Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre says police should be able to prevent UberX drivers from driving by seizing their driver's licences.
Speaking at the hearings into modernizing the taxi industry Wednesday, Coderre was just one of several advocates for the traditional taxi industry who came out in favour of a strong hand from the Quebec government in dealing with the app-based taxi service.
Coderre says he's all for a sharing economy and one that uses new technology but it simply cannot overlook all existing laws - he made seven recommendations to the hearing today and then added another – that police be able to seize UberX drivers’ licences because what they’re currently doing is illegal, he said.
Coderre says the safety of the UberX cars must be checked, including the backgrounds of the drivers, the car’s mechanics and the insurance held by the driver in case of accident.
Montreal's taxi industry represents 60 per cent of the taxi business in the province and it sustains 22,000 families - it generates $182 million annually.
