Toronto cabbies ticketed for refusing certain passengers

Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 09:15 AM
By: Jaime Pulfer and 680News staff

Toronto - Toronto police have cracked down on cabbies in the entertainment district, who have been refusing to take fares that are too small or not paid up-front.

Thirty-five charges have been laid in the project, "take me home," in which some drivers have come under fire for not playing fair when it comes to weekend fares.

Some cabbies looked for larger fares and passed by passengers who wanted to go shorter distances.

City Councillor Howard Moscoe, who heads up the city's licensing and standards committee, told 680News refusing a fare is illegal and that licenses have often been suspended because of this.

"[If] cab drivers refuse to take you because they're not happy it's a long enough run, every citizen has the right to take down the number on the door and report it," Moscoe told 680News.

The city bylaw stipulates that drivers can only refuse a fare if the passenger won't give a final destination, or if they're being abusive.

The Ontario Safety League worried club-goers will justify getting behind the wheel after having too much to drink, because cabs won't pick them up, leading to more cases of drunk driving.

James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4