a move some say will provide needed relief for an industry struggling with competition from ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft.

“Public safety and consumer protection is the reason behind some of these changes, and to offer a little bit of incentive to the small-business guys,” said police spokesman Lt. Michael McCarthy.

Later this week, the Boston Police Department, which oversees cabbies through its Hackney Carriage unit, will eliminate a requirement that small medallion owners join radio associations that dispatch cabs.

And for the first time, taxi medallion owners will be able to buy used cars and paint them white. Previously, only new cars that were “factory white” were allowed.

And, a provision that allowed owners of a newer taxi to charge drivers $18 each shift will be changed to $9 per shift.

“This measure was meant to help the little guy,” McCarthy said.

Between 600 and 700 taxis will now be exempt from the radio association requirement, which means they will not be connected to a central dispatch company.

Radio associations include Boston Cab and Metro Cab. Those taxis will subsist on street hails and airport work, but won’t have to pay radio association dues. McCarthy said BPD believes there will be enough cabs to handle calls to the associations.

The taxi industry has been hit hard by the rise of Uber and Lyft, and much of the discussion in past meetings of Boston’s Taxi Advisory Committee centered on lessening the burden on taxi owners and drivers in the face of competition from the ride-hailing companies.

“They’re down 70 percent of their business,” said Donna Blythe-Shaw, a spokeswoman for the Boston Taxi Drivers Association. “What we’re trying to do is talk about taxi reform, and this is part of opening the door.”

McCarthy said a legal notice will likely go out tomorrow and the rules will go into effect Friday.

“The day-to-day costs are just killing the drivers and the owner-operators,” said Peter Sheinfeld, who owns two medallions. “I think it’s a step in the right direction. It ain’t everything, but it’s more than we’ve had in years.”

The Legislature is still working on a bill that would regulate the ride-hailing services. Speaker of the House Robert A. DeLeo had said a bill would be released in February, but now says he hopes to have a bill soon.