TORONTO – In the wake of a crackdown on UberX drivers, city of Toronto officials are demanding that Uber comply with the same stringent code of semi-legal bribery that currently governs the taxicab licensing process.
“This is about fairness to Torontonians,” said city councillor Jim Karygiannis. “How are they going to feel safe getting a ride without knowing the person giving it paid thousands of dollars to my campaign?”
“I am certain that no one wants to get in a cab unless they are 100% sure that the car owner invested in a city taxi license as a form of investment that he could subsequently sell for profit,” he added.
City bureaucrats say they are also worried that, in a situation where demand sharply rises, such as a subway breakdown, Uber might not even give free rides to officials in exchange for legal support.
“You know how many times I’ve tried to get an Uber driver to accept one of the hundreds of Beck taxi chits I have? They say no every goddamn time” said Tracey Cook, the city’s director of licensing.
At press time, the city was warning tourists to the city that, if caught using Uber, they may be punished by having to take the Queen streetcar at rush hour.
