'back-door business' — windsor taxi drivers want city to take down 'pirate' drivers
the city said violations under its public vehicle licen...
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vets cab drivers listen to emile nabbout, president of unifor local 195, talk about the dangers of unregulated "pirate" rideshare operators during a meeting at the somme avenue union hall on thursday, dec. 19, 2024.
trevor wilhelm
/
windsor star
sting operations and hefty fines are among the suggestions from windsor cabbies who want the city to shut down “pirate” drivers cutting into their business and posing potential safety threats. “the pirates who are stealing our livelihood and putting our community at risk, they are on social media, they are on facebook, tiktok, what’s app,” said emile nabbout, president of unifor local 195, which represents vets cab drivers. “call them, find them, and fine them.”
local 195 held a meeting with vets cab management thursday night at the somme avenue union hall to address what they say is a growing problem and call on the city to take action.
this isn’t about companies like uber, which operate under the same bylaw as vets cab. they’re talking about unregulated drivers who don’t have permits or public vehicle insurance and haven’t endured the strict screening required of taxi drivers, including police checks.
vets cab project manager walter bezzina, at the lectern, and emile nabbout, president of unifor local 195, warned about the dangers of unregulated “pirate” rideshare operators during a meeting at the somme avenue union hall on thursday, dec. 19, 2024.
trevor wilhelm
/
windsor star
vets cab project manager walter bezzina calls them “bandits.”
“what they do is say, if we get caught, you’re my friend, i’m just giving you a ride,” said bezzina. “that’s back-door business. somehow, we’ve got to find a way to stop it.”
ward 7 coun. angelo marignani and ward 9 coun. kieran mckenzie, who attended the thursday meeting, plan to raise the issue at the next city council meeting.
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“the unregulated space is a danger to the public and we need to take some steps to address it,” said mckenzie.
he said it’s an ongoing issue that the city is trying to tackle.
“there are some enforcement challenges,” said mckenzie. “but the bottom line is at the end of the day, public safety needs to be paramount. there’s a reason why this sector is regulated in every city that i’m aware of in the western world. it’s to protect the public.”
ward 7 coun. angelo marignani told a crowd of vets taxi drivers at a unifor union hall meeting on thursday. dec. 18, 2024, that he plans to raise the issue of unregulated rideshare operators at an upcoming city hall meeting.
trevor wilhelm
/
windsor star
ward 9 coun. kieran mckenzie, speaking at the unifor union hall on somme avenue, thursday, dec. 19, 2024, says public safety must come first when it comes to transportation drivers at a city council meeting.
trevor wilhelm
/
windsor star
the city said in an email to the star that it investigates complaints about unregulated drivers and other issues, and will continue with enforcement.
“health and safety is paramount,” the city said. “the public is urged to only engage with transportation services that are licensed by the city of windsor. licensed services will ensure the riding public is being served by drivers that have been vetted through strict background and record checks and vehicles that have been subject to specific maintenance standards, as well as having proper and valid insurance.”
the city said violations under its public vehicle licensing by-law carry a range of fines up to $5,000.
vets drivers say the problem has escalated in the last year, with illegal drivers popping up at the train station, airport, and shopping malls. they also advertise on social media.
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“they’re not licensed, they’re not regulated, they’re not insured,” said moe abouzeeni, chair of the vets cab unit with unifor local 195. “but they’re doing rideshare. the majority of them are international students. if you go to via rail, you see them soliciting right at the train doors. they don’t wait for you to come out.”
abouzeeni estimated the pirates are stealing about 40 per cent of business from taxi drivers.
“right now, our drivers are barely covering their expenses,” he said.
bezzina doubted it was that much, but didn’t deny it’s a problem.
“we’re definitely noticing a loss in ridership,” he said.
but the union and company both insisted it’s more than a business issue. they said unregulated means unvetted.
bezzina noted recent cases in peel region and toronto of illegal rideshare drivers charged with sexually assaulting passengers.
emile nabbout, president of unifor local 195, left, vets cab project manager walter bezzina, and moe abouzeeni, chair of local 195’s vets cab unit, talk about the dangers of unregulated “pirate” rideshare operators during a meeting at the somme avenue union hall on thursday, dec. 19, 2024.
trevor wilhelm
/
windsor star
abouzeeni said anyone who wants to be a taxi driver in windsor must obtain a police background check, which is $105. then they must be approved for vets cab insurance.
“if you have anything on your driving record for the past three years, you’re not getting on our insurance,” said abouzeeni.
after that, the applicant must pass an english test and a geography test, which each cost about $90. then abouzeeni said they must apply to city to get a taxi permit, which costs $128.
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he added that each car is equipped with security cameras.
“you could be going to montreal,” said abouzeeni. “that camera doesn’t stop recording.”
every cab is also insured up to $15 million for each ride.
“our members are well-trained and identified,” said abouzeeni. “our cars are marked. they’re numbered. you’re getting into a taxi knowing that you’re safe.”
the city of windsor said residents can call 311 to file a complaint or inquire if a particular service or company holds a valid public vehicle license.
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