Hamilton lowers bylaw boom on eight Uber drivers
Thespec.com
Sept. 10, 2015
By Matthew Van Dongen
Eight Uber drivers in Hamilton are facing a total of 23 bylaw charges, the City of Hamilton announced Thursday morning.
The charges are violations of the city's taxi bylaw and include the offences of operating a taxi without a licence, driving a vehicle not approved for use as a taxi and failing to provide a copy of third-party liability insurance to the city.
Total fine amounts may exceed $25,000.
"The city's taxi bylaw is in place to protect the public," Ken Leendertse, director of licensing said in a news release. "Through that bylaw we ensure that vehicles are safe, drivers are appropriately screened, and both drivers and passengers are properly insured."
The city did not immediately provide a list of the charged individuals.
But Uber spokesperson Xavier Van Chau expressed disappointment at the charges, arguing the courts have ruled the service is "a unique business model that is distinct from taxi" and deserves a separate "regulatory solution."
"We don't believe that the burden of enforcement should fall on individual drivers and Uber will stand behind our hardworking community of partners when these isolated cases arise," he said via email.
It wasn't immediately clear if the global ride-hailing company planned to provide legal support for the individuals charged by the city.
Uber launched in Hamilton in July and has been a source of agitation for the city's licensed taxi industry. It did not apply for a broker's licence.
Cities including Toronto and Waterloo are considering fare cuts for traditional taxis and new regulations for Uber.
The taxi bylaw ensures safety measures, including that vehicles are not more than six years old and are properly insured. Taxis in Hamilton are inspected semi-annually.
