uber crackdown toronto

Toronto promises another crackdown on Uber

Toronto might have lost its legal injunction against Uber, but that doesn't mean the city plans on going easy on the company or its drivers. On Monday John Tory announced his desire to reform taxi bylaws to bring Uber inline with current cab operators, while yesterday the executive director of municipal licensing and standards also promised a crackdown on UberX drivers.

The blitz would be similar to one carried out earlier this year, where undercover officers use the Uber app to order a ride before charging the driver for a lack of commercial license/insurance. The idea, of course, is that individual charges serve as a deterrent against other drivers participating in the program.

Whether or not these charges will standup in court is a fuzzier matter. 11 Uber drivers were charged in a sting this March, but the city subsequently dropped the charge related to a lack of commercial insurance. It has, however, proceeded with a case against them for picking up passengers without a taxi license.

It's also possible, of course, that this is all just a lot of hot air out of the city. It's easy to threaten "immediate enforcement," but how that plays out remains to be seen. Council is set to debate Jim Karygiannis' motion to review Uber's operations later today.


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

A brief history of one of Toronto's pioneering industrial families

Canadians rip on the wealthy upset by the capital gains tax hike

Japanese person shares brutally honest guide to living in Canada

Most Canadian millennials think conventional approach to retirement is outdated

Here are all the Toronto parks where drinking will be permanently allowed

Alcohol in parks in Toronto is now permanent but some neighbourhoods are not happy

Video shows Ontario police throw flashbangs at suspect car in movie-level takedown

City of Toronto has been awarding multimillion-dollar contracts to single bidders