Four ride-hail operators deemed 'unlicensed, unsafe, and unwelcome' and fined nearly $1800

On May 26th, 2022, Richmond RCMP’s Road Safety Unit teamed up with the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s Passenger Transportation Enforcement Officers to disrupt four unlicensed ride-hail operations in the City.

This was a very successful targeted enforcement project, says Corporal Ian Henderson of the Richmond RCMP. By coordinating efforts with our counterparts at the Ministry, the Richmond RCMP Road Safety Unit was able to identify four passenger vehicle operators whose entrepreneurial endeavors were unlicensed, unsafe and unwelcome in our community.

Each of the unlicensed ride-hail operators received a total of nearly $1800 worth of fines under the following charges:

• Operating a commercial passenger vehicle without a permit, contrary to the section 57(1) of the BC Passenger Transportation Act ($1150);
• Operating a commercial passenger vehicle with the wrong class of drivers license, contrary to section 24(1) of the BC Motor Vehicle Act ($276); and
• Operating a commercial passenger vehicle without a certificate of inspection, contrary to section 25.07(1) of the BC Motor Vehicle Act Regulations ($357).

As well, each of the operators received a Notice and Order requiring an immediate inspection of their vehicle. Officers removed (towed) one of the vehicles from the scene.

Safety is the ministry’s highest priority, and that includes protecting passengers against the dangers of illegal ride-hail, says Perry Dennis, Deputy Registrar with the ministry’s Passenger Transportation Branch. We have increased our enforcement activities to address illegal ride-hail, and we are stepping up our education of drivers who may not be aware they are working for illegal ride-hail companies, as well as potential passengers of these unlicensed services.

Richmond RCMP is committed to promoting public safety on our streets and roadways, added Corporal Henderson. Given the success of this project aimed at unsafe ride-hail operations, the public can expect to see similar targeted enforcement projects in the future.

Anyone with information on unlicensed ride-hailing operations in Richmond is asked to contact Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212, or the Ministry’s Passenger Transportation Branch at 604 527-2198 or passengertransportationbr@gov.bc.ca.