More unregulated taxis on Quebec roads after deregulation

Since the deregulation of the taxi industry to allow Uber in Quebec, an increasing number of unregistered taxis have been appearing on the roads.

George Boussios, general manager of Champlain Taxi, explained several ways passengers can verify if a taxi is legitimate. "The first thing people should notice when they enter the car is this blue sticker with the rates set by the transport commission. That's an official sticker," he said. "Once inside, you'll see the TVQ (tax) number and the driver's identification from the SAAQ, which looks like a driver's license."

Additionally, there must be a physical or virtual meter clearly visible inside the cab.

Boussios acknowledged that fake taxis have always existed but became harder to spot after the industry was deregulated. "We had a T plate, a pocket number, and our domes were all the same. It was easy to distinguish a taxi, and people felt safer because we knew who was driving on the road," he said.

However, online platforms like Amazon now sell generic taxi domes for under $30, which, while not illegal, can cause confusion. Boussios pointed out, "There have always been taxi drivers and owners not affiliated with taxi associations. In French, we call them 'phantoms'; in English, they're independent taxi drivers. They might still use the traditional taxi dome, but without the law in place, they don't need it anymore. It doesn't make them illegal, but it means they're not part of a taxi company."

The Quebec auto insurance board (SAAQ) oversees the taxi industry but did not respond to requests for comment.

Boussios called for more regulation in the industry. "Hopefully, they’ll give some power back to the city, and there will be more control over both the taxi and Uber industries. Let's not forget, there are also a lot of illegal Uber drivers out there," he said. He emphasized that tighter controls would improve accountability and provide a safer ride for passengers.