ON Friday, January 2, Richmond RCMP’s Road Safety Unit partnered with Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement (CVSE) to conduct a joint-force operation targeting illegal ride hailing operators. Those stopped during the operation faced a combined total of $10,615 in fines and penalty points. Repeat offenders also had their vehicles towed.

RCMP noted that illegal ride-hailing is both unlawful and dangerous to the public. Drivers working for licensed ride-hailing companies must meet provincial regulatory requirements, including criminal record checks, driving history reviews, and proper commercial insurance. Unlicensed operators do not undergo these checks and are not properly insured, placing passengers at significant risk.

It’s important for the public to know that drivers who operate unlicensed ride-hailing vehicles typically do so because they would be ineligible to work for a licensed taxi or ride-hailing company. In one instance during this operation, the driver stopped had been convicted of five violent criminal offenses since 2024, which would have prevented lawful employment in the passenger transportation industry. Another driver had his driver’s license cancelled two months earlier following an impaired driving offence.

“Illegal ride-hailing creates a real safety risk for unsuspecting members of the public who believe they are getting into a legitimate service,” says Constable Frank Tarape, Richmond RCMP Road Safety Unit. “People need to know that if anything happens on a ride with a driver on one of these unlicensed platforms, there is no central office or customer service to help law enforcement locate the driver or the vehicle.”

Richmond RCMP encourages the public to protect themselves by familiarizing themselves with the lawful and reputable taxi and ride-hailing services in their area. Drivers working for licensed companies undergo mandatory criminal record checks prior to employment and at regular intervals.

For more information and a list of approved ride-hailing services and operators, visit the Passenger Transportation Registry: Approved Ride-Hail Companies.