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Ottawa police investigate alleged taxi vs. Uber video
'If I see you again, you're dead meat. Go follow the law and get a real job'
By Chloe Fedio, CBC News Posted: Sep 13, 2015 11:17 AM ET Last Updated: Sep 13, 2015 3:57 PM ET
A video circulating online that claims to show an Ottawa taxi driver threatening an Uber driver and passenger is now the subject of a police investigation.
A Chateau Laurier spokesperson confirmed the hotel handed over security footage taken around 1:30 a.m. ET Saturday that "may have been related" to the video. The video, which appears to have been taken from inside a vehicle, shows a man shouting at the driver.
"If I see you again, you're dead meat. Go follow the law and get a real job. I'm not joking with you," the man tells the driver before holding open the back door and shouting at the passenger.
"Take a real taxi you f---ing cheapskate," he said. Both sides threaten to call police in the profane exchange recorded for one minute and 21 seconds.
Sgt. Fred St. Pierre said Ottawa police launched an investigation after a third party brought the video to their attention.
"We don't have a complainant. That's the issue," he said.
Although the name of an Ottawa taxi driver has been shared on social media in connection with the confrontation, St. Pierre said police have not yet identified anyone involved in the video.
Uber Canada issued a written statement in French to Radio-Canada on Sunday afternoon, calling for an end to intimidation tactics in favour of a constructive dialogue.
Taxi bylaw review underway
This is the latest video in an ongoing dispute that pits Ottawa taxi drivers against Uber drivers, who operate without required licences.
This summer, a group of taxi drivers went undercover as Uber passengers and posted vigilante-style videos of the rides online in an attempt to collect evidence.
Ottawa police and bylaw officers have laid dozens of charges against Uber drivers, resulting so far in more than $20,000 in fines, since the service launched in Ottawa in October 2014. Authorities, along with Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, have called on taxi drivers to leave the collection of evidence to them.
Watson compared taxi drivers secretly filming Uber drivers to thugsearlier this summer.
After the latest video began circulating online Saturday, Watson tweeted that he fast-tracked the taxi bylaw review, which started last week.
"These cabbies are hurting the reputation of all by their bullying," Watson wrote in a tweet.
'If I see you again, you're dead meat. Go follow the law and get a real job'
By Chloe Fedio, CBC News Posted: Sep 13, 2015 11:17 AM ET Last Updated: Sep 13, 2015 3:57 PM ET
A video circulating online that claims to show an Ottawa taxi driver threatening an Uber driver and passenger is now the subject of a police investigation.
A Chateau Laurier spokesperson confirmed the hotel handed over security footage taken around 1:30 a.m. ET Saturday that "may have been related" to the video. The video, which appears to have been taken from inside a vehicle, shows a man shouting at the driver.
"If I see you again, you're dead meat. Go follow the law and get a real job. I'm not joking with you," the man tells the driver before holding open the back door and shouting at the passenger.
"Take a real taxi you f---ing cheapskate," he said. Both sides threaten to call police in the profane exchange recorded for one minute and 21 seconds.
Sgt. Fred St. Pierre said Ottawa police launched an investigation after a third party brought the video to their attention.
"We don't have a complainant. That's the issue," he said.
Although the name of an Ottawa taxi driver has been shared on social media in connection with the confrontation, St. Pierre said police have not yet identified anyone involved in the video.
Uber Canada issued a written statement in French to Radio-Canada on Sunday afternoon, calling for an end to intimidation tactics in favour of a constructive dialogue.
Taxi bylaw review underway
This is the latest video in an ongoing dispute that pits Ottawa taxi drivers against Uber drivers, who operate without required licences.
This summer, a group of taxi drivers went undercover as Uber passengers and posted vigilante-style videos of the rides online in an attempt to collect evidence.
Ottawa police and bylaw officers have laid dozens of charges against Uber drivers, resulting so far in more than $20,000 in fines, since the service launched in Ottawa in October 2014. Authorities, along with Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, have called on taxi drivers to leave the collection of evidence to them.
Watson compared taxi drivers secretly filming Uber drivers to thugsearlier this summer.
After the latest video began circulating online Saturday, Watson tweeted that he fast-tracked the taxi bylaw review, which started last week.
"These cabbies are hurting the reputation of all by their bullying," Watson wrote in a tweet.
