Three unlicensed ride-hail drivers were fined and charged in a joint operation between Richmond RCMP and the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure in July.
Each of the drivers received a total of around $1,800 in fines for the following charges:
- $1,150 for operating a commercial passenger vehicle without a permit
- $276 for operating a commercial passenger vehicle with the wrong class of driver's license
- $357 for operating a commercial passenger vehicle without a certificate of inspection
A similar operation happened in May, when four unlicensed ride-hail drivers were each fined a similar amount.
This was the first time the suspect drivers had been identified as unlicensed ride-hail operators in Richmond. However, RCMP said that one of them was allegedly identified in a similar police operation in Burnaby earlier this year.
"This driver also received a Notice and Order for an immediate vehicle inspection, due to visible damage on his vehicle. His licence plates were seized and his vehicle was towed," said Cpl. Ian Henderson, Richmond RCMP spokesperson.
"By continuing to coordinate with our counterparts at the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, the Richmond RCMP Road Safety Unit continues to identify and disrupt passenger vehicle operators whose entrepreneurial endeavors are unlicensed, unsafe and unwelcome in our community," he added.
Those with information on unlicensed ride-hailing operations in Richmond can contact Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212, or the Ministry’s Passenger Transportation Branch at 604 527-2198 or [email protected]. If you would like to remain anonymous, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
