Uber cars seized while taxi industry promises legal action to contest deal

While representatives of Quebec's taxi industry met Tuesday toorganizea common front against the provincial government's deal with ride-hailing serviceUber, about a dozenUbercars were seized by the Socit de l'assurance automobile du Qubec.

AnSAAQspokesmanconfirmed to CBC News that 15Uberdrivershad theirlicencessuspended today10in the greater Montreal area (Laval andBrossard)and another five in Quebec City.

"The drivers who were intercepted today got a fine of $2,500 plus fees, which totals $3,750. On top of that, there was the suspension of their driver's licence for sevendays and also, the immediate seizure of their vehicle for sevendays," said spokesman Eric Santerre.

Santerre saidthat although the government struck a deal withUberlast week for a new 12-month pilotproject,that plan is not yet in effect. TheSAAQis therefore operating under the rules of Bill 100.

• Quebec passes Bill 100to regulateUber

Bill 100, adopted in June, requires"remunerated passenger transportation services," includingUberX, to get a taxi licence or facestifffines or licence suspensions.

Uber deal 'illegal,'taxi drivers say

After today's meeting,industry groupssaid they will present the government with their demandson Wednesday and seek an injunction against the deal on Thursday.

• What's in the Uber deal?

Guy Chevrette, spokesmanfor theComitprovincial deconcertationet dedveloppementdel'industriedu taxi, said the group hasn'truled out using other pressure tactics, as well.

Chevrette has being arguing in recent days that the deal with Uber, which will allow the service to operate for the next year on a pilot-project basis, is illegal.

"We will launch an information campaign to reveal the illegalities," he told reporters. He was joined byBenot Jugand oftheRegroupementdestravailleursautonomesMtallos, which represents several thousand taxi drivers in Quebec.

• Laurent Lessard unswayed by taxi industry pleas to suspend Uber deal

JugandsaidUberdrivers are already violating the terms of the deal, which should be grounds for its suspension.

BothChevretteandJugandmet Transport Minister LaurentLessardon Monday to seek theUberdeal's suspension.Lessardturned them down.

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre said he is willing to listen to the taxi industry's concerns, as long as the cab drivers'pressure tacticsdon'tharmMontrealers'quality of life.

"I won't let people take our population hostage. As a matter of fact, it will go against them," Coderresaid.

"It's a rule of law, they go through that. But I think we have a great opportunity to find a better way regarding their own condition, and I'm there to listen."

"There is a case, obviously,about the taxi industry, but there is an agreement [with Uber]and, at the end of the day, you will always have that option from the minister to pull out if they don't comply."